World News

22168 readers

9 users here now

Breaking news from around the world.

News that is American but has an international facet may also be posted here.

Guidelines for submissions:

Where possible, post the original source of information.
- If there is a paywall, you can use alternative sources or provide an archive.today, 12ft.io, etc. link in the body.
Do not editorialize titles. Preserve the original title when possible; edits for clarity are fine.
Do not post ragebait or shock stories. These will be removed.
Do not post tabloid or blogspam stories. These will be removed.
Social media should be a source of last resort.

These guidelines will be enforced on a know-it-when-I-see-it basis.

For US News, see the US News community.

This community's icon was made by Aaron Schneider, under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

founded 3 years ago

MODERATORS

118

U.S. pedestrian deaths reach a 40-year high (text.npr.org)

submitted 2 years ago by dingus@lemmy.ml to c/news

66 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] sarsaparilyptus@lemmy.fmhy.ml 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

I actually did read the "fucking article", and others besides. Also, if you're going to be condescending to people on Lemmy, at least stop talking like you're narrating the next 2am chili. It is the judgment of this court (me) that you have posted cringe.

Anyway:

https://siegfriedandjensen.com/passing-the-test/
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813266
https://www.iihs.org/topics/older-drivers/license-renewal-laws-table

Example 1, New Mexico:

While New Mexico allows you to renew your license every 4 or 8 years as a personal option, drivers 71–79 have to renew every 4 years
Drivers 75 and older must prove adequate vision every renewal and must renew in person
Drivers over 79 must renew every single year
NM is rated as the 10th most difficult state to get a license
New Mexico was one of only four states to post a decrease in road fatalities from 2019 to 2020

Example 2, Ohio:

While Ohio allows you to renew your license every 4 or 8 years as a personal option, drivers over 65 have to renew every 4 years
Drivers over 65 and older must prove adequate vision every renewal and must renew in person
There are no additional restrictions past 65
Ohio is rated as the 2nd-easiest state to get a license, eclipsed only by SD
Ohio posted a 6.7% increase in road fatalities from 2019 to 2020

Conclusion? Being too old to drive has even more of an impact on road unsafety than giving out drivers' licenses in cereal boxes does.

I feel sorry for old people who have no other way to get around, I really do. Letting blind people with dementia unsafely operate motor vehicles so they can run people over while trying to get to grocery stores and medical appointments isn't a solution, nor is it an acceptable stopgap till public transportation can pick up the slack. It's gotta stop right now.

[–] jmp242@sopuli.xyz 9 points 2 years ago (12 children)

I feel sorry for old people who have no other way to get around, I really do.

This is a problem POV however. It's like - I don't care about old people. Just like the pandemic in fact - those olds should count for less than anyone else. I could make a similar stupid comment like "I feel sorry for these people who choose to walk near roads where it's dangerous, I really do."

Do you see how insane that sounds?

I don't have a solution, but saying as soon as you retire (turn 65) you should be locked in a house and out of cars because now you're dangerous is wrong too. I personally think the most likely solution politically and realistically is going to be self driving cars. Cause I don't see you forcing elderly out of driving in the US.

load more comments (12 replies)

[–] fckgwrhqq2yxrkt 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You are making a lot if assumptions there, and a lot of factors go into those numbers outside if age and easy of getting a license. Not saying you are wrong, and it certainly is something we should be addressing, but this doesn't prove your point.

[–] sarsaparilyptus@lemmy.fmhy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

It probably isn't good enough for an official NTSB report, but it is good enough for a reasonable person—i.e. someone who isn't trying to emotionally argue backwards from their pet conclusion—to draw a conclusion from it as long as their scope is conservative.