The Senior Driver (based on a True Story?)

[Robert Barney]

My neighbor was working in his yard when he was startled by a late model car that came crashing through his hedge and ended up in his front lawn.

He rushed to help an elderly lady driver out of the car and sat her down on a lawn chair.

He said with excitement, "you appear quite elderly to be driving."

"Well, yes, I am," she replied proudly. "I'll be 97 next month, and I am now old enough that I don't even need a driver's license anymore.

"The last time I went to my doctor, he examined me and asked if I had a driver's license. I told him yes and handed it to him. He took scissors out of the drawer, cut the license into pieces, and threw them in the waste basket, saying, 'You won't need this anymore,' so I thanked him and left!"

 

[Slade]

That's a very funny story. Over the years I encountered two senior drivers who told me funny stories about their own driving experiences.

A 90 year old WWl veteran wearing an eye patch, sporting a prosthesis arm with a metal hook, had a brand new pickup with the sticker still in the window sitting in his driveway.

I asked, "Whose truck?". "Mine", he replied, "I just bought it". "So you're still driving huh?", I said.

He responded, "Of course I still drive, but the last time I renewed my license they put on a damn restriction telling me I can only drive within a 30 mile radius of my home. But Hell, I don't ever go any further than that anyway, except once a year I have to go to the VA which is 45 miles away."

"So your son drives you to the VA?" I asked.

He angrily came back at me, "Hell no he don't drive me! I reset the trip odometer and when I hit the 30 mile mark, I pull over on the shoulder and then he takes over from there!"

.....................

The other old guy was a farmer who told me he still has his license but doesn't trust his own driving. He said his main concern was crossing a lane of oncoming traffic because you have to look both ways. He feels more comfortable if he only makes right hand turns. He said it takes him an extra 4 miles to get to town but thinks it's worth it because that's the only place he ever goes anyway.

 

[FEX Quotes]

There was an incident several years back where a senior driver took the lives of two young women. I was the agent of one of the deceased's husbands in this article..

Probation For Elderly Motorist Loses License In Fatal Accident - philly-archives

I wrote a life policy on the husband two days prior and they wanted to "think about it" for coverage on the wife. This was a come to Jesus moment in my career. From that day forward I have never let anyone think about it.

If I'm speaking with a young family that needs coverage, they are getting covered NOW - no ifs, ands or buts!