By Barbara Nelson Santa Monica
I do believe, along with Stefan Treff (SMDP, Sept. 26, page 4), that George Weller should not have been driving. He had had accidents prior to the tragedy at the SM Farmers’ Market. Mr. Treff mentioned seeing “many older ladies” who should not be driving. Well, I take offense to this, as there are many older men I have seen who also have no business driving.
I will be 75 next April and am proud to say that I am still a very competent driver. (Treff) is welcome to ride with me at any time. I drive from Santa Monica daily in the early morning to the Fairfax district and there isn’t one morning that the young ones aren’t cutting in and out of traffic, cutting people off, and not even having the courtesy to let you know what they are doing by using a turn indicator.And this is the law! Very often, a mile down the road, they are stopped at a light — maybe one yellow light they came upon too late to run.
I hope when the time comes that I can no longer drive safely that I turn my keys over to my husband or that my family will have a talk with me and ask me to stop driving. I feel this should have been done in the case of Mr. Weller.
Oh, and Mr. Treff, I also drive an automobile with a 280-horsepower engine.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 4, 2006. Read the original PDF.