Re: Should Elderly People Drive Automatic Cars?
I have never fancied having an automatic car. I have driven one as a hire car but wasn’t keen on the way it handled hilly country roads.
Another thing which puts me off is an accident I witnessed some years ago. I’m not sure how it happened but I will never forget the horror and tragedy of a fatal accident in the small market town where I lived and worked.
When it wasn’t a market day, drivers could park their vehicles on the cobbles of the market square in the centre of town. An elderly lady had parked her automatic car there and when she returned to the car and switched on the ignition, I’m not sure how she managed it, but the car suddenly shot forward and drove at speed, off the cobbles, up the kerb, across the pavement and right through the shop window she was facing.
The tragedy was that a young Mother had been walking along that bit of pavement in front of her, pushing her two year old toddler in a pushchair. The runaway car ploughed straight into the pushchair and carried it forward through the shop window, killing the two year old child and severely injuring the Mother.
The elderly driver escaped without a scratch but was in shock.
I was working in a 2nd floor office on the other side of the market place and happened to be looking out of the window and saw it happen but was helpless to prevent it.
I’ll never forget that terrible tragic day.