I'm so sorry that your family, friends, and neighbors were exposed to this horrible scene, jax! Thank God you guys are ok (sans your friends severe injuries.) I'll keep your friend and the other victims in my prayers.

Your family? OMG! I'm so glad they're ok! Such a scary thing.

Neither of my grandmothers drive anymore, but one of them insisted that she COULD drive just fine, but something was wrong and the key was too hard to turn. Yeah, you can't TURN THE KEY to start the car, but you're capable of steering?!?

I do think that EVERYONE should be required to take regular physical competency tests, more often if you get tickets.

*thinking positive thoughts for everyone involved*

Wow! Glad your family is ok. Pretty frightening situation.

Jax, thank God your family is ok. My prayers go out to the injured. And yes, I think that elderly drivers should be tested often for driving fitness.

Because, in this f***ed up world we live in, the only time it's politically correct to single out elderly people for extra attention is before they get on an airplane.

They 'let' my grandmother drive until she couldn't see.. I agree with you 100% Glad you brood is okay.

I know all too well the damage that elderly drivers can cause. I'm relieved that your family is safe, Jax, and I hope all of the injured make a full recovery. I agree - after age 60 or so, there ought to be some sort of routine retesting in place.

You in the video?

It's a miracle no one was killed. I hope your family is doing ok emotionally too, jax..it had to be a very traumatic experience for all.

I'm kind of surprised there isn't regular testing.

My dad has to re-apply for his licence every 12 months and get approval from his doctor to do so.

*******

Sorry that happened to you and yours, Jax - that's an awful thing.

First I saw this link, I was shocked. Then I noticed one of us Plimates was involved, and not only that, the TOP plimate.

Small world.

Here's an update

So glad that you and your family are OK.

Strangely enough, all states don't have vehicle inspections but I do think you are onto something. Why shoudln't the vehicle AND driver be "bundled" into one inspection (test). Maybe tie it to a shorter expiration cycle for drivers licenses so that you have to take the fitness test and get your vehicle inspected BEFORE you can renew your license. Every 5 years sounds reasonable to me.

Glad to hear you and yours are okay.

After driving in insane traffic all week, I'm convinced all drivers need to be retested at least every three years. I also think we need stricter control over the issuers, because surely some of the people I've seen could not have passed the driving test I took.

I know pilots need to get medicals and re-take flight tests every single year (bf's a training pilot, so I get to hear all sorts of stories), so I think in light of this and the outrageous number of injuries Canadians (and Americans) sustain from vehicle accidents, drivers need to be retested.

I know back home elderly drivers have to go through regular checkups to maintain their license. It works well there, I don't see why it couldn't elsewhere.

Glad to hear your family is ok.

Glad you're all okay. I had a friend who was injured in an accident like that.

CRAZY. I'm so glad that your family is Okay. I can't imagine see a car go through the wall where my loved ones are at. I would have freaked.

Yikes, so glad everyone's okay.

The testing old people thing needs to be implemented, but no one wants to because a. everyone knows they'll be that old person one day and b. no one wants to hurt granny's feelings when they try to take her license away.

Isn't that you on the left with your back to the camera in that first shot?

I'm not in any of the photos or videos.

Thanks for all the words of support, folks. Go hug your kids and loved ones closely.

Jax, so sorry you and yours were involved in that.

Unzer, it's a little more complicated than that.

My 80+ year old mother should have quit driving in her 70's, between her worsening vision and Alzheimer's. She was in total denial of any impairment. Preventing her from driving was complicated because family conflict as to the realities and implications of her conditions (long story, I'll spare you). When my sister and I asked her doctor to report her to the DMV on medical grounds, he reluctantly declined saying she should drop him for another doctor who didn't know her or her conditions (she could be very convincing). Despite us hiding her keys and disabling her car, she hit a couple of kids on bikes, had a hit and run accident, and ran up on the sidewalk of a shopping center. Thank God no one was seriously injured. My sister and I were about to take guardianship of her and do what needed to be done shortly before she died.

Until nationwide standards are set for vehicle and driver inspection/testing, these kinds of things will continue. The graying of America is a real phenomenon, and we need to set our personal feelings aside and consider what's best for all of us.

AARP is another problem. Their PACs are not so motivated out of concern for older folks as they are for their bottom line, in my opinion. They are willing to push for 'elder rights' as long as the money keeps coming in, and it will... but not from me.