Letter to the Editor: Senior drivers aren’t the problem, unless you mean high school seniors

Composite photo | Vehicle collision photo by RobertCrum/iStock/Getty Images Plus. Photo of senior vs. teenager by Ljupco/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

OPINION — In reference to your recent article regarding the problems older people (65+) may have with their driving capabilities, I would like you to know that my husband and I are in our 80’s and recently purchased a motorhome.

Read more: Research finds over 80 percent of older drivers aren’t talking about driving safety

We’ve actually taken it out on the Interstate, drove it fast, went to a bordering state (Wyoming), camped for 4 days and safely returned home with no problems. I propose posting a photo of it and hopefully all other drivers will put it in their “brain’s” memory banks so that when they see us, they will GET OUT OF OUR WAY and we can drive safely.

And while the family is gathering to discuss these driving habits with their senior members, I suggest they might also include the young drivers in the conversation. This would be those from 16 to 30.

They belong to the entitlement mentality of this group who figure the world is theirs and once they get their driver’s licenses, look out! They are a greater threat to our roads than the older and wiser ones. If you don’t believe me, just read the daily wrecks that occur in our area. It’s alarming to me that most of them are young girls.

Submitted by PAT FARQUAR, St. George, Utah.

Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting..

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Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.

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16 Comments

  • DB August 21, 2018 at 2:21 pm

    This is anecdotal, but all drivers blowing past me on Dixie Drive doing 55 mph are younger than my tender young age of 63. I’ve been here nine years and have seen the change in driving habits over that time span.

  • AnnieMated August 21, 2018 at 2:30 pm

    Frankly you driving a motor home scares me. Yes, young drivers are terrible, too. The young drivers drive super fast and super aggressive. I wish I could say that older drivers were older, wiser and better drivers but they’re not. Instead of driving super fast, older drivers drive super slow. Too often I get behind one driving 25 mph in a 40 zone in the fast lane. Do old drivers drive aggressively? No. They look but can’t see. They stop when they shouldn’t such as when making a right turn into a parking lot without a traffic control device or rear end the person in front of them because they can’t move their foot fast enough to stop in time. Of course if you ask them they get all offended and angrily assert that they can drive.

    • Steve August 21, 2018 at 11:46 pm

      The thing that drives me nuts is getting on the freeway behind a capable vehicle who’s driver is satisfied at 40 mph and usually takes 1-2 miles to actually reach freeway speeds. At first opportunity I pass them and 95% of the time they are elderly drivers. Granted the other 5% of the people are distracted, which isn’t any better. Do these people not realize that driving that slow on the freeway is a major risk?
      I’m astonished there are not more accidents caused by this.

    • Mike P August 22, 2018 at 7:33 am

      Again AnnieMated, I wonder if you’ll still feel this way when you’re 60+ . Unfortunately, you can’t honestly answer until then. Pease don’t take me wrong, I really do hear ya on this..

  • Jmfixitman August 21, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    Ok maybe in your 80s you guys can drive a motorhome safely, maybe… I’m retired, not quite that old, and after moving here a couple years ago I can tell you for sure, the senior drivers here are horrible, just as Annie said above in her comments. Yes teen drivers are bad as well, that’s everywhere. I’ve seen seniors driving like komakazi’s here, and the SHOULD know better. Turning right from the left lane, turning in front of on coming traffic, stopping in the middle of the road, etc. It’s just crazy like any other retiree town.

  • sheepobserver August 21, 2018 at 4:49 pm

    Young people’s reflexes are way better than older person’s. It’s the reason old people aren’t doing extreme sports, and in general can’t compete against the youth in any way when it comes to reflexes. Sure there may be AN exception, but the general rule would be that the older a person gets, the slower they are to react. Not good on the road.

    No shame, no criticism. Just the fact of the matter. Same as a 10 year old not being as capable as a 30 year old. It’s not a criticism, just an observation.

    Sure, the young push their limits beyond their capabilities………………but the old over estimate their capabilities (due to what they used to be able to do).

    Both should be regulated more than those in their prime.

    • Happy Commenter August 21, 2018 at 7:35 pm

      you say that now..hahaha! drive defensively my friend..Just remember, they can’t legislate stupid!

      • mesaman August 21, 2018 at 9:29 pm

        The most salient comment on this subject. Defensive driving should be required of all drivers and should require a refresher every time you renew your license, at every age level.

    • Mike P August 23, 2018 at 10:07 am

      Yes, and young people are way smarter , wiser, and have more experience than older people too. Just ask them.

      • Happy Commenter August 23, 2018 at 11:59 am

        Using Mike P’s Quote. “Yes, and young people are way smarter , wiser, and have more experience than older people too.” Right up until reality bites ’em in the butt and they blame everybody else because most of them have a real problem with accountability!

  • Kilroywashere August 21, 2018 at 4:59 pm

    I just witnessed a banzai move today by a driver in a white SG city truck this afternoon as I was coming out of Smiths onto Tabernacle. Truck went flying non stop thru the dirt area in front of a moving gravel truck adjacent, not stopping while turning right onto Bluff. It was reckless and left a massive 30-40′ dirt cloud down the street. The driver wasn’t 80 years old, I guarantee you. This is all relative. See letter entitled “deconstructive driving”. Should come up in first spot of search engine list. Distracted driving is the obvious symptom, and although age is and can be a factor, old or young, it pales in comparison to other things in this town when it comes to driving like responsible human beings. Wake up.

  • mmsandie August 22, 2018 at 9:01 am

    If you go by any high school when school gets out, young kids speed out.. if you go by churches on Sunday when services get out. Watch out. Dixie dr is definitely a speed zone.. Dixie dr is worse.. skyline dr is a danger zone, people pas right and left. And usual young being late fir work. Be careful out there.we say drivers move here from different states and countries,, and drive differently.but tourists renting cars and res from out of countr6 are dangerous too. When 8nrealize Germany is the size of Utah and has 80 million people , and so few accidents.. why? Because their driver ed course is longer and more strict..I,ve been there and in 17 yrs seen only 3 accidents on autobahn..

  • LunchboxHero August 22, 2018 at 11:13 am

    I am so glad this letter was posted b/c I couldn’t believe that article. I would sooo much rather be surrounded by senior citizens on the roads than teenagers, and I’m exactly halfway between the two age groups. Teens need to be put through proper drivers’ ed courses and be made to understand that a driver’s license is not something that’s just owed to them. It’s a huge responsibility.

    • AnnieMated August 22, 2018 at 1:58 pm

      I could live without both of them. Young drivers think they are invincible and the old don’t realize just how much they’ve declined.

  • Larry August 22, 2018 at 11:42 am

    Stupid comes in all ages.

    • Happy Commenter August 22, 2018 at 6:15 pm

      You got that right Larry!

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