PSA: OLD PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DRIVE. Everyone over 60 should be tested at 60 then every 5 years to see if they are capable of driving a car. I know that is not going to be a popular opinion on this site!
An old lady in a late 90's suburban reversing across traffic definitely made for a pucker factor. I crossed the small median to avoid her as there was no traffic that I could see and came out with nothing more than an elevated heart rate.
It happened about a year ago, pretty over dramatic description by me...
The MS paint should clear most of it up, but I will give a synopsis. I was doing 65 when a green 1990's suburban did a u-turn in to my side of traffic. No problem, I'll slow down. So I let off the gas from my 65mph. The Suburban had completed it's u-turn and was straight in the far right side of the lane when all of a sudden, REVERSE REVERSE REVERSE!!!
WHAT THE ****! BRAKE!
I slammed on the brakes and the Suburban, seemingly stuck blocking both lanes left me little choices on where to go. No shoulder to the right, concrete low barrier to the left. The good news?? One car upcoming very far up ahead. So I let off the brakes, slid across the intersection where the suburban just made the u-turn probably 10 yards from it, got on the gas and got in to the clear lane.
The oncoming car clears the scene, I scoot back in to that closer oncoming lane, and slowly on an angle drive over the concrete to get out of any future oncoming traffic. Meanwhile, my panties are soiled and I continue driving to the closest intersection where I can turn in to a parking lot to check for damage. The suburban, still sideways in traffic in my rear view mirror.
No damage other than a couple scrapes on the bottom of the front nose and the bellhousing which are about 2" off the ground. No biggie, probably scraped before anyway. Then I see the suburban make a left and drive past where I was checking out my car. It keeps driving, and I follow. My intentions were not to yell or rage, just check out who was driving and figure out what the **** they were doing.
I follow the car which ends up going to the police station. Sweet, decent place. A 90ish (that's a guess) year old lady slowly steps out of the car, shaking, and on the verge of crying.
Her: "Im so sorry, I'm so sorry. My god, I'm so sorry."
Me: "We are both okay, it's no problem. It's just time that you really consider giving up your license."
Her: "I know I know."
Me: "Making the u turn is one thing, but putting it in reverse is a whole different thing. Just think about giving up your license."
Her: "I know, I should. I got dizzy after the turn, and I didn't mean to put it in reverse".
Her: "I'm so sorry. The lord was on both of our sides today, I'm just glad we are both okay."
She reaches over to shake my hand, and I shake back.
Me: "You're right, we are both fine. That's what matters. But some day we might not be so lucky, so just think about giving up your license"
Her: "I will, again, I'm so sorry."
I drive away. It pissed me off to no end. I bet she is still driving.
