This post is a way to blow off steam after an incident that happened today at around 8.05 in the morning on the way to school. First of all, let me specify that instead of driving, I walk my elder daughter to school every day. It’s a healthy habit that people in Greater Philadelphia area don’t seem to either support or understand. 

Anyway, getting back to the story. Alisa and I started crossing a tiny inner street. A car stood there in front of a stop sign waiting for its turn to go. We stepped forward and suddenly—the driver turned the steering wheel. Car was going straight at us. I screamed and we both jumped out to the curb. Thank goodness, I always hold my 8-year old by the hand. I looked at the driver whose eyes where popping out of his head. It seemed like he felt terrified of the fact that he have almost ran us over. 

A crucial detail of the story—the driver’s age. He looked at least 75+ years old. His reactions and eyesight must have been be not as good as they used to be. Now, I do respect old people but this man is a hazard on the road. And many more drivers who are alike him agewise.

It never stops astonishing me how people here in the US drive till the day they die! Last time I had to pay a visit to PennDOT I was deeply shocked by the aged women and men (hardly walking on their own) who still applied for driver’s license renewal. 

Unfortunately, not all people know when it’s time to stop driving. Maybe, they are lonely and nobody can take them to the places they want to go. But then again—public transportation does exist, even though it’s not as developed as it could have been. But it’s a different story…

To sum up, one should realize how extremely important it is to know when it’s time to wrap up your driving experience and become a passenger. 

Reading on the subject, I came across an article about the American driving laws intended for the elderly people: “There is no legal age at which you have to stop driving, so whether you renew your licence is up to you. It is your responsibility to decide whether you are still fit enough to drive. By law, you have to renew your licence when you reach the age of 70, and then every three years after that”.  Wow! 

The data I found on the American Council on Science Health website confirmed my fears: “Young people and old people are the likeliest to die in a car crash. This makes sense because younger people tend to be inexperienced and more reckless, while older people tend to have slower reflexes”.  

A little bit of statistics: Over the year of 2014, 14 million Americans aged 18 to 64 were estimated to be involved in accidents caused by drivers aged 65 and over, according to a new Caring.com report. Among those accident victims, 18- to 29-year-olds were the most likely to be involved in a crash with an elderly driver. 

Map of the fatal car accidents in the USA for the year 2016 

The good news for me is that my state—Pennsylvania—is not the deadliest one in regards of fatal car crashes. Mississippi is. 25.3 fatalities per 100,000 people happen on its territory. 

The safest driving state is Rhode Island, 5 fatalities per 100,000. Unexpectedly enough, the 3 most deadly states are in the rural south ( Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina). While the three safest states are urban Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts- all located in the Northeast. 

Dear drivers—young and old—please, buckle up and be attentive while driving! Respect the pedestrians and let us cross the streets without fear!