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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Driving / January 2006Close Call on CA-17
Northbound CA-17, just outside of Santa Cruz. It's dark, it's raining, it's a twisty mountain road, and it's not even a freeway (i.e. not controlled-access)... And a late '80s Lincoln is driving 30 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. Cars are streaming past in the left lane, and in the right lane they are stacking up behind this guy, whipping out to pass whenever the slightest opportunity presented itself. It's a wonder there were no collisions. In a bizarre twist of fate, I encountered this same guy again at the Shell station in Scott's Valley about half an hour later. His car had stalled directly in front of the gas pumps, and apparently it wouldn't restart. I and three other guys helped to push his car off to the side and out of the way. Not sure what was wrong with the car, but the driver looked like he was about 100 years old, and seemed to be completely out of it. An employee of the gas station had to tell him several times to shift his transmission into park - the car was on a slight incline, and would begin to roll backwards every time this guy took his foot off the brake. He couldn't even steer his own car as we pushed it out of the way - the employee had to get in and steer it. If ever there was a recipe for disaster, this was it. Scott en Aztlán wrote: <brevity snip> > If ever there was a recipe for disaster, this was it. ----- And yet... ... it didn't happen...! ----- - gpsman > "gpsman" <gpsman@driversmail.com> wrote > > And yet... ... it didn't happen...! Not that day.  SignatureCiao, Paul D. DeRocco Paul mailto:pderocco@ix.netcom.com >> "gpsman" <gpsman@driversmail.com> wrote >> >> And yet... ... it didn't happen...! > >Not that day. WTF are you two talking about? > >> "gpsman" <gpsman@driversmail.com> wrote > >> > >> And yet... ... it didn't happen...! gpsman stating since an accident didn't happen, SeniorSloth was causing no risk. > >Not that day. Paul DeRocco pointing out that just cause SeniorSloth hasn't killed anyone yet doesn't mean he won't sometime. > WTF are you two talking about? Get it? Plus I got to call someone a SeniorSloth. It's like SuperSloth, but older, slower and more oblivious. Dave >> >> "gpsman" <gpsman@driversmail.com> wrote >> >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >Paul DeRocco pointing out that just cause SeniorSloth hasn't killed >anyone yet doesn't mean he won't sometime. Thanks, that makes more sense now. At first it seemed like gpsman was saying that the incident I reported never happened - i.e. that I somehow made it all up. Which would make Paul's response a complete non-sequitur. >Get it? Now I do, thanks! >Plus I got to call someone a SeniorSloth. It's like >SuperSloth, but older, slower and more oblivious. P.S. I forgot to mention in my original report that the SS was driving with his brights on, and that his front passenger seat and entire rear seat were piled high with JUNK (looked like papers, coat hangers, and other assorted bric-a-brac). Senile Dementia has definitely taken firm root with that guy... SignatureWhat the heck, I'll play too. - Dave > Northbound CA-17, just outside of Santa Cruz. It's dark, it's > raining, it's a twisty mountain road, and it's not even a freeway [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > pass whenever the slightest opportunity presented itself. It's a > wonder there were no collisions. That's all too common a scenario on that stretch of 17, especially in the rain. It's exacerbated by the fact that many drivers are still interminably coming up to speed on this uphill stretch after merging in from Hwy. 1, but the rain-cowards are a special, added attraction this time of the year. And it isn't just ancient f.cks who should've hung up their keys years ago, like your friend in the Lincoln. > In a bizarre twist of fate, I encountered this same guy again at > the Shell station in Scott's Valley about half an hour later. Did you seize the opportunity to read him the riot act about obstructing traffic? Or did you go soft on him because of his age? > If ever there was a recipe for disaster, this was it. Maybe he's dead by now, either from a traffic accident or from old age. We can only hop it's the latter. Geoff Signature"What is it about the liberal elite that automatically assumes the worst about our own government but is willing to assume only innocent intentions when it comes to those accused of wanting to do harm to America?" -- Linda Chavez >> In a bizarre twist of fate, I encountered this same guy again at >> the Shell station in Scott's Valley about half an hour later. > >Did you seize the opportunity to read him the riot act about >obstructing traffic? Or did you go soft on him because of >his age? I just rolled my eyes. My lecture would have fallen on deaf ears (probably literally). >Maybe he's dead by now, either from a traffic accident or from >old age. We can only hop it's the latter. If it hasn't happened yet, it will soon. I only hope he doesn't take anyone else with him. > Did you seize the opportunity to read him the riot act about > obstructing traffic? Or did you go soft on him because of > his age? Forget talking to HIM about it, he probably wouldn't even understand you. I'd flag down the first cop I saw, show them this idiot, and pointedly urge that DMV call him in to be retested ASAP. Which DMV can and will do. >> Did you seize the opportunity to read him the riot act about >> obstructing traffic? Or did you go soft on him because of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >I'd flag down the first cop I saw, show them this idiot, and pointedly >urge that DMV call him in to be retested ASAP. Which DMV can and will do. Of course, if he's that out of it, he might have already lost his license, or have had restrictions placed on it, but that tidbit may have slipped his mind.. All the more reason to flag down a local constable.. A new class of offense: Driving Without Brain Function. Signature-- Welcome My Son, Welcome To The Machine -- Bob Vaughan | techie @ tantivy.net | | P.O. Box 19792, Stanford, Ca 94309 | -- I am Me, I am only Me, And no one else is Me, What could be simpler? -- > If ever there was a recipe for disaster, this was it. Why didnt you report him to the police for impaired driving? Sobriety tests are not only for the drunk, you know. You can fail a sobriety test if you're very tired, or very senile. >> If ever there was a recipe for disaster, this was it. > >Why didnt you report him to the police for impaired driving? >Sobriety tests are not only for the drunk, you know. You can >fail a sobriety test if you're very tired, or very senile. The thought never occurred to me. That's an excellent idea, however. ;) SignatureFriends don't let friends shop at Best Buy. Scott en Aztlán wrote: <brevity snip> And a late '80s Lincoln is driving 30 > MPH in a 55 MPH zone. Cars are streaming past in the left lane, and in > the right lane they are stacking up behind this guy, whipping out to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > restart. I and three other guys helped to push his car off to the side > and out of the way. ----- You gotta be shittin' me...! All yer venting about sloths and when you finally get your hands on one... you help push his car!? And take no action to get him off the road even though he was obviously incapable of driving ...!? LordyLordyLordy... has hell has frozen over? Didn't you feel any obligation to call the police to protect the public and/or just the poor old geezer from himself? Sounds like you could have at least sneaked his keys and given 'em to the attendant and been on your way... ----- - gpsman |
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