Senior Citizen 86 And Still Driving And Killing
Ken Hughes
October 22, 2006
George Russell Weller an 89 year old Los Angeles Senior Citizen ran his car into a group of people and killed 10 in 2003. Friday the jury found Mr. Weller guilty of vehicular manslaughter after 8 hours of deliberation. There was never any doubt of Mr. Weller’s guilt he was apprehended at the scene of the [accident] crime. Mr. Weller had all kinds of excuses and little remorse. When he was apprehended his inappropriate comments were attributed to his confusion rather than his bad manors. What will they do to punish someone nearly 90 years old?
My question is why did a person 86 years old person in poor health have a license to drive why did his family allow him to drive. The answers to that question are many and assorted. Hundreds of people in their 80’s are capable of driving, thousands more are not and sill they drive.
Neither family nor friends ever see it coming they make excuses for the elderly. The car is the only thing the old gentleman has left to enjoy his wife is gone and most of his functional parts are either missing or plastic. His old 1991 car is all he has left to enjoy. Other members of his family know if he has his car he won’t bug the hell out of them. The problem is a car in the hands of a senile senior citizen is equal to a loaded gun pointed at the public, they’re disaster in the making and when it comes it’s never their fault, supposedly.
This isn’t or should it be an indictment of all senior citizens I’m 75 and still have all my faculties in check. There are thousand more like me who’re as capable of driving as the next person. Due to the marvels of modern health care we are living longer and better than any time in history. How can it be determined who is and who isn’t capable of operating a vehicle without violating someone’s rights, who has the greater right, villain or victim?
There’ve been many suggestions from annual testing of seniors to special license plates on their cars. The harshest I’ve heard is anyone over 65 should be deprived of a driver’s license. You can bet that one came from someone who can’t see over the dashboard or that far down the road.
As a member of the group who are vulnerable of becoming a victim of a senior who isn’t capable of control but is still driving and being one who’ll be among those who are being restricted I have a suggestion. Every two years anyone over the age of 70 needs to be road tested on their driving skills. If they pass go forth and be happy, if they fail not only restrict their license to no driving status but cancel their license plate priveledges for their cars and deny them Auto Insurance. Supposedly driving is a privilege allowed by the state, [a premise I disagree with but will argue another time.]
Give the state the authority to regulate senior citizens without violating any of their constitutional rights. There comes a time when security trumps convince, I would be willing to be tested every two years and follow the rules. If there were disagreements a review panel could be established to assure fairness.
It’s a matter of safety for all not a violation of anyone’s rights. Old drivers, young drivers and drunk drivers are killing innocent people at an alarming rate. It’s needs to be brought under control.
My question is why did a person 86 years old person in poor health have a license to drive why did his family allow him to drive. The answers to that question are many and assorted. Hundreds of people in their 80’s are capable of driving, thousands more are not and sill they drive.
Neither family nor friends ever see it coming they make excuses for the elderly. The car is the only thing the old gentleman has left to enjoy his wife is gone and most of his functional parts are either missing or plastic. His old 1991 car is all he has left to enjoy. Other members of his family know if he has his car he won’t bug the hell out of them. The problem is a car in the hands of a senile senior citizen is equal to a loaded gun pointed at the public, they’re disaster in the making and when it comes it’s never their fault, supposedly.
This isn’t or should it be an indictment of all senior citizens I’m 75 and still have all my faculties in check. There are thousand more like me who’re as capable of driving as the next person. Due to the marvels of modern health care we are living longer and better than any time in history. How can it be determined who is and who isn’t capable of operating a vehicle without violating someone’s rights, who has the greater right, villain or victim?
There’ve been many suggestions from annual testing of seniors to special license plates on their cars. The harshest I’ve heard is anyone over 65 should be deprived of a driver’s license. You can bet that one came from someone who can’t see over the dashboard or that far down the road.
As a member of the group who are vulnerable of becoming a victim of a senior who isn’t capable of control but is still driving and being one who’ll be among those who are being restricted I have a suggestion. Every two years anyone over the age of 70 needs to be road tested on their driving skills. If they pass go forth and be happy, if they fail not only restrict their license to no driving status but cancel their license plate priveledges for their cars and deny them Auto Insurance. Supposedly driving is a privilege allowed by the state, [a premise I disagree with but will argue another time.]
Give the state the authority to regulate senior citizens without violating any of their constitutional rights. There comes a time when security trumps convince, I would be willing to be tested every two years and follow the rules. If there were disagreements a review panel could be established to assure fairness.
It’s a matter of safety for all not a violation of anyone’s rights. Old drivers, young drivers and drunk drivers are killing innocent people at an alarming rate. It’s needs to be brought under control.
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