I guess she'll have to kill someone before they yank her license.

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Police: 94-year-old driver hits ditches, sign, trees and telephone pole
By: Christopher Ruvo

An elderly Riegelsville woman told police she was distracted when she drove her car into ditches, a roadside sign, a tree and a telephone pole over a span of three miles on Route 412 in Nockamixon, state police said Tuesday.

Mary L. Dungan, 94, sustained minor injuries and her 1996 Honda Accord was towed, troopers reported.

Dungan was south on the 4000 block of Route 412 shortly before 10 a.m. on Thursday when she drove into a ditch, said police. The car traveled 21 feet before striking a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation sign, police said. .

Undaunted, Dungan continued driving, but 54 feet down the road from the collision with the sign her Accord reportedly struck a large tree.

But Dungan kept on trucking, and soon damaged the vehicle’s transmission by striking a ditch on the southbound side of the road, police said.

The car then crossed the roadway and hit the northbound side ditch before striking a telephone pole, troopers reported.

Traveling south on the northbound side of the road, Dungan’s car hit the ditch again before crossing to the south side of Route 412, said police.

And on Dungan went, south on Route 412, before turning onto Route 611. There the escapade ended, more than three miles from the initial crash site, said police.

A press release from state police said Dungan has not been charged.

Sure glad shes not driving around where I live

A long time ago, my father and aunt tried to get NY to pull my Grandfather's DL to no avail. The NY DMV agreed with them but as long as he could pass the tests his license was renewed.

I put my Mother's car title in my name. Fortunately I never had to sell the car out from under her. She kinda liked being chofured(sp).

It's odd when the parent/child roles are reversed.

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John

I used to live in Florida. It's where all the folks who don't know how to drive in the north East retire. Almost weekly, you'd read about some 90+er backing out of their driveway, zooming across the street and running over some offspring.

They also have the nasty habit of letting Fi Fi go play near the canals. The gators love to eat little doggies!

Chances are she's a better driver than this knucklehead in Dallas!!!

This Is Not How You're Supposed to Fly Out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport - Dallas News - Unfair Park

Be safe.

I was in the parking lot of the local Big Lots store, which was pretty well empty. Only two cars near the store, and one nice new Mustang in the next row. I was parked out about ten spaces as I was waiting for the wife to show up, and watched as this beat-to-hell Honda Accord slooooowly came across the lot, curving around the Mustang...barely, I was waiting for her to crunch the front fender she was so close, she was cutting in between it and a pole designating the Handicapped spot across from it. The owner of one of the two cars was loading his purchases into the back seat, another guy was hopping on his Harley that was parked one spot away, when the elderly lady cut the corner and headed up the parking aisle... ever so slowly rubbing the side of her car against the guys rear bumper. She never tried to stop, just kept on rubbin harder and harder, caving in the passenger front and rear doors and quarter panel. I am about stone cold deaf and was on the other side of her car and STILL I heard the quarter panel POP! and she goes on creeping by... the guy hollers at her, the biker steps out and flags her down... she stops, the guy tells her she hit his car, she turns the wheel to the left and takes off, the front end of her car smashing up into one of the planter sections at the end of the aisle, high centering on it...

I went on into the store after giving the guy my name and number in case he needed another witness. I never heard from him, from the shape of the car I think that this was surely not the first time the lady had played demo-derby.

she gets some style points.
if your out to cash in a ride ..... thats how its DONE SON.

There comes a time when a driver just needs to hang it up. Many seem to do exactly that when the time comes ... others just wont read the memo.
if she were 23 ... she'd have lost her license and her freedom for fleeing the scene of an accident, reckless driving, public endangerment, destruction of property.

at what age does this become "cute"?

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it just needs more voltage

I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather-not screaming in terror like his bus passengers

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Forum consigliere

When my Step-Mother, "Mabel" got into her 80's, she wanted to keep driving but realized she could not see well enough to drive at night. She also had some health issues that were related to smoking, so my Dad quit buying her cigarrettes.

She would sneak out to buy cigs while my Dad was at work, one night he had to work late and wasn't going to get home till well past dark. Mabel took this opportunity to sneak down to the store for some smokes, she got out on the highway, the headlights of the oncoming cars confused her, she crossed the centerline and hit another vehicle head on, destroying both cars. Fortunately, the seat belts and air bags in both vehicles worked as advertised and no one was injured.

She called my Dad up and said "Come get me, somethings wrong with the car, it won't start"......

My Dad's insurance company payed the claim, and said they wouldn't raise his rates if Mabel turned in her drivers license, which she did. From then on, she had to find other ways to sneak cigarrettes.....

Well said! I think older drivers should have to pass tests every so many years after a certain age.

And I'm coming close to that age. Very close!

I'm going through some issues with my mom.My dad is OK but at 80 I want to watch things.I got into a big fight a few weeks ago with my brother about my dad driving after dark.I drove around the corner and spied on my dadd then followed him.He did fine.Gonna come a time when even he will have to stop.That's gonna suck.
Understand,My dad is a car nut and a good driver.'66 F100 Big Block 4Speed.He bought new in '66.Still drives it.

D.G.

I'm coming up on the small 40.
never been a fan of trucks as primary transportation and always favored a quick and nimble car. I find some advantages in this.
Im not really young, nor am I done but there are some things at age 27 I could do in that Mustang of mine that I wouldn't DARE try now. I can feel that requisite timing and precision for hand brake turns dwindle.
But thats fine. I know what its like to drop that 4500 RPM crank into a 5 speed, I really have nothing to prove to myself or any curiosity to feed.
Its a young punks job now.
likewise I know Ill keep losing abilities as the years pile on. The pony will tell me when I need to pass her along just as she's told me to slow down and live a while.

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it just needs more voltage

Jeez Louise!!!!!Reminds me of the South Park episode where old people[i'm 66!] were driving!

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WALSTIB

The important question is whether she was carrying a semi-auto pistol or a revolver........Shoo

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"Get Hammered By a Shooboy!!"

A short note about the FLA drivers. I tell my wife never to sit in any restaurant which has a table facing the window and/parking lot. Not a week goes by down here without one of our seniors driving thru a plate glass window at a drive in, bank, drug store, etc. The usual story is the gas pedal "stuck". If you value your life keep this in mind when visiting our beautiful state.

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Martin Co,FLA(finally made it)

Are they sure it wasn't a Toyota?

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Sure you did

^^^^Got that right.Judge.

D.G.

But sometimes you can out fox them. My Mom was "loosing it" She would loose it at an intersection and forget where she was at or going.. Unclear which. My sister had tried to intervene with bad results... "Nothing wrong with me, it's all those other people driving crazy fast.."
My sister talked to Mom's physician and he then broached the topic and then suggested that with all the crazy people on the road, maybe it would be better if she reduced her "stress levels" by not driving any more. I guess this logic from an "authority figure" worked as Mom agreed.

Perhaps this will work for those of you who used to be the child and are now on the other side of the fence.

It is a sad time in our lives.

Its always a bit sad ... but not always hard and doesnt always require trickery, just an allowance for dignity.
Took my father a long time to acquire his dream machine.
Last time I was there the tail light of his F250 Diesel was smashed and he claimed that a brake line blew and he hasnt moved her since.
I know for a fact that two years prior, all the lines were changed out, brake and fuel. I did the work myself.
you can bet I checked into his old lady .... the plumbing is still as dead on pristine as the day I tightened the last fitting. the tale was half true ... he hadnt moved it since ... so, Ill just let him pretend the line is blown. Its better that way

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it just needs more voltage

Don't even start me on my tales. I work in an old folks' home.

One morning, one lady meets me in the parking lot and says, "I just hit a car in the lot because of the ice." I looked around the dry parking lot and said, "What ice?" She said, "The ice on my windshield." She hadn't been able to scrape it off. She hit a car on her driver's side which meant she had also been driving on the wrong side of the lot.

Another woman is chronically on death's door. She is very frail. She has passed out and broken her nose. She not only still drives but she takes her best friend who is legally blind out for long drives in the country.

I had to persuade the family of an Alzheimer's-stricken tenant to take her car away because I was afraid she'd get lost and never find her way back.

They are going pretty slow and don't go on the interstate but I worry all the time. Some seem to know when it's time to get rid of the car. Some wait until the car is totalled.

I had brought in a speaker from the Department of Highway Safety with a multimedia presentation on when it's time to give up the keys. None of the attendees realized he meant them.

In PA, you can notify the state police about your concern and they will issue a citation for a mandatory retest.

Be thankful she wasn't driving the '32 Plymoth she learned on.

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Pete.

Apparently, all the seniors chased out of Florida because of bad driving end up here, where a blinking turn signal means nothing (you figure this out after following such for half a mile or more...), where left turn lanes are a curious, unfamiliar novelty to many drivers, reaction times are measured in minutes, not seconds, left turn arrows seem to surprise people as much as a Unicorn might, and dashboard-mounted compasses are still in favor for some sort of dead-reckoning navigation to here from states where driver training evidently involves self-propelled farm implements...

Good Morning:
The driver in this discussion has passed the entrance exam and can now drive in Saint Petersburg, Florida.
Jimmy

I was in the Texas DPS office several years ago, getting my DL renewed, and there was an elderly lady there getting her's renewed also. The officer giving her the eye exam had her look into the machine and she said she couldn't read any of that. The officer just said "That's alright." and passed her.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

yeah ... I had an old lady in the DLR line that was basically blind pass the exam each time I was in for three rotations ... they dont care.
but believe me, the standards would have been held to me. dont understand why that is.

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it just needs more voltage

We've got plenty more if you folks out there are running low on 'em.

Bob

In PA , as with most other states that regard a drivers license as a 'privlege' , they seem to suspend yer license for any and every reason , mostly monetary , except too old to drive safely. Don't pay a fine or court judgement , don't pay city , state , county taxes , don't pay child support , don't respond to a summons , don't keep up insurance , and your 'privledge' gets suspended.

Though DWI is a serious offense , if ya blow a .08 during a checkpoint , ya get ARRESTED , even if yer driving fine.

Crash into everything in site because yer OLD , here's yer license , have a nice day!

For real fun you should go to the Summerlin area in Las Vegas which is home to a fair number of the mid 90's Town Car crowd. First, turn signals must be removed to qualify for a Summerlin number plate surround. After dark any speed above 25 will get you honked at as a hooligan. Then the city decided to show it had a sense of humour by installing several large roundabouts. Yes, I have found myself halfway round one leaning on the horn behind somebody who has STOPPED. Being British and fully familiar with this type of road feature and how to signal when negotiating it causes comment (and occasional screaming) from some unfamiliar passengers, especially the way I treat the yield signs.

Just as long as she uses the Publix across 4th St from the one I shop.

Because she has "not been charged" does not mean that they did not start proceedings for a license revokation or re-examination. Because those are administrative rules, and not criminal charges, a lot of police departments won't publicly release that information.

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LEO since 1981.

re: "letting Fi Fi go play near the canals. The gators love to eat little doggies!"

ah yes....the 'shish ka dogs'......
Knew some folks .....

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

When an LEO years ago in NJ, I answered a call of an auto accident. The quite elderly lady was sitting behind the wheel of her Caddy, trying to start the engine. I told her she couldn't do that because the front end of her car was wrapped around a tree. She said, "That's impossible!" I told her to come and look and when she did, she said, "Who put that tree in my garage?" She thought she was home....8 miles away. Sober but demented. I hope there are no cars in Heaven!

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Term limits!

Quote: A press release from state police said Dungan has not been charged. Unquote

You have to be joking!! It is NOT 'cute' when the older generation hits anything with an automobile!!

I think everyone SEVENTY and over should have to drop by the drivers license office EVERY YEAR; talk to someone for a few minutes to show they are able to have a conversation; pass the eye chart; get their license stamped on the back; and go back home.

I have felt this way for many years......and I am now well over seventy.....someone just needs to verify that I haven't missed something somewhere in my driving skills.

Now, someone go and give that lady a ticket for reckless driving and send her to driving school for a couple of days!!

In Ohio you cannot ask the BMV to revoke a person's DL, just because they are too old to drive. I found that out when I tried to get the state to revoke a person's driving priveleges. I got a letter back from them saying I cannot ask for an elderly persons privileges to be revoked because that would be discrimination, no matter how bad their driving is. I was po'ed to say the least. I always wondered if they called that person and had them retested.

I remember a joke that goes something like this:

Some little old ladies were sitting around, trying to decide what to do for the afternoon. One complained that they couldn't play bridge, because her arthritis was so painful she could barely use her hands. Another said they couldn't go for a walk, because her hip was so painful she could hardly stand. Yet another complained that they couldn't go to the movies, because her eyes were so bad she could hardly see. One more said they couldn't go to bingo, because her was so deaf she couldn't hear the numbers being called. The last one said they couldn't go shopping, because her memory was so bad she always forgets what she's looking for.

Finally, the last one said, "I know, let's go for a drive. At least we all still have our driver's licenses!"

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LEO since 1981.

Sad thing is none of you that want to revoke the DLs of the old timers have offered your services as chauffeur. Outside of the old large cities there is no other alternative to driving yourself. Cabs are too expensive for most to use and even in God's Waiting Room the bus routes are a joke. Using PSTA to do errands would take the best part of the day getting from one place to the other. Look up PSTA's bus routes, what were they thinking? If they actually were thinking.

TOO ..... BAD!!!

My wife is out there driving about too. And me on a motorcycle. And my kids in cars and bicycles...
If that's THE problem then it might just be time to MOVE TO THE BIG CITY.

Taking their license away IS NOT discriminating against them - Allowing them to drive is putting the rest of us and our families in danger!

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In dog years I'm dead.

Family, friends, neighbors, church.... I think most people are glad to help out. IMO, these issues often have more to do about freedom and independence of the aged driver than not being able to find a ride.

This is true at any age.
an 18 to 20 something needs to establish a way of life late 20's on through retirement needs to maintain a way of life.
at any point here is, the driving privilege is fragile.
a medical condition can end it, a moment of indiscretion can end it even a convoluted moment in the wrong place at the wrong time can end it.
There is a need for this privilege through these ages. Moreso than the need of the elderly.
The elderly have built their empires and can ride out the golden years on the foundations laid in the past. the rest of us are still building that empire, yet are in greater danger of having it destroyed by revocation

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it just needs more voltage

Who would have been my chauffeur when I was 19 driving a car that was identical to an old timer way past her sell by date, whos antics I was paying for.
WI has a 12 point system ... you screw up you get some demerit points, collect all twelve in the limited edition set, your gear is PARK.
out of the 11 I had accumulated I know I earned 4
the other 7 I was fighting trumped up tickets tickets from fantasy land because the PD wanted the madness of one red pinto station wagon to end.
I didnt have a CLUE why the PD drew that bead on me until I saw that blue hairs handywork while mine was parked on a stop operation order due to faulty exhaust.
My car was up on blocks and I was in town in a borrowed vehicle getting parts when I saw this piece of work wipe out a farmers produce stand.
about an hour after I got home Im talking to a Deputy facing hit and run.
Please tell me what you think I owe here?
I think I paid it

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it just needs more voltage

I havent read all the posts. I went through it with my dad too about 10 years ago when my dad had alzheimers and was 88.
I will point out we are judgeing by selected incidents of a small percentage of old people. I, and so can you, point out just as many, if not more, stupid irresponsable drivers that are 20 to 30 years old too!!
Think about it! I am 69 and just fought to get my flying physical back after a long hiatias from flying.
The FAA has a thing called "sport flying". Basicly, a lot of older flyers that are afraid they cant pass their medicals are going to it.
If you flunk your physical you are toast. If you go for a "sport license" you are limited in lots of things you can do from your old license, but can still fly as long as you can pass your regular auto drivers license medical.
To me, this is very stupid as you are limited to a airplane that gross,s I think 1,350 lbs, and a 100 hp engine. In my case, I already own a 1,550 lb gross citaberia GCBC. It has a 150 hp engine. To fly sport pilot, I would have to sell my plane, and for far more money, have to buy a lesser powered and lighter airplane that in my opinion, would be a lot more dangerous for me, as I am heavy, and would like to take some gas along!
Those old people that bug you, no doubt have been driveing for over 60 years. They also have no doubt been paying taxs long before we were born. I have a uncle that is 96 years old, still driveing, and as far as I know never had a accident! How many sharp 35 year olds can say that?
For every 80 year old that screws up driveing, be honest, how many younger people can you point out that same week that also screwed up?
I belive most states do already make older people come in more often than younger ones for their license,s. Probley every two years on the average as opposed to five for younger drivers on the average. I think that good enough.

the balance is probably fairly close but the difference is ... the young buck learns ... the old timer forgets.
my 4 points I earned was wrong way down a one way.
its staked out by that PD because its a real easy rookie mistake to make due to a fairly confusing intersection.
I, and several others learned that quirk, it only takes one time to figure it out and theirs usually no harm in the learning process since there are several opportunities to get off that street once you've discovered you've fallen for it.
you might think I just enjoy flaunting a bad attitude about it all. Yup I have a attitudinal streak about some subjects, this being one of them. As much as I'd like to spit the bitter taste of it from my lips, its a persistent creature. I'd be a better and happier man if I could. Its something that has cost me things I should not have had to pay, and not just cash. It put delays on my life, its caused me to see things no one should ... yes elderly drivers kill people too.

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it just needs more voltage

I've sure gotten old! I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I'm half blind, Can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts. Have bouts with dementia .. Have poor circulation; Hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can't remember if I'm 89 or 98. Have lost all my friends. Thank God I still have my driver's license.

given the context is easily recognized as a form of humor I am quite familiar with .... that right there is funny

so where did ya misplace all your friends?

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it just needs more voltage

Not sure what paying taxes or trying to squeeze a large man into a small plane has to do with anything here. For that matter... many folks 96 years old have milked SS and Medicare for far more than they ever paid in taxes.

Back on subject... testing every two years is fine, but aged people can go down hill real quick. Just because granny passed a driving test 6 months ago should not give her a pass to play bumper cars for another 18 months if she's pulled a stunt as described by the OP. The rub here is that the authorities appeared to take no action according the OP.

Although my brothers and I saw my folks quite regularly, we were shocked to learn the extent of Mom's dementia when Dad became terminally ill and we were spending a lot of time at thier house. Dad had been "covering" for her, and he was good at it!

Upon Dad's passing Mom decided to drive, Dad had quietly taken over the driving duties. Had numerous talks w/Mom about her driving, at the time I really didn't understand dimentia. Thought when she agreed not to drive at night that was the end of it.
Anyway saw something had to be done, called the DMV and got the same response noted earlier here. Senior Citizens have rights and are a powerful political group.
Went up and talked w/the Police Chief who was very understanding but couldn't do anything until something happened. Then he asked how long till Mom's license was up for renewal. When I answered a little over a month he responded to wait it out, when she goes for renewal they'll flunk her for eye exam. Good plan except when we went for her renewal the lady giving the test was a card-carrying member of the Senior Citizen Mafia and she gave it to her!!!
Shortly afterward Mom's condition declined so that driving was no longer an issue.

Kevin

Amen - I got home from Afghanistan and about 20 days after I returned, decided to jump on my 1965 Panhead for ride. I left my house and got about 2 miles down the road, when a 80+ year old lady (that I am sure was nice), ran a stop sign and missed me by inches. I got the bike stopped and did not lay it down....but just about did. I turned around and was back at home in 15 mins. My wife said, "I thought you were going for a ride"? I said, I did, my last. I sold my scooter and bought another boat. That nice lady never saw me.

sounds familiar ... swap that pan head for a pony with fresh paint and your me.
Old Marge panicked at a divided highway intersection and punched that olds for all that delta 88 was worth to get across.
I think they owe us underwear

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it just needs more voltage

What you are advocating is meaningless. Living where I do there are lots of older drivers who shouldn't be driving or have had their licenses taken away. Guess what, they drive anyway. I have two down the street from me right now with no licenses. If they have an accident or get stopped there's nothing that can be done because there's no license to revoke.

I don't even want to think about the insurance issue for our unlicensed drivers. And the punishment for driving without insurance is.................wait for it......................they take your license away!

Bob

The punishment should be your vehicle is impounded. You can drive without a license but you can't drive without a vehicle.

California Impounds the Vehicles of Motorists Caught Driving Without a Valid License | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/impound.html