:ohdear: Let me start by saying nobody feels more sympathy for the injured in this case than I do. With that said, I feel no glee in seeing a 91 year old sentenced to 5 years in prison as some on this site seem to. And may I ask you who got killed? Terribly injured..... yes. Killed..... no. Glad you weren't on the jury. :oops:

How is the Community Served?
 

Upfront: I agree with all the comments. However, I wonder if putting an 81-year-old woman in prison helps anyone, even her since prison is supposed to be about getting the person to realize their mistake and getting them back into society. I think a more apt punishment that would cost the govt less would be to 1. home arrest with ankle bracelet - let her pay for her upkeep 2. revoke driving license forever 3. 5-year probation so if she leaves the home, to prison 4. punitive damages to family. Let's keep prison for the murderers and such who I do not want around.

She hit the people...stopped...got out of her car and looked at the victims on the ground....got back in her car and drove off. Then she went right to a body shop to get the car repaired. Told the repairman the blood on the car was from an animal she just hit. When the police finally caught up to her and ask questions...she fled the state, lawyered up and has fought this case for at least 2 years. This is not Mother Theresa.

More like "Ma Barker", maybe?

That is a dumb thing to say , you are placing every senior in the same boat.

Try maybe retesting everyone every 6 years regardless of age.

How many accidents do you read at this age compared to younger people.

Think before you post

Totally agree with retesting every 5-6 years regardless of age. Not only does it serve to refresh our driving skills, it helps everyone to learn any new laws that have been passed. Maybe some of the drivers would actually come to a stop at a stop sign!

No social security payments while incarcerated for a felony. Check your facts .

Would you say that the Federal Aviation Administration's rule of not allowing an airline pilot to fly passengers after age 60 also "age discrimination" and thus another example of "prejudice"?

And why or why not?

Travesty ? Are you serious. She wasn’t found guilty and sentenced to jail for hitting the bicyclist. She LEFT THE SCENE when someone was injured. No excuse for that. Accidents happen but willful neglect is irresponsible.

You have some good points and I have to comment on this one. TV is a "Gold Rated Community" but the League of American Bicyclists.

The Villages: Building a Bicycle Friendly Community in Florida | League of American Bicyclists

The fact that close calls, "bad feelings", and the occasionally maimed or killed cyclist happen here (one of the best places to ride in the entire country) is a sign that there is a major problem between cyclists and motorists.

And I just don't understand it. We're talking about taking just a moment, slowing down, and changing lanes. I doesn't matter if you're passing one rider or a group of 20, it's just a matter of seconds and you're past the group safely and on with your life as are they. Maybe once in awhile it's 20 seconds. But for some reason motorists just lose their everloving minds when they have to accommodate any other road users.

You even have posts on this thread (#11) that suggest cyclist wouldn't get hit if they rode responsibly. I mean, what the hell?? Is it OK to mow down anybody on or near the roadway just because they might be 1 foot to the left of where you think they should be?

I don't know what the solution is but it sure is a problem.

Joe

Retesting is a joke. People, in general, know the driving manual. I’m talking about over age 85 physical reflexes, mental reflexes and physical agility. Those abilities are greatly diminished after age 85, it doesn’t make any difference if you can bench press 500 lbs at that age.

Your analogy of younger drivers having more accidents is skewed. You would have to compare miles driven, highways driven, weather conditions and beginner drivers to start with.

There have been so many accidental hit the gas rather than the brake and put it in drive instead of reverse which the elderly person intended.

The woman in this sad accident is the perfect example. Do you think she is on the road everyday driving to work, picking up children from school and all of the activities of younger drivers? Of course not. Many fewer hours are driven by the elderly so those stats you provided don’t hold water in that boat.

Good points. It is a fact that the practice of mixing bicyclists and motorists on our streets (and to a lesser extent on highways) poses risk, sometimes considerable, for the bicyclist(s). Yes, they have a legal right to be there: I don't know about the rest of you but I'd rather be alive than right.

Back in Minneapolis (before the riots changed the downtowns into more-or-less ghost towns) you'd see bicyclists riding in downtown Minneapolis, usually two- by-two, and often at speeds that if an automobile was doing it, could easily result in a ticket for going too slow and impeding traffic. Driving in cities can be frustrating: if there is a vehicle or vehicles ahead of you going at about 1/2 to 2/3 your speed and you have a timeline to meet, are late for an appointment or a meeting, etc., it can be infuriating. Human nature is what it is. Lots of horn blowing, hand gestures, risk-taking, and sometimes even violence. There've been instances of cars intentionally bumping bicyclists, pulling next to them and forcing them to the curb, etc. To many drivers, bicyclists are seen as entitled jerks that see themselves as above the law, and their passive-aggressive cycling habits that inhibit traffic flow is resented in the extreme.

I am pretty sure that there are bicyclists who see motorists in equally negative lights, and both may be true, to a greater or lesser extent. But the truth of the matter is that bicycles and cars don't mix well, never really have, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

That is how it used to be in Florida.

When I was at the Univ. of Florida in the 1960's, I had to go to the DMV to be tested every year or two. They checked my vision, hearing, and my ability to read traffic signs.

It was basically to see if I was a functioning adult and, of course, I passed easily. Now I am 77 and I think all drivers my age should be tested every year.

I have lived it. I hope this couple gets everything they deserve to help with expenses they will continue to deal with for the rest of their days. Trust me when I tell you if I had been awarded all the money Bill Gates has, it would not be enough for the loss of function for the rest of your life. People seem to think money makes everything better. Sad

They should also be tested for swift braking ability, quick maneuvering when required, ability to turn head and neck to check blind spots… the list goes on and on.