You bet your life
My philosophy that life is a game of craps came to life on Wednesday. I believe that each day you get up in the morning and roll the dice. And each day you hope you don’t "7 out." Unfortunately, 10 innocent people visiting the Farmer’s Market at the Promenade in Santa Monica rolled a 7 that day – all dead, thanks to an 86-old driver who mowed down two blocks of fruit, vegetables, and people.
Andy works on the corner where the accident happened and had just walked back from the Promenade 20 minutes before the accident, so he could have easily been one of the victims who died that day. I still shudder at that thought.
My heart goes out to all the victims of this horrific accident. For the rest of you, I hope the dice doesn’t land on 7. As for the old geezers who can't see for shit or have diminished mental capacity, get a bus pass.
Posted at July 18, 2003 10:51 AM
Comments
It's not quite that simple. In the Bay Area, seniors can use public transportation (BART or MUNI) to get nearly anywhere, quickly and (mostly) reliably. Try that in Los Angeles for a week. I have regularly used the limited bus system down here, and it's weak.
If you take away a senior's car anywhere, you take away much of their mobility and independence. But in Los Angeles, you also severely hamper their ability to survive.
My response to that- tough shit.
There are many alternatives for seniors in LA - Dial-a-Ride, City Ride, to name a few.
I dealt with the aging mother, as you well know, who thought she could drive. She also forgot common rules of the road, got lost, and didn't know what day it was, yet, according to the DMV, she could drive. We had to take her license away. It was hard, but she survived. So did all the people who might have gotten in her way had we let her keep driving.
Me dealry departed grandfather was also a serial car driver well past his prime, endangering himself and all others around him. After a year of worry, we took the car away - pretty much by force.
I agree with Toni, in that it's a case of tough shit! If you're not up to it, then it is frankly tough luck matey. As for hampering their ability to survive, it hampers a good deal more on the roads around the world each day.
Post a comment
It's not quite that simple. In the Bay Area, seniors can use public transportation (BART or MUNI) to get nearly anywhere, quickly and (mostly) reliably. Try that in Los Angeles for a week. I have regularly used the limited bus system down here, and it's weak.
If you take away a senior's car anywhere, you take away much of their mobility and independence. But in Los Angeles, you also severely hamper their ability to survive.
Posted by: Andy Baio at July 18, 2003 11:08 AM