Nikon1

So … If the Mods or Admins feel this belongs somewheres else …

OLD PEOPLE … driving their Buicks and Mercurys, both on the public roads & highways as well as in parking lots.

My “random” observation has noted that on the public highways, where the posted speed limit is 50 to 65 mph, these geezers insist on going no faster than 40 mph. Absolutely no situational awareness of the posted speed limit or the traffic stacking up behind them; not a care in the world, not going to speed up no matter how many horns are honking or flashing headlights are behind them. To make matters even worse, they’ll sit in the left hand lane of a multi-lane highway, as traffic stacks up around and behind them.

Now put these same geezers in their Buicks & Mercurys in a grocery store parking lot and it’s like they’re on the Autobahn, once again, with absolutely zero situational awareness of pedestrians, other vehicles pulling into or leaving their parking spot or traversing the parking lot. It’s “Petal-To-The-Metal, Get-The-Hell-Out-Of-My-Way! I-Need-A-Bathroom… NOW!!!”

As Pete Townsend said 50+ years ago, “I hope I die before I get old.

And, before you light me up in flames, remember — I Am 72 years old, but certainly not OLD!

— John

ChicagoNB

Preach on Brother!!!!!!!!!

I could not agree with you more. On Lake Shore Drive, it's always someone like that that has the entire road blocked up because they are too terrified to move lanes. And YES I am one of those behind them wailing on the horn and flashing my lights at them to WAKE UP. LOL

Zombie5150

I once lived in Arizona where Snowbirds take over the town during 6 months of winter. NEVER again…

m444

I have seen this problem also, but not necessarily old people. It seems more like people between about 30 and 60.

The vehicles are often old Japanese cars or old trucks (20 years or older), plus some old Prius vehicles. Often the vehicle paint is shot.

I very rarely see a Buick or Mercury anymore.

I am 70 years old.

AgMaple

John,

I'm right there with you, though only 66. The lack of situational awareness seems to be either scared driving, where they are hanging onto the steering wheel for dear life and afraid to do something wrong, or distracted driving where they are busy talking (usually with both hands) or sightseeing. I've also noticed that on secondary roads where they don't know quite where they are going, they will just stop in the middle of the road to figure it out.

We have a Dutch market around the corner from us and I have learned to avoid it like the plague when it is open due to the aged clientele.

-Bo

Nikon1

@AgMaple — Bo — where we live, Tuesday is a grocery Senior Discount Day. Normally I do not shop the local chain grocery stores; my wife does that shopping as she has much more patience & understanding when it comes to older people. But even she avoids Tuesday at the grocery stores.

I have her convinced to be extra cautious around a number of “older brand cars” that look like they are on their last mile.

— John

SloopJohnB@mac.com

vehicles much less Chargers/Hellcats. Hot rod audis, RS7, RS6, S(X) also tend to be driven like elite entitlement.
Where' the blonde in the 57 T-bird......

Nikon1

Way back in ‘62 … before you were born I’m guessing.

— John 😉

Nikon1

The only answer I can provide is with so many of those types of cars, I’ll be happy to give way to them. As I was taught, “better to have the a$$holes in front of you rather than behind you!l

I also love to watch the driver ahead of me at a red traffic light — If they’re looking down I’m assured they’re too busy looking at their phone and not the traffic light change to green.

— John

JD15

In my area, vehicles with "Please be patient, new driver" stickers plastered on their rear and sides use them as an excuse for incompetent, oblivious driving. The driver is inevitably in their 30s or 40s, not a teenager.