My co-worker and I went for a walk during our lunch break today, the first in I don't know how long. There we were, strolling through the residential Beverly Hills neighborhood near which we work, minding our own business, when we came to a 4-way stop. Being good doobies that we are, we looked both ways, saw that we were in no immediate danger, and hopped off the curb. We were more than half way to the other side of the road when we see a car approaching the Stop. He was slowing down but didn't seem to be stopping. And he didn't stop, not according to the law that is. Maybe it was a "California stop" but he definitely rolled right on through the stop sign, almost hitting us, and he didn't notice what he was doing until we were up to the driver's side window. He actually had to slam on his breaks to stop. While I was coaxing my heart to come down from my throat, I was debating about wailing on his car and screaming obscenities to his rolled up window. I didn't and I was happy I didn't because I noticed that the man was about 80 years old and probably had lost his peripheral vision.
I'm not an ageist or anything, but excuse me if I don't think people over the age of 70 should be driving. Or if they are going to be allowed to drive, the least that can be done is a requirement that beginning at a certain age, people need to take a driving test every couple of years. It's safer for everyone that way.
At least the upside is that I was able to get my 30 minute exercise in, even if it means forfeiting my life for it.
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