Community Chat

[mistriTsquirrel]

On 1/20/2014 Dilbert Deaux said:

On 1/20/2014 Melania2 said:

On 1/20/2014 beammeupscottie said:

On 1/20/2014 Dilbert Deaux said:

On 1/20/2014 happy housewife said:

On 1/20/2014 toodles11 said:

If someone is on my tail, I either speed up or move over. Depends if there is a lot of merging traffic, I don't want to be over there and just try and keep up with traffic. I move over as soon as I can and then move back if there is more merging traffic.

My BIL (a traffic cop) would call you a sight speeder. someone who allows the other speeders around them to push them into also speeding.

Just because you speed up doesn't mean you are speeding. I consider traffic laws more of general suggestions rather than hard and fast (no pun intended) rules. Let's face it, cops speed all the time when there is no cause, besides maybe day old doughnuts on sale at the local coffee shop.

Well in these here parts pardner, you can get a ticket for going 5 over. It's not a suggestion where I live.

Here too!!

Otherwise the sign would say....55 if you feel like it. Instead of SPEED LIMIT.

I've lived in a lot of parts (including ones where they say pardner for realsies) and I said "I" consider. That's the cool thing about being an adult. I get to make big important decisions for myself and deal with any consequences. For example, I've driven through red lights (after stopping) when there's obviously no one coming. Could I get a ticket? Sure. But it's a risk I'll take. In general, I'll drive at a speed I consider safe regardless of what the signs suggest. I hope everyone else does the same. I mean, I didn't get my GED just to let some silly sign tell me what to do.

Dilbert Deaux--

I've really enjoyed the posts of yours that I've read so far. Please keep posting.

[mistriTsquirrel]

I agree with the idea of mandatory testing after a certain age...but I also feel that it needs to be paired with an initiative to make public transportation easier, less unpleasant, inexpensive, and more accessible to seniors. If we don't want people driving who shouldn't be, it is in our best interest to give them alternatives that aren't terrible.

[glb613]

On 1/21/2014 mistriTsquirrel said:

I agree with the idea of mandatory testing after a certain age...but I also feel that it needs to be paired with an initiative to make public transportation easier, less unpleasant, inexpensive, and more accessible to seniors. If we don't want people driving who shouldn't be, it is in our best interest to give them alternatives that aren't terrible.

Unfortunately, people who no longer safe to drive are also not safe to take public transportation. I believe in mandatory retesting for drivers 80 and older that includes the written test. That will filter out those with cognitive problems making them unsafe on the road.

[Yuban3]

On 1/21/2014 glb613 said:

On 1/21/2014 mistriTsquirrel said:

I agree with the idea of mandatory testing after a certain age...but I also feel that it needs to be paired with an initiative to make public transportation easier, less unpleasant, inexpensive, and more accessible to seniors. If we don't want people driving who shouldn't be, it is in our best interest to give them alternatives that aren't terrible.

Unfortunately, people who no longer safe to drive are also not safe to take public transportation. I believe in mandatory retesting for drivers 80 and older that includes the written test. That will filter out those with cognitive problems making them unsafe on the road.

What do you mean people who are are no longer safe to drive, are also not safe to take public transportation? I don't understand.

If they can't drive, and aren't "safe" to take public transportation, then just how are they supposed to get to where they want/need to go, if there isn't anyone around to take them?

My dad who will be turn 88 next month, no longer drives. If I can't take him, he takes the bus.

I suppose he is "wrong" for doing that, since he isn't a safe driver anymore?

At least he's not putting everybody elses life in jeopardy by being behind the wheel.

[151949]

Where i live in Florida - sarasota Co.we have great public transportation. However, most of the people in my small town live in gated communities which the buses do not enter, so the bus stops are a distance away, usually at the gates. This could be a problem for those who have trouble walking to the bus stop. On the other hand - we see people here in our town all the time either riding a bike to the bus and chaining it to a lampost there or they have bike racks on the front of the buses and people take the bike with them to use at the other end. Very clever of the transit authority,

[------]

On 1/21/2014 Yuban3 said:

On 1/21/2014 glb613 said:

On 1/21/2014 mistriTsquirrel said:

I agree with the idea of mandatory testing after a certain age...but I also feel that it needs to be paired with an initiative to make public transportation easier, less unpleasant, inexpensive, and more accessible to seniors. If we don't want people driving who shouldn't be, it is in our best interest to give them alternatives that aren't terrible.

Unfortunately, people who no longer safe to drive are also not safe to take public transportation. I believe in mandatory retesting for drivers 80 and older that includes the written test. That will filter out those with cognitive problems making them unsafe on the road.

What do you mean people who are are no longer safe to drive, are also not safe to take public transportation? I don't understand.

If they can't drive, and aren't "safe" to take public transportation, then just how are they supposed to get to where they want/need to go, if there isn't anyone around to take them?

My dad who will be turn 88 next month, no longer drives. If I can't take him, he takes the bus.

I suppose he is "wrong" for doing that, since he isn't a safe driver anymore?

At least he's not putting everybody elses life in jeopardy by being behind the wheel.

Maybe she meant the elderly could be easy prey for attackers or at risk of falling down steps?

[Dilbert Deaux]

On 1/21/2014 happy housewife said: Where i live in Florida - sarasota Co.we have great public transportation. However, most of the people in my small town live in gated communities which the buses do not enter, so the bus stops are a distance away, usually at the gates. This could be a problem for those who have trouble walking to the bus stop. On the other hand - we see people here in our town all the time either riding a bike to the bus and chaining it to a lampost there or they have bike racks on the front of the buses and people take the bike with them to use at the other end. Very clever of the transit authority,

Maybe in the retirement communities like where you live they could have a program for on demand motorized scooters. A "Rascal For Rent" as it were.

[glb613]

On 1/21/2014 Yuban3 said:

On 1/21/2014 glb613 said:

On 1/21/2014 mistriTsquirrel said:

I agree with the idea of mandatory testing after a certain age...but I also feel that it needs to be paired with an initiative to make public transportation easier, less unpleasant, inexpensive, and more accessible to seniors. If we don't want people driving who shouldn't be, it is in our best interest to give them alternatives that aren't terrible.

Unfortunately, people who no longer safe to drive are also not safe to take public transportation. I believe in mandatory retesting for drivers 80 and older that includes the written test. That will filter out those with cognitive problems making them unsafe on the road.

What do you mean people who are are no longer safe to drive, are also not safe to take public transportation? I don't understand.

If they can't drive, and aren't "safe" to take public transportation, then just how are they supposed to get to where they want/need to go, if there isn't anyone around to take them?

My dad who will be turn 88 next month, no longer drives. If I can't take him, he takes the bus.

I suppose he is "wrong" for doing that, since he isn't a safe driver anymore?

At least he's not putting everybody elses life in jeopardy by being behind the wheel.

Oh please. Don't be so defensive. Most people who aren't safe to drive and lose their license have cognitive problems vision problems or physical limitations. Because of the these problems, they aren't safe using public transportation either. If you take a license away from a person, you need to have plan B in place. That means providing safe and reliable transportation.

[151949]

IMO - when a person loses their license due to old age issues - if they would just sell the car they could fund a awful lot of cab rides with the money they got for the car plus the insurance and maintainence costs. The sarasota Co. transit authority has a program for people who are handicapped where they can call for a small bus to come and get them and wait for them and take them home again - it has to be scheduled ahead and I don't know what it costs but I know a widow who is 88 and uses it all the time for doctor's appt. and grocery shopping.

[Yuban3]

On 1/21/2014 glb613 said:

On 1/21/2014 Yuban3 said:

On 1/21/2014 glb613 said:

On 1/21/2014 mistriTsquirrel said:

I agree with the idea of mandatory testing after a certain age...but I also feel that it needs to be paired with an initiative to make public transportation easier, less unpleasant, inexpensive, and more accessible to seniors. If we don't want people driving who shouldn't be, it is in our best interest to give them alternatives that aren't terrible.

Unfortunately, people who no longer safe to drive are also not safe to take public transportation. I believe in mandatory retesting for drivers 80 and older that includes the written test. That will filter out those with cognitive problems making them unsafe on the road.

What do you mean people who are are no longer safe to drive, are also not safe to take public transportation? I don't understand.

If they can't drive, and aren't "safe" to take public transportation, then just how are they supposed to get to where they want/need to go, if there isn't anyone around to take them?

My dad who will be turn 88 next month, no longer drives. If I can't take him, he takes the bus.

I suppose he is "wrong" for doing that, since he isn't a safe driver anymore?

At least he's not putting everybody elses life in jeopardy by being behind the wheel.

Oh please. Don't be so defensive. Most people who aren't safe to drive and lose their license have cognitive problems vision problems or physical limitations. Because of the these problems, they aren't safe using public transportation either. If you take a license away from a person, you need to have plan B in place. That means providing safe and reliable transportation.

My dad has cataracts, can't walk as fast or as far as he used to. But he can, and does take the bus just fine, thank-you very much. It still gives him a sense of independance to be able to do that.

Taking the bus IS plan B for a lot of people who can no longer drive.