Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisBlair
Easily fixable...
If it is so easily fixable, how how come it is not fixed right now? And how is it better to have a danger due to circumstances beyond control replaced by a danger that is within a control but is not?
Reflexes? Short story. At 19 I was almost killed by a van that blew a stop sign at 40 mph and hit my car right behind the driver's door. My car was built in 1969. Convertible, no shoulder belts, and seat belts were not the law yet. No airbags, crumple zones etc. I was doing about 5mph. The van traveled about 25 yards between when I saw it cresting the hill, and that it would not stop and that it would hit me. My very keen reflexes didn't mean a thing. This isn't catching a cup falling from a table. And awareness? Q: What do teens look at most of the time? A: their cellphone.
I will agree that neither circumstances- unaware or incapable elderly OR inattentive and foolish teenager- is safe. What I will not agree with is that an elderly driver is worse compared to a teen because of the senior driver's reflexes or awareness.
I didn't make up the bit about teens and dangerous driving per mile or cause of death. Studies have been done on this subject; its not my opinion. The elderly are easier to spot, and that is all. Just like "all SUV drivers do this..." or "All Prius drivers do that...". No they don;t. They do something or drive something that makes them noticeable. For every senior driver you notice, how many did you not?
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Trust me, I hear you. I was out washing my Camaro about 2 weeks ago and some younger kid in a Civic was rubbernecking and rear-ended the car in front of him, right in front of my house. Like I said, it's a larger problem within our society as a whole, that's why it's not fixed right now. If you have an answer on how to make everyone gain some attention span and be less dependent on the little device they carry in their pocket, then let me know, because we are definitely headed in the opposite direction.
That being said, if a teenager simply eliminates all distractions while driving, like putting their phone down, turning off the radio, not fooling around with friends, etc., they are MUCH LESS likely to get into an accident. Whereas someone 85 years old can't just turn back a dial and all of a sudden gain the awareness, reaction time, and reflexes they possessed 50 years prior in order to stop in time, or make a quick decision if needed. Obviously accidents which aren't really that person's fault (such as yours when you were 19) are an exception, however, BOTH in the OP's case were completely preventable, and there really wasn't any excuse for either. I'll take my chances with an un-distracted teenager over an un-distracted elderly person.