Recently there has been a rash of elderly drivers crashing through grocery stores windows, a beauty parlor, Wal-Mart, a parking garage, and the list goes on. The majority of these drivers are well into their 80’s and the reason is always the same; they mistook the gas pedal for the brake.
I commented to Irene that this totally puzzles me, after all, chances are if you are driving when you are, say 85, you didn’t get your license last week, and have many years of driving under your belt; so how come all of a sudden a person doesn’t know the accelerator from the brake?
Being ever curious, the next time I got in my car; and while parked in the drive way and without turning the engine on, I played different scenarios in my head. I moved my right foot back and forth rapidly from the gas to the brake, gas to brake, brake to gas, all the while imagining I was pulling into a parking spot, backing up, or approaching a cross walk. I did my absolute best to confuse my foot but it just didn’t work. I hit the correct pedals each time!
Now I grant you that in twenty years, should I be blessed to live that long, the chances that my reflexes, agility and quick thinking are going to be the same as they are today are pretty slim, and I too stand the chance of sailing though the front window of my local 7-Eleven. However, before I end up next to the dairy case, I hope common sense would kick in, either my own, or a family member and say, “Sunny it’s time to turn in your keys!”
During the course of our conversation, Irene told me this joke and I’d like to share it with you. She is quite a woman for her age!
Two elderly women were out driving in a large car. Both could barely see over the dashboard. As they were cruising along they came to an intersection. The stoplight was red but they just went on through. The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself, "I must be losing it; I could have sworn we just went through a red light." After a few more minutes they came to another intersection and the light was red again, and again they went right though. This time the woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it. She was getting nervous, and decided to pay very close attention to the road, and the next intersection to see what was going on. At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was definitely red and they went right through, she turned to the other woman and said, "Mildred! Don't you know we just ran three red lights in a row! You could have killed us!" Mildred turned to her and said "Oh Damn! Am I driving?"
20 comments:
I am always a little nervous when I see little old ladies driving great big Buicks - now I'll be very nervous!
Love the joke. My father was still driving when he was in his eighties but eventually we all persuaded him it was time to call it a day.
I tend to agree with all of your Post. I enjoyed the joke, but on the other hand it's not really funny when you truly think about it (No Pun Intended).
I've seen on so many, many ocassions these much older Senior Citizens driving a large car or any car for that manner. Some of what I've observed are they are much to slow in their reaction time, can barely see over the wheel, and in some case's have much trouble just getting in the car. I my opinion, this must stop.
Even though I feel that they have the right to get around like everyone else, I think they should be forced to take a Drivers Exam at a certain age. If you can't pass it anymore, then it's time to stop driving before someone else get's killed or more property is damaged.
The same thing as you described has taken place around here a number of times. They mistook the gas pedal for the brake! I'm sorry, but I have trouble believing all that. I'm thinking that they just get messed up in the excitement.
Another example is a few years ago an older "gentleman" went into the local motorcycle dealer and purchased a bike. When he went out to drive it away, he forgot which hand controls the brake and which one the throttle! He slammed into the wall of the building!
Cute story, Sunny.... My father-in-law continued to drive until he lost his sight last year. I think he misses that more than anything else in his life since he now has to count on help from others. He SO desperately wants to keep his independence. That's why he is 97.
Good Luck to Irene.
Hugs,
Betsy
I agree with you and hope I or a family member would tell me too.
It must be hard to give up driving and the independence that it gives you.
I know it's hard to give up your independence, but I also hope I have enough sense to stop driving when it's no longer safe for me and everyone else on the road! I enjoyed the joke too!
LOL, wondered what she was gonna say...
Losing one's independence would be so difficult but sometimes it for the best. I have come very close on more than one occasion to being hit by the little lady who can barely see over the steering wheel of her tank size vehicle.
That said, the other drivers that scare me even more are the teens who are driving while texting and eating a burger. One almost hit me last week!
hahahaha!! Love that joke!!
I do hope I know when to hang up my keys, sell my house and move to town within walking distance of necessary stores.
Got to agree with Squirrel Queen about those "other" drivers. I was rear ended by a nice YOUNG man on his cell phone while I was stopped behind a school bus.
I have a dear friend who had a terrible time giving up driving. He had a nerve disease and couldn't feel his feet and STILL kept on driving. It's possible that as these drivers get older they can't really tell what they're doing with their feet. But I also agree with the others here: texting and talking on the phone are very dangerous too.
LOL! I hope I have the sense to stop driving if and when I reach the age of 90! Or at least I'll stop racing.
Very funny!
Touch of the auto pilot working here, I think!
I love the joke -- thanks! As Betsy said, my Dad was driving when he was 96. I'll have to admit that my sister and I were quite nervous about his getting behind the wheel during that last year, but we were finally able to convince him to turn in his keys. Within weeks he was legally blind, so we're glad he didn't have an accident.
That was a funny joke but sadly older drivers do lose their faculties and can be a danger to others. Mind you my husband's grandmother is in her '80s and has no problems whatsoever.
I have to remember that one next time I run a red light!
Great joke
My Aunt Katherine is now 94 and amazing. A couple of years back, she had an accident and hit a light pole. There was no one else involved and it was the deal you speak of, the foot confusion.
At any rate, she decided to stop driving. And, what she said is the most wonderful thing. She said, "I will not drive any more. I think it was my angel who made me have that accident. If I had an accident and hurt or killed myself, that would be one thing. But to think that I may have hurt another? That would be too awful to ever get over!"
So, now she has the inconvenience of not driving, but the peace of mind of knowing she has done the braver thing.
I hope I am always able to make the same brave choices.
Thank you all for your comments.
It's really a tough situation because taking away our right to drive is really taking away our independence. It's a hot topic in this area as the discussion for retesting at 85 comes up for debate.
Irene told me that she'll take a test because at her age she is still a better driver than most of the young people and she would never talk on a cell phone while driving!
Sunny :)
Older people do lose concentration and their reflexes and
judgement aren't as sharp as they could be but I still think young drivers are worse.
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