Florida Drivers: BEWARE

[chri'stina 190]

I just got home and my blood pressure must have gone up there while driving. I couldn't stop yelling things in the car today while driving. No one else could hear me, of course, but grr! "What the heck are you doing!!?" "MOVE over!", etc.

There are very very very old people driving around, almost hitting other cars and mailboxes.

Why are they driving?!!!

First I was just annoyed, then I was getting mad and worried.

I know there is no public transportation around here, besides a limited bus service that makes hardly any stops and takes an hour to get somewhere 5 miles away, but these people should not be on the road!!

This seems to be the main causes of accidents where I live. Elderly people, turning out in front of fast oncoming cars and not speeding up, or braking suddenly for no reason while driving.

I was behind a little old lady, who could hardly see above her steering wheel, on a road with 35mph speed signs. She was going 30, ok I said, whatever, but she started breaking for no apparent reason, and kept going too far to the right. I stayed far behind her because she kept almost hitting mailboxes. When I turned off the road, all I could say was "God please protect her and EVERY driver who has to be around her." These incidents happen allllllll the time, old people who do very dangerous things so obliviously.

I really think they need to take a driving test like every 6 months or something above a certain age. I know some of them would not be able to get around if they can't drive, which is sad, but they are causing bad accidents all the time, putting their life and other people's lives in risk every day.

It's just so annoying!!!

But this is Florida...so it's the norm!

[russ 1]

At least they require vision tests now. Older people like Florida, and vote.

I live in the Tampa area too, but I almost never drive. Maybe once a week.

I really think they need to take a driving test like every 6 months or something above a certain age. I know some of them would not be able to get around if they can't drive, which is sad, but they are causing bad accidents all the time, putting their life and other people's lives in risk every day.

It's just so annoying!!!

But this is Florida...so it's the norm!

[almaty 19]

Amen, sister stina

[Sinergy 3]

stina you got my AMEN times 100 on this thread!!

[Yaads 0]

I really think they need to take a driving test like every 6 months or something above a certain age. I know some of them would not be able to get around if they can't drive, which is sad, but they are causing bad accidents all the time, putting their life and other people's lives in risk every day.

It's just so annoying!!!

But this is Florida...so it's the norm!

Totally agree

I am so glad my grandma failed the eye test and they took her license away. For about 4 months things were "mysteriously" happening to her car so she couldn't drive anywhere Don't know how long we could have kept that up

[Krikit 1,164]

Phew. I hear ya. On my way to the store one day, I was in the left-hand turning lane and an elderly man was next to me in the right-hand lane. He pulled out into oncoming traffic, made a LEFT-hand turn in front of me, then proceeded to drive down the WRONG side of a divided 4 lane road. He was narrowly missed by oncoming traffic a number of times before realizing his mistake and turning off into a sidestreet. I had followed him all the way down (on the proper side), praying for everyone's safety and willing him to to pull over. I get a headache just thinking about it.

Has anyone else noticed that NO ONE seems to use their turn signals here?

[Robor007 0]

A fellow Floridian here and agree 100%. Just today we're on the way back from lunch and there's a big white bus (like from an elderly center) in front of us. It slows to make a turn (no signal of course) almost coming to a stop then hits the gas and continues on. Next street he does the same thing. Then - get this - he goes about 100 yards and comes to a complete stop. We're thinking maybe someone is stopped in front of him or something is wrong with the vehicle. My boss swings out and looks around him and there's no one there. He swings around him and passes. As we go by we see the driver looking around with a blank look on his face like he's lost or forgot how to drive. He looked about 75.

Hang up the keys grandpa!!!!! Man I wish this state would mandate driving tests every few years.

[akim oda 0]

Amen! I know exactly what your talking about. That must be why our car insurance is so high. I live in Tampa and I do see a lot of elderly people driving, but not as much as when I lived in the Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda area. It will cause you to go mad. My sister is always yelling at an old person driving in front of her. Stina where in Fl do you live? Everyone be safe out there.

[akim oda 0]

Has anyone else noticed that NO ONE seems to use their turn signals here?

LOL, no one uses their turning signals. Even the police. They'll dart right in front of you, (wow, thanks for the warning)!

[Nagishkaw 510]

A dozen Hail Mary's and a hearty Amen, Sister !

[eric&gen 0]

WOW and i thought California drivers are bad lol.

[Dr_LHA 3]

WOW and i thought California drivers are bad lol.

Whole different kind of bad. California drivers are agressive, Florida drivers are just oblivious.

[chri'stina 190]

I really think they need to take a driving test like every 6 months or something above a certain age. I know some of them would not be able to get around if they can't drive, which is sad, but they are causing bad accidents all the time, putting their life and other people's lives in risk every day.

It's just so annoying!!!

But this is Florida...so it's the norm!

Totally agree

I am so glad my grandma failed the eye test and they took her license away. For about 4 months things were "mysteriously" happening to her car so she couldn't drive anywhere Don't know how long we could have kept that up

Oh my!!! "mysteriously"!

Amen! I know exactly what your talking about. That must be why our car insurance is so high. I live in Tampa and I do see a lot of elderly people driving, but not as much as when I lived in the Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda area. It will cause you to go mad. My sister is always yelling at an old person driving in front of her. Stina where in Fl do you live? Everyone be safe out there.

I'm in Spring Hill, an hour northwest of Tampa. There's a big retirement community in my city. Tampa is better than where I live. A little less of a concentration of old people! lol

WOW and i thought California drivers are bad lol.

Whole different kind of bad. California drivers are agressive, Florida drivers are just oblivious.

Yep!

[athena_ny 1]

Phew. I hear ya. On my way to the store one day, I was in the left-hand turning lane and an elderly man was next to me in the right-hand lane. He pulled out into oncoming traffic, made a LEFT-hand turn in front of me, then proceeded to drive down the WRONG side of a divided 4 lane road. He was narrowly missed by oncoming traffic a number of times before realizing his mistake and turning off into a sidestreet. I had followed him all the way down (on the proper side), praying for everyone's safety and willing him to to pull over. I get a headache just thinking about it.

Has anyone else noticed that NO ONE seems to use their turn signals here?

My husband learned to drive in FL (I did in NY, and NY drivers are nothing compared to the ####### I find in FL) and he NEVER uses his turn signal. Following him somewhere (like the mechanic if I have to drop off my car) is the most annoying this ever.

I always always use mine. He isn't a terrible driver, but he darts in and out of the lanes sometimes because the person in front is "going too slow" - I'm like, dude, I can't take the time to reorient myself every 2 minutes, I'll drive a little slower.

[chri'stina 190]

Phew. I hear ya. On my way to the store one day, I was in the left-hand turning lane and an elderly man was next to me in the right-hand lane. He pulled out into oncoming traffic, made a LEFT-hand turn in front of me, then proceeded to drive down the WRONG side of a divided 4 lane road. He was narrowly missed by oncoming traffic a number of times before realizing his mistake and turning off into a sidestreet. I had followed him all the way down (on the proper side), praying for everyone's safety and willing him to to pull over. I get a headache just thinking about it.

Has anyone else noticed that NO ONE seems to use their turn signals here?

My husband learned to drive in FL (I did in NY, and NY drivers are nothing compared to the ####### I find in FL) and he NEVER uses his turn signal. Following him somewhere (like the mechanic if I have to drop off my car) is the most annoying this ever.

I always always use mine. He isn't a terrible driver, but he darts in and out of the lanes sometimes because the person in front is "going too slow" - I'm like, dude, I can't take the time to reorient myself every 2 minutes, I'll drive a little slower.

It's funny, because my dad who doesn't use his turn signals when switching lanes grew up in the North, and I learned how to drive here in FL and I use turn signals all the time.

Though I do see a lot of people who don't use them at all, even when turning! But a lot of ppl around here are retired Northerners.

Edited May 11, 2007 by stina&suj