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Man whose wife, 3-year-old daughter were killed by speeding car, puts focus on issue of elderly driving

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I can't imagine how this guy feels I hope he recovers emotionally

19 ( +20 / -1 )

"If there is anyone who feels they cannot drive safely..."

That highlights the problem right there. Like a guy who had a few too many, and thinks he can still drive, people may not feel as if or know that they can not drive safely

23 ( +23 / -0 )

As he should..... hopefully new technology can help to reduce this type of accident because the number of people in Japan over 65, as a percentage of the population, is still increasing. I saw the video.... how and why he was travelling at that speed is beyond me. Such a sad thing.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

The number of fatal traffic accidents has been declining in recent years, but accidents deemed to be caused by people aged 75 or older increased to 460 in 2018, up 42 cases from a year earlier.

To put this into proper perspective I would like to see the numbers for people under the age of 25 and drivers who had their driving license for only 2 years or less.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

The accident has again stirred debate on how to prevent accidents involving elderly drivers in an aging country.

Just like with so many other issues here, the "debate" only gets stirred up when some tragedy occurs, and then over the course of a few weeks, it dies down, until the next time!

No conclusions will ever come of this as long as this continues to be a major issue;

The number of people who voluntarily return their licenses has been on the rise, but a police official said it is difficult to strongly urge the elderly to do so especially in areas where cars play an important role in daily life.

Meaning, the areas these elderly live in have poor, or no options when it comes to transportation. There are no buses, nor taxis, and to even get to the nearest store they have to travel many kilometers.

This problem is not going to be fixed by the NPA just arbitrarily making a new law forcing elderly to return their licenses. There needs to be a joint effort by all communities to improve their own infrastructures to assist the elderly.

But how can they? It's basically become the elderly taking care of the elderly in many areas and that is not a solution either.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Yes, 'some' older drivers can be a hazard on the roads. However, there are far worse dangers on the roads than the odd elderly person who loses control of their car. I was nearly killed yesterday by some ratbag that refused to stop at a pedestrian crossing and swerved around me at speed. The over all manner of Japanese drivers is atrocious! Ignoring traffic signals and pedestrian crossings, speeding, blocking intersections, distracted drivers, road rage, the list goes on and on. Elderly drivers are just another hazard to add to the list.

14 ( +19 / -5 )

He also said he provided photos of his wife and daughter to the media because he wanted people to "feel" the existence of his wife who was living the best she can and his child who was only able to live for three years.

This was especially painful to read.

sensei258

I can't imagine how this guy feels

Nor I. If it was my family I'd lose my mind

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Feet are clumsy. What about having a brake of a car near the steering wheel and a driver uses his or her hand to stop a car.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

A man who lost his wife and daughter in a Tokyo car crash involving an elderly driver expressed his deep sorrow Wednesday for being deprived of the family's future and called on people to reconsider driving if safety cannot be ensured.

87-year-old Kozo Iizuka rammed into their bicycle as it barreled down for 150 meters in the Ikebukuro district, ignoring red traffic signals.

He's right on that, elderly people they'll have difficulty at least one, either eyesight, muscle and cognitive. Even when you see them in normal way in life, not until they need to perform particular task in certain way, you can see their decline.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

so sorry to hear, painful to live with such devastating loss. may be older people to consider taking

public transportation instead of driving.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

My heart goes out to the grieving husband and father. His concern is valid and attention should be given to the problem of drivers who should no longer be on the road.

There needs to be a mandatory government test & refresh driver skills program (not only in Japan) which is carried out at regular intervals after a person gets a license. As a driver ages, the intervals between the tests should become progressively shorter.

It's not fair to put the onus for removing a license on doctors or family members or rely on drivers' "feelings." The independence inherent in a driver's license is something to be earned and maintained by the individual in possession of a license. That basic premise and responsibility ought to be understood and respected by all drivers from the outset.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Here's a novel concept; police officers should do their jobs.

Stand at any crossing in Japan and I bet within every light cycle someone will run a red light.

Drive a car at the speed limit and I bet you will be the slowest person on the road.

Watch how many people stay in their own lane on anything less than a dual carriage way. How many people are on the wrong side of the road around blind corners.

The complete carelessness of driving in this country is a disgrace. The lack of action by the police is worse.

Let "little" things slide and it will snowball. Obviously this is a different case if there was driver error. But the the girl in Chiba, the boy in Takeyama, was nothing but a complete disregard for the rules resulting in needless death.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

It's not only in Japan that the discussion must happen.

People age differently, ok. But most people have something, whether it's shaky hands, bad vision, bad hand eye coordination, brain slowing down... Pretty much the same as drinking alcohol.

And this is not ageism, people get old, and at a certain point they can't do certain things anymore. That should be the same with driving.

It's also not about freedom. We limit some liberties all the time for the safety of the group or individuals. Age limitation on alcohol, no smoking zones, no dangerous items in airplanes, you name it.

I don't see how this is different.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

I’m speechless. This is the most heartbreaking thing I’ve read in a while. I can’t even imagine the pain of having a beautiful young family and suddenly having it all ripped away.

I know it’s a controversial topic, and many younger people here are also bad drivers, but literally every elderly driver I’ve seen is bad. Not going the speed limit (over or under drastically) crossing over the center line like they’re drunk, stopping suddenly. It is not only dementia that is dangerous, there’s other mental and physical conditions. Even just aging normally makes your mental reflexes and processing slower, and many elderly have some motor issues as well. With the pretty great public transport in Tokyo I don’t know why an 87 year old in Ikebukuro would need to be driving anywhere. Not to mention public transportation is often free or discounted for the elderly

the only group of people that can rival elderly people’s bad driving is taxi drivers.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Poor poor guy. What he did was brave to ask people to look inside their heart and ask them to return their drivers license if they cant drive but I'm afraid it will have little to no effect. It's a difficult situation when half of the elderly depend on their drivers license.

I guess the sooner we implement self driving cars the better.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

There is too much highlight on this news. Accidents can happen to anybody, anytime anywhere and in any context. Victims are victims always. The problem here is that there is a 'mediatic' process and accusatory/discriminatory process going on only because the driver was an elderly rich professor responsible of a clinic. They are making him the 'wickermen' for everybody. People have certainly to be responsible for their behavior, but this is the typical Japanese process of the group beating on the individual, because the situation brought him to light. Every unrelated person now is commenting and giving his moral about him. I find it disgusting. He will answer in court for what he did.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

I agree that Japanese drivers have atrocious road manners. Add age and stubbornness to the mix and it's a recipe for disaster

5 ( +8 / -3 )

How a person confuses pedals after years of driving, I cant say. It’s a reflex, second nature. Obviously he’s not fit to be behind the wheel. What do the police check when giving an old person an extension of his / her license? Maybe the issuing police need to be checked.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Stunned would be my first thought, coming from my wife and three kids, whom I love very much. I wouldn't know what to feel, more less, not having much of any feeling to go to work. I really hope this guy finds peace, but I know that's going to be difficult. It's sad that his wife and daughter are the innocent ones.

He also said he provided photos of his wife and daughter to the media because he wanted people to "feel" the existence of his wife who was living the best she can and his child who was only able to live for three years.

It's very sadden that he, like many loving parents, had very high hopes for his future with his family, watching them grow and enjoying the moments. My prayers to him and his family.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Seems twofold to me given all the accidents the last few days.

Age is definitely something to consider as we head to an ever aging population, the other is cars while generally not speeding significantly is that they totally ignore pedestrian crossings and other markings.

In New Zealand for example you have to stop at a marked uncontrolled crossing if someone is waiting, even on the other side of the road, and wait till there are no people on the crossing before driving on or instant large fine, which the police actually will actively go after.

Here before I realized that no-one obeys that rule I was nearly run over twice, combine that with maybe inattentive drivers and some with less skill and reaction speed.. sadly when I did my driver test here and asked about it the cop seems to not care or be bothered at all.. "meh shouganai"

Should older people be able to drive, perhaps and in some rural areas it would be difficult not to but seems more rigorous testing and checks are required. I suppose the trouble is as you age even if the tests were every 6 months your abilities could massively change.

Perhaps technology could help.. regular reaction time tests with touch devices and traffic rule tests?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

If your over 75 don't drive. Catch trains, buses or get family to drive. No need for elderly people to drive in cities. Perhaps only in farm areas where many farmers are in their 70s, 80s and 90s and drive the "K-Truck". Rest in Peace to this poor man's wife and little girl.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

If the elderly want to to drive more then they should pay more.

Just have the check done every six months (not covered by health insurance) and any driver having an accident should automatically be tested for cognitive function.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

We need better incentives not to drive. As things are now, there's basically no reason not to hang on to your driver's license, even if you don't use it that often.

Start by eliminating the driver's license as the primary form of personal identification: there is nothing special about being able to drive a car when it comes to being a legal taxpaying resident.

Also, either give a big tax break to non-drivers, who have to pay out a lot of tax money for automobile infrastructure that they can only use if someone else is driving them, or make it very expensive to renew a driver's license every few years. What we have now is absurd: gigantic up-front costs just to get a license for the first time, but then negligible costs to keep having one. Those numbers should be reversed.

Every day, when they step out onto the street, innocent non-drivers have to take on the risk that they will be maimed or killed by someone in an automobile. Drivers face no such fear with regard to pedestrians. It's one of the greatest unaddressed inequalities in society.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

That is way too old to be driving.

Political correctness is killing people all over the world, as it is not unique to Japan to see very old drivers causing deadly accidents.

There comes a time when one has to swallow their pride and live for the greater good of others. Thumbs down me all you want, but I can assure you when I reach my 60's I am giving up driving.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

At least he has closure. I think it is the time to greive, not spend 12 minutes on every news.

my solution for the problem is: yearly tests after 70. After 80, only 50cc 3 wheeled motorbikes are allowed.

poor guy, my auntie still hasn’t excepted the death of her son 30 years ago. She has become a bitter person full of hatred.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Work harder on self-driving cars and a road system and the public to support such.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I mean the issue of elderly drivers is a pretty easy issue to solve. Once you turn 80, doesn't matter who, if you want to continue driving you must be driving a vehicle with an automatic crash avoidance system. Put in place an incentive system by the government based on certain parameters like access to actual public transportation, requirement for use of a vehicle etc to see how much money you'll get a rebate for.

Live in Tokyo? No rebate, there is a plethora of public transportation options. Don't want to use them? You can still drive, but you must have a vehicle with an ACAS and that's on you to procure.

Live in country side with no public transport options? Up to 75% rebate on a kei car (almost all of them have an automatic braking systems now, even the kei trucks).

If you don't want to comply on what vehicle you must drive, you don't drive. It's as simple as that.

Also the economic benefits here are great, national car companies would get a huge amount of car sales, the roads would be safer. It seems every week the already falling population of young people is made even less by an old person who isn't fit to drive.

We don't let people drive at the beginning of their life until they are 18 because their cognitive and motor skills aren't developed enough yet. Why are we allowing people to drive at the final 18 years of their lives? They are just as bad, if not worse.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@gambade. Agree in cities. But more than half old people live in rural areas with no transport infrastructure. It is 7km to my nearest supermarket or clinic and 3.5km to the kombini. It snows a lot in the winter and reaches 38 degrees in the summer.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Mandatory license renewal in every 6 months for people over 75 after cognitive test. MUST

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I’m really sorry for his lost. RIP

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I honestly think that most people (not only elderly) can’t drive in Osaka.

Nobody stops at the stop line, if you don’t cross the street properly they won’t stop for you even if they see you, they are not used to bicycles driving on the street etc.

Many problems which have to be fixed, but it ain’t happening since this is Japan.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I can't imagine how this guy feels I hope he recovers emotionally.

Sadly, this isn’t the sort of thing you can recover from emotionally. I hope he can cope, but he is always going to be scarred by this.

So tragic, and they really need to step up efforts to get elderly people with declining abilities out of driver’s seats.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The driver needs to be dealt with as harshly as the law will allow with no less than a jail term of considerable length. This will ensure the message gets through to those elderly people still driving who should not be. Yes I care not for his age or how long he may yet have to live etc etc. He gave up that when he made the decision to drive his car that day.

I feel that part of the problem with this guy in particular was the fact that he used to be the head of some or other government department and this seems to be common place here in Japan that these guys have a problem with accepting that they are anything but the “boss” when driving around and usually in a car far bigger than they need or can handle. If this man is not jailed it is a complete insult to the families and husband who have lost so much!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I wonder how many of theses deaths in Japan caused by drivers over 75 are from males and female drivers? I’m willing to bet it’s in the 90% range for men drivers.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

To put this into proper perspective I would like to see the numbers for people under the age of 25 and drivers who had their driving license for only 2 years or less.

@ mu-da

I cannot speak for all of Japan, but only for Saitama where I live. Most prefectures have data for your question. Just need to know where to look.

In Saitama, (#3 in Japan....ouch) Over 56% of the deaths are from people over the age of 65. (These people do not have to be just driving, it also includes bicycles / mopeds / pedestrians) Source: https://www.police.pref.saitama.lg.jp/f0011/kotsu/documents/nippou_3.pdf ( Main page: https://www.police.pref.saitama.lg.jp/f0011/kotsu/kotutokei.html )

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Teslas autopilot for everyone. Problem solved.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I agree with everyone here lamenting about the Japanese inability to protect traffic rules. Our intern got driven over when crossing a pedestrian green light. And she was only here for 2 months...And I had to save myself by jumping and falling from those kind of cars. Scary.

Old people driving, a problem I agree. But not the only problem.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

To put this into proper perspective I would like to see the numbers for people under the age of 25 and drivers who had their driving license for only 2 years or less.

problem with that is younger drivers cant get more experienced without driving, elderly drivers well there is no room for improvement even with years of experience as your mind and body degrades so does your driving skills.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

It sounds like the police are making excuses for not arresting the driver, which is standard procedure when there is a fatality. As pointed out above, everyone else would be "yogisha".

Literally millions of people get around fine without driving in Ikebukuro. There is plenty of public transport everywhere. There are also so many people about that any driver error has a very high probability of causing danger to others. A car is a necessity in the countryside, but not in central Tokyo. It is exactly the kind of place the infirm, he walked with a stick, should choose not to drive.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Probably in a few weeks the old wheezer won't even remember killing two people.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

And sometimes it will make you confused to choose the right decision.

Govt. could make law that all driver over 70 has to use Auto breaking system and back camera in their cars.

Auto makers can offer easy loan or discount offer with Govt, support.

Since Govt. has to spend lot's of money for accident investigation and etc., so Govt. should spend some budget to prevent this kind of accident issue of elderly driving.

Car insurance company also can come forward to offer discount package those who use Auto breaking system and back camera in their cars.

Health insurance company could offer special iriosho (medical certificate to free treatment) for driver over 70 years old also allow to use to get discount buy/setup Auto breaking system.

Actually we can do many thing to prevent accident by elderly driving if Govt. and others social organization want.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Banning elderly drivers is not an option outside the major cities as many areas do not provide regular public transport.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

How about fitting some sort of forced "Speed and Power" limiter to all vehicles owned / driven by those over a certain age? Something that heavily restricts the speed and acceleration of the vehicle...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Work harder on self-driving cars and a road system and the public to support such.

As much as I dislike self-driving cars because of their susceptibility for abuse by the government, they're needed for the many old and terrible drivers on the road today.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Where I live there seems to be a three-car grace period between the lights turning red and the old farts - excuse me, I mean venerable members of our senior society whose wisdom we revere - acknowledging it.

Add that to the diligent work of the city office putting bollards up the length of the 8-inch-wide cycle lane and it makes the morning ride to the station quite the adventure.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Work harder on self-driving cars and a road system and the public to support such.

Even better work harder on gaining public support for a complete streets program that discourages driving and encourages safe, active transport. i.e. traffic calming and real enforcement with lower speed limits, speed & red light cameras - and giving drivers other options with a cohesive system of well-protected bike lanes along all major traffic arteries

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The poor man must be devastated. But over 40% of the leaders of Japan are over 80. If they aren't fit to drive then they aren't fit to be leaders. How ironic that they find themselves in the same position the put youth. Young men are old enough to die at war, but not old enough to drink or smoke.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The driving evaluation assessment and medical testing procedures need to be revised.

A course of instructor lead driving courses designed specifically for the over 75 could also incorporate a more thorough procedure for evaluating if the elderly person is medically fit to remain on the road.

Funding for a twice daily transport service for remote communities, also a form of car share service should be implemented.

Sincere condolences to the husband and father of Mana Matsunaga, 31, and Riko, 3.......

Kyodo News has pictures of wife and daughter.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/04/fa82beba3612-grief-hit-kin-of-victims-in-tokyo-car-crash-calls-for-safer-society.html

0 ( +0 / -0 )

condolence to the guy, I can't even imagine the grief he's in right now. I think a good revision to the 2017 revised traffic law would be that those who are 75 (this could also be moved to 70 or even 65) and older should get an annual cognitive and physical exam in order to prevent more incidents like this from happening.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

had taken a cognitive function test in 2017, according to investigative sources. But no problems were observed at that time.

Until the test is performed by an impartial body, there's going to be big holes in this, Elderly & mediocre Doctors not wanting to offend their patients

0 ( +1 / -1 )

while asking not to be named. 

So then they name his deceased wife anyway (and him by extension). The Japanese are so tactless when it comes to matters of privacy and upholding someone's dignity as an individual.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Rate of automatic transmission cars is very high in Japan unlike other countries.

and,People who mistake pedal control also increased.

it is not only old person.

Japanese mainstream media have treated this issue as old-people issue but it is misleading.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

A lot of the problem is probably the introduction of automatic transmissions. Old people were all brought up driving manual transmissions then when they get older they are forced to change. This kind of accident is much rarer with manual transmission.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Step 1: Change the stupid traffic rules in this country!

Step 2: Get the old drivers off the wheel...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Philly1 - There needs to be a mandatory government test & refresh driver skills program (not only in Japan) which is carried out at regular intervals after a person gets a license

All drivers over 70 are given cognitive testing twice a year in Japan.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It sounds like the police are making excuses for not arresting the driver, which is standard procedure when there is a fatality.

You're confusing this driver who killed two people with an company executive who MAY have done something wrong.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

licence or no licence, passed or failed tests, some stubborn people will still drive anyway. so sad for all victims of such tragedies.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As terrible as this accident is, data on how many (and what percentage of) elderly drivers cause accidents (both fatal and non-fatal) compared to each age group.

This is propaganda to force aging Japan to accept the idea of giving up your right to drive. Young drivers kill more people. The problem here is not age. It's humans. Take away everybody's license - or only those who have broken the law, but don't take away licenses simply because they are a certain age.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

This is propaganda to force aging Japan to accept the idea of giving up your right to drive. Young drivers kill more people. The problem here is not age. It's humans. Take away everybody's license - or only those who have broken the law, but don't take away licenses simply because they are a certain age.

In what world do you live where it's a "right" to drive. Its not a right at all, its a privilege given to you by the state. Don't like their rules? Don't drive.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Iizuka, who was once head of the former Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, part of the now-defunct Ministry of International Trade and Industry

I bet that this guy was so full of his own self importance that he never even regarded anyone around him.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Okay...I don't know the driver at all but.....to insist it was a mechanical failure (stuck accelerator) when according to the police, there is no evidence that was the case, kind of tells you what kind of person we're dealing with. He injured several people and killed a young mother and toddler....stole their future. An old man in the nadir of his life, who was a high level politician, refusing to hold himself accountable. Seems he doesn't feel responsible at all. Sounds all too familiar. I'd throw him in jail regardless who and how old he is.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

MilesTeg and Alex,

Great posts.

I bet this dude felt so self-entitled that he didn't give two hoots about anyone else and like Crecaphat said earlier on here the media calling him an 'inch' is an utter disgrace.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"incho."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Dementia is gradual, many old people lose their motor skills without realising.

Has anyone else noticed that hardly anyone in Japan looks right or left before crossing on green? Just stare at the red like a zombie and step out on green.

Its not the light that is going to kill you!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

In what world do you live where it's a "right" to drive. Its not a right at all, its a privilege given to you by the state. Don't like their rules? Don't drive.

Which world? Uh, this one. The one where I got a license that gives me the right to drive as long as I follow traffic rules.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Elmer,

I think your points are valid but in Japan even young people don't look right or left.

They plow on through because they are so used to being told what to do,

No awareness whatsoever,

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Whenever there's an accident involving an elderly driver, someone also mentions 'but younger drivers are bad too'. Well a younger driver didn't just plow through a bunch of red lights, injure multiple people and kill a mom and her child. How about focusing on the problem at hand instead and then worry about the other.

All drivers over 70 are given cognitive testing twice a year in Japan.

Obviously that's not enough. Make it a full driving test.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's been my observation that the average Japanese person acts as though they have no brake, only a gas pedal - whether walking, riding a bicycle, driving a car, or any method of travel in which they are in control. They could be 50 meters from a traffic light turning yellow and their brain says "gas pedal, now."

The same goes for when walking or bike riding, they will chose to attempt to squeeze by in front of you and an inanimate object rather than just go around you (the safer way).

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It's been my observation that the average Japanese person acts as though they have no brake, only a gas pedal - whether walking, riding a bicycle, driving a car, or any method of travel in which they are in control. They could be 50 meters from a traffic light turning yellow and their brain says "gas pedal, now."

The same goes for when walking or bike riding, they will chose to attempt to squeeze by in front of you and an inanimate object rather than just go around you (the safer way).

0 ( +1 / -1 )

John9Plus, what have your observations been?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Iizuka, who was once head of the former Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, part of the now-defunct Ministry of International Trade and Industry, had taken a cognitive function test in 2017, according to investigative sources. But no problems were observed at that time.

The frequency of these tests needs to be upped.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

All drivers over 70 are given cognitive testing twice a year in Japan.

They are not.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'd like to hear what kind of observations John9Plus has made.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The frequency of these tests needs to be upped.

I agree. They should test at least as many times each year as people in their 20's do.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

MY father in law went to one of these "assessments".

It consisted of a policeman reading from a script to a PowerPoint presentation of pages of text too small for any of the venerable drivers to be able to read.

Not that it mattered, because my FIL slept through it anyway.

Then, ceremony observed, his licence was renewed.

Totally vapid pretence of taking action.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The same goes for when walking or bike riding, they will chose to attempt to squeeze by in front of you and an inanimate object rather than just go around you (the safer way).

Thank you. Correct.

I have never nor will I ever understand this logic.

First of all, these people have no need to be that close to you in the first place. They see you ahead of time and can easily go another route.

Second, when faced with a choice of walking on the side of someone that has ample room and no signs of danger vs the other side of a person where there is very little room and the possibility of bumping into something, these people almost always choose to go to the side which has the least amount of room available.

Third, when walking or biking toward someone, the initial instinct would be to avoid people, right? Wrong. These people love to head directly towards you as if you are a human magnet.

That being said, there needs to be an age limitation when it comes to drivers licenses. Or at least an automatic fail if they can't see or react properly to common situations.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bugle Boy of Company B, what have your observations been?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Duh, I said my observations...

Drivers will routinely blow thru both yellow and red traffic lights (in cars).

People on bicycles will cut in front of pedestrians to squeeze between you and an object (pole, building corner, steps, etc).

Any situation where common sense would dictate "well, I have a brake...perhaps I should slow down/stop, go around."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There should be an annual medical test for those over 75 (or younger even), which will check their eyesight, reaction time and judgement. Failure should result in removal of the driving licence.

Computer-driven cars may be the long-term solution or electric buggies to help the elderly get about, but it is clear that people of this age should not be getting behind the wheel.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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