Nine Dead

[guido911]

I cannot imagine the horror on the turnpike yesterday. May God bless and keep them.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20090627_298_0_TeOlhm212300

[patric]

I cannot imagine the horror on the turnpike yesterday.

And we can only wonder as to why the OHP categorized the trucks apparent failure to even slow down as "unsafe speed for traffic conditions".
He wasnt speeding, he just didnt stop.

[rwarn17588]

Trucker fell asleep at the wheel, I reckon. Traffic cops I've talked to say it happens a lot more often than you'd think.

[Cherish]

Did I read that right...a truck driver who was 76 years old!!!!  This is why at the age of 65 every driver should be tested at least every 2 to 3 years.  They monitor teenage drivers and most can't drive after midnight...the same should happen to senior citizens.  Didn't this happen like 4 years ago in California where a senior citizen drove and killed people at a farmers market, that person wasn't asleep or even had anything wrong.  The story doesn't say anything about this 76 year old driver with a speeding bullet falling asleep at the wheel it happened in the afternoon so did he need to take a kindergarten nap or something?  I'm surprised someone allowed him to even drive a full size truck, I understand the whole age discrimination thing but come on!

[Red Arrow]

Young people can fall asleep at the wheel too.  Considering the way people drive all over the US (each area claims to have the worst), maybe everyone should be tested every 2 or 3 years, regardless of age.

[nathanm]

Young people can fall asleep at the wheel too.  Considering the way people drive all over the US (each area claims to have the worst), maybe everyone should be tested every 2 or 3 years, regardless of age.

I would be happy with some testing and training at the beginning.

[RecycleMichael]

Young people can fall asleep at the wheel too.  Considering the way people drive all over the US (each area claims to have the worst), maybe everyone should be tested every 2 or 3 years, regardless of age.

I don't know anout every two or three years...but maybe every five years after fifty would be prudent.

[Red Arrow]

I would be happy with some testing and training at the beginning.

Beginning of what?  Driving "career", age group,...?

As a private pilot, I must fly with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) every two years for a review of the rules and to make sure I still can fly properly.  Age doesn't matter.  Number of hours flying since the previous exam don't matter. The most notable exception is adding a rating which involves flying with the FAA or one of their designated examiners.  Airline pilots have checks more often.

[waterboy]

I could see an abbreviated testing every DL renewal for everyone. I'm tired of being lumped into old age just because I'm over 50. Paul Newman was competing and winning races in his 70's. A young driver with a hangover, sucking down super caffeinated canned drinks while driving like he'll never die is more dangerous than most old folks. Someone smoking dope, eating his lunch or putting on makeup whilst changing lanes without a signal is infinitely more dangerous.

A quick ten question test could weed out a lot of drivers who have forgotten or ignore basic rules of the road. Questions related to merging, tailgating, yielding, one way streets, 4 way stops and highway courtesy would be failed by a lot of people.

[Red Arrow]

Cherish wasn't on this forum the last time we discussed this. Maybe a brief recap is in order.

Same points coming up again.  Some are safe at older ages.  Some are not safe at any age.

[waterboy]

Cherish wasn't on this forum the last time we discussed this. Maybe a brief recap is in order.

Same points coming up again.  Some are safe at older ages.  Some are not safe at any age.

Yeah, I just tried to summarize. Life is just not safe anymore anywhere.

No skid marks means no one knows just how fast that rig was going.

[Wilbur]

And we can only wonder as to why the OHP categorized the trucks apparent failure to even slow down as "unsafe speed for traffic conditions".
He wasnt speeding, he just didnt stop.

Because, the statute and the section on the collision report form use this language.  If you don't like the language, I suppose you could petition the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and have him change all the forms.

[patric]

Trucker fell asleep at the wheel, I reckon. Traffic cops I've talked to say it happens a lot more often than you'd think.

Without skid marks or witness accounts, does "unsafe speed for traffic conditions" have any more credibility than "falling asleep at the wheel", or did they need to tie it to "speeding" for statistical (grant$) reasons?

[Wilbur]

Without skid marks or witness accounts, does "unsafe speed for traffic conditions" have any more credibility than "falling asleep at the wheel", or did they need to tie it to "speeding" for statistical (grant$) reasons?

Since neither you, nor I, have any first hand knowledge of this investigation, we don't know.  Because there were no skid marks does not mean he did not try to stop.  All the truck driver would have to say is "I tried to stop" and that makes it fall into that statute.  It will also be the easiest one to prove at trial.

With the 80,000 collisions each year in this state, this is the 'most popular'.  Failing to stop with a clear distance ahead (rear-ending the dude in front of you) is considered a speeding violation.  Sorry.  But your state representatives and your city council put it there, not the police.

Tulsa ordinance:  Title 37 Section 618
http://www.cityoftulsa.org/media/17866/Title37_000.pdf

[nathanm]

Beginning of what?  Driving "career", age group,...?

When you first get your driver's license. Qualifying to pilot 1-3 tons of steel on crowded roads near pedestrians shouldn't be easy.

I think what brought me to that view was when I was taking my written test in Arkansas. As with most multiple choice exams, I passed easily without even bothering to think about it. As I was getting ready to leave, a girl says to her mother upon finding out she had failed the test, "I've taken the test five times already, why don't they just give me the stupid permit?!"

The sense of entitlement was palpable, and there was absolutely no concern about the safety of  herself or others.

So yeah, a driver's license is something you should earn, not just have handed to you on a platter as is done in this country.

As far as what to do with elderly drivers, I have no concrete opinion. Regular retesting seems advisable, but I'm also sensitive to concerns of age discrimination.