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Elderly Drivers In Japan Could Be Limited To Vehicles With Automatic Braking (japantimes.co.jp)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the pulling-out-all-the-stops dept.

AmiMoJo writes: Japan's National Police Agency has proposed several new rules to regulate elderly drivers, including limiting them to vehicles with automatic braking systems to increase public safety. "The panel was tasked with finding ways to mitigate the risks associated with dementia, poor vision and deteriorating physical strength associated with seniors," reports the Japan Times. "Deadly traffic accidents caused by people 75 or older are on the rise, though fatal accidents overall are on the decline." Automatic braking systems apply the car's brakes if a collision is imminent. Separately Japanese authorities are offering elderly drivers who give up their licenses a discount on their funerals.

79 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. if they are such a public danger by Osgeld · · Score: 3

    why are you letting demented, blind, weak and slow people operate heavy machinery?

    1. Re:if they are such a public danger by dunkelfalke · · Score: 2

      Because Japan is becoming a gerontocracy (and so is Germany, by the way).

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    2. Re:if they are such a public danger by interkin3tic · · Score: 2
      Could be that the government doesn't want to simply revoke a necessary freedom for it's citizens even if it means increased safety and decreased deaths. You know, sort of like how we over here say "No, why would we limit gun sales?"

      Could also be that it's not really an issue given the lack of statistics on increasing deaths. Japanese politicians are likely just as susceptible as american ones at fearmongering and then coming up with fake solutions to the fake problems they were elected on.

      Finally the last line of the article is

      The number of people aged 75 or older who are licensed to drive stood at about 5.13 million at end of 2016, compared with 2.58 million in late 2006.

      The greying of japanese society is a looming issue. Making the increasing number of elderly immobile is going to put more strain on the country as a whole.

    3. Re:if they are such a public danger by Anonymice · · Score: 1, Interesting

      They're not fucking economic "migrants", they're refugees. People spoke in the same way about the fleeing Jews in the 1930's and 40's, and history has shown it to to be nothing more than nationalist xenophobia and racism.

    4. Re:if they are such a public danger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      "...revoke a necessary freedom for it's citizens..."

      This statement reveals a deep misunderstanding of the writer, and his countrymen, who no doubt is a US citizen. ...Cause its in the constitution that everyone has the inalienable right to happiness..., which in the US means to buy and drive however, and whatever, without any meaningful schooling and training.
      I would be willing to bet a lot of money that 99.99999999999% of US drivers would never pass a typical drivers license test, in English, in any EU country.
      The US simply has no fucking clue about what a good drivers education would entail. It would cost money, of course, like a pilots license, but it would save massive amounts of lives, reduce collisions, accidents, lower insurance costs, extend the average life of cars, reduce time in traffic.
      The upside to this ignorance is of course the massive amount of capital flowing into the pockets of insurance companies, auto makers, repair-shops, funeral homes, hospitals, doctors, lawyers, police forces and so on, because this misery is an industry, and people don't fucking know it.
      Put that in a pipe and fucking smoke it.

         

    5. Re:if they are such a public danger by jittles · · Score: 1

      Could be that the government doesn't want to simply revoke a necessary freedom for it's citizens even if it means increased safety and decreased deaths.

      I would guess that it is very similar to Florida. AARP practically controls the state of Florida. You could never get a new law passed that restricted elderly drivers in Florida even though there are a lot of them that should not be driving anymore. Japan, too, has an aging population that is not likely to be okay with restricting their own rights.

      You know, sort of like how we over here say "No, why would we limit gun sales?"

      You do realize that there is a constitutional amendment that makes this difficult to legislate, right? California just had several gun control laws struck down in Federal Court. There have been gun control laws struck down all over the US lately. There is no such amendment guaranteeing people the right to drive in the US. I doubt that Japan has any sort of law or constitutional protection over driving, either.

    6. Re:if they are such a public danger by religionofpeas · · Score: 2, Informative

      Only a small percentage are legitimate refugees. Most of them are single men from Africa from areas where there is no war. They also travel through a dozen of other safe countries, without stopping to ask for help, until they reach Germany.

    7. Re:if they are such a public danger by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 1

      You could never get a new law passed that restricted elderly drivers in Florida even though there are a lot of them that should not be driving anymore.

      This is one scenario where I'm all for letting the "free market" take care of the situation.

      Over 60 and have a self driving car? Cheap insurance.

      Over 60 and have a self stopping car? Moderately priced insurance.

      Over 60 and want to drive your 90s Buick? Very high priced insurance.

    8. Re:if they are such a public danger by Anonymice · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I love how people love to talk with such authority about the real truths behind the s, as if they're privy to some secret information that the government is oblivious to.

      No country in the world lets people simply walk in, claim persecution, and get a free pass with refugee status. Every single claim is assessed on a case by case basis, and claims are rejected if they are deemed to be doubtful or inconsistent. If a claim is rejected, the person in question is deported back to their country of origin. If they can't legally be deported, it's because there's a proven likelihood that said person would face persecution (possibly even torture), & doing so would be a violation of human rights treaties - ergo, they'd have a justifiable claim for refugee status.

      Do some people fabricate stories and manage to get away with it? Undoubtedly. However tarring everyone with the same brush is both ignorant & offensive.

      That so many claims do manage to get accepted, have you ever considered that that could just be because a large part of the world really is in quite a a shit & depressing state?
      These people have to leave their entire world behind, many without even as much as a backpack (from the pictures I've seen), walk thousands of miles across hostile landscapes, suffer from abuse & persecution from every populace they meet, and many risking slavery, abuse & death at the hands traffickers (& thousands of $'s in debt if they survive). And if they're lucky, they get to start the uphill struggle of rebuilding their life from scratch, alone, in a completely alien environment.

      Do you think that's a decision someone makes lightly? They just woke up one Friday morning and decided, "Yeah, that sounds like fun!"?

      And yes, they're supposed to claim asylum in the first safe country they arrive in, and many clearly don't. But put yourself in their shoes: If you're in such a desperate position that you would consider taking on such a hostile journey, driven by the hope that you might be able to build a better future for yourself & your family, wouldn't you too aim for a destination that you thought would provide you with the best chances? What have you got to lose?
      I'm not trying to present a justification, but lets try & have some fucking empathy for those who didn't have our luck of not being born in such a hostile shithole.

    9. Re:if they are such a public danger by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      The greying of japanese society is a looming issue. Making the increasing number of elderly immobile is going to put more strain on the country as a whole.

      This is why Japanese car companies are always working on super-wacky ultra-miniature automobiles. They always present them as some kind of lifestyle tool for the young, and they highlight their communications capabilities with cute demos involving crap like teenagers meeting up for ice cream, like some kind of Archie comic. But in reality, they're preparing to deliver mobility for the elderly, and the communications facilities are going to be necessary to track when one of these people is expiring as they roll down the roadway. They can simply divert their self-driving wheelchair-car to the nearest health care facility or morgue. They have young people driving the prototypes in case they fall over, or run into something, and to avoid tipping off the old people that they're planning to take their cars away. At least, that's my take :)

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    10. Re:if they are such a public danger by yodleboy · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Oh jeez, get a grip. Trump is not against "immigration". What he is rightfully against are illegal immigrants (which this country is much more lenient with than most other countries), and abuses of the immigration laws. He's also against just waving through people coming from parts of the world known to harbor terrorists. On that note, he's only 'banning' people coming from specific airports within specific countries. That generally leaves the other 2398702348092384 airports around the world untouched. As far as his Chinese connections... well, we might as well shut down any company that does business with, ohhh let's say Foxconn, right?

      Trumps immigration stance is actually pretty simple "we have laws, passed by administrations on both sides, let's enforce them for a change.

    11. Re:if they are such a public danger by peragrin · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Obama deported more people than bush did. Deportions went up drastically. And actually have dropped under trump(primarily because he can't hire people).

      And trump also wants to ban immigrants who want to setup new businesses in the USA. That ban is worded that way as the blanket ban he tried was rejected. Do not forget the current ban is attempt number two. He wants a full on ban.

      Also the majority of terrorists are Saudi in origin yet Saudi Arabia is not on the list. I suggest you lookup the makeup of the 9/11 terrorists.

      Also we do enforce all the immigration laws. See Obama deporting millions and bush and Reagan doing the immigration pardons.

      Republicans complete hypocrites

      As for Chinese connections there is a difference from buying products in China and shipping them ala Apple, dell, etc and using the laws to get rich Chinese green cards for buying a condo that is yet to be built.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    12. Re:if they are such a public danger by Anonymice · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      Ah yes, like those poor Europeans who fled to the "New World" looking for freedom & opportunities, integrating so well with the local populace.

    13. Re:if they are such a public danger by ishmaelflood · · Score: 1

      Having driven a bit in Detroit I think you exaggerate. You forget that the most important bit of learning to drive is experience, so even if the US driving tests set a low bar, inside of a year they will be more or less where typical young drivers from elsewhere would be, skill wise.

      Of course you could actually look for some data to support your contention, for example what is the crash rate of US citizens on holiday in the EU compared with Australians (who have a ridiculously long probationary period, something like 120 hours of supervised driving)?

    14. Re:if they are such a public danger by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      "...revoke a necessary freedom for it's citizens..."

      This statement reveals a deep misunderstanding of the writer, and his countrymen, who no doubt is a US citizen. ...Cause its in the constitution that everyone has the inalienable right to happiness..., which in the US means to buy and drive however, and whatever, without any meaningful schooling and training.

      I'm aware that Japanese drivers licenses are much harder to get than US licenses. I'd suggest though it's because they have much better public transit, not... some absurd interpretation of the constitution.

      By "necessary freedom" I wasn't speaking as a constitutional scholar or a legal definition of "freedom." I meant someone who drives in Japan likely doesn't live in a major metropolitan area with convenient public transit, so they need a car in order to move around. I'm aware that's not a legally enshrined "freedom" in the US and probably isn't in Japan. Everyone around here is always "I am not a lawyer" why the does everyone assume everyone is using definitions of words they're going to write into a legal brief. If you have a car and a drivers license and the government tells you you can't drive anymore, they're limiting your freedom in reality. Your "legal freedoms" have not been abridged, sure, but they've told you you can't do something you've been doing before and that's restricting your freedom. Do I need to clarify any further?

      Put that in a pipe and fucking smoke it.

      I feel like you should put something in a pipe and smoke it yourself.

  2. Unfair to seniors by DatbeDank · · Score: 1

    Asian driver jokes aside, I find this policy to be unfairly critical of a large segment of the population who aren't senile or suffering from a major illness. There should be a yearly form that your doctor signs off on saying your vision and response time is as good as any. From that, i doubt Japanese seniors aren't a horrible road threat as it may seem to their insurance companies.

    1. Re:Unfair to seniors by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

      It's not just vision and response. There's also hearing and the range of motion of the neck to consider, as well as what medications they're on.. Then there's also peripheral vision, which can't be checked with an eye chart. And night blindness, which is a big thing for many drivers of all ages who don't seem to be aware that they're leaning forward over the steering wheel at night to try to read the signs better, and don't even notice they're doing it since it crept up on them slowly. And then there's increased chances of stepping on the gas when they want to brake. Or the two-footed drivers who never learned to drive properly and jam on both in an emergency. ...

      Plus the idiot who's driving along the highway streaming the football game on his phone and decides to step out for a beer during the commercial.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  3. Re:Njggers, spics, chinks, jews, hodgies, fags, dy by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    I'm a Straight White Christian Male. Why am I not special? Where's MY safe space? How come nobody pays any attention to me anymore?

    You have the KKK, isn't that bad enough?

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  4. Re:Here's a better idea by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

    Not always. Sometimes we are trying to nap. Just give a small shove over if we start to drift out of our lane.

    --
    If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
  5. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

    I can scarcely imagine something more awkward and frustrating than trying to convince an elderly person that they are incapable of doing something... They will get insulted to say the least.

    Just hide their keys. In plain view usually works after a certain point. :-)

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  6. This should be expanded to all drivers by roubles · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Its not just the elderly. Teenagers. Distracted drivers. Epileptics. Narcoleptics. Suddenly incapacitated people (heart attacks, strokes). Drunk drivers. Texters. Everyone would benefit from cars that maintain their lanes and automatically brake. This is technology we already have and we already mass produce. This rule should, and most likely will, be expanded to all drivers in all cars - all the time.

    Elon Musk: "In the distant future, I think people may outlaw driving cars because it's too dangerous. You can't have a person driving a two-ton death machine."

    Its happening.

  7. Re:Here's a better idea by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

    the laws of physics do not care if you are trying or not.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  8. Re:Here's a better idea by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 2

    The laws of pointless accidents do care if you're paying attention, though.

  9. Re: I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2

    Then you smother them with a pillow.

    You try that, sonny, and I'll stick my cane so far up your ass it'll improve your posture.

    Being old only makes me more dangerous, and that's how I like it.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  10. Wrong Direction by AlanObject · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Why not mandate this for all vehicles?

    Are we trying to preserve the right for a privileged demographic to crash into things?

    1. Re:Wrong Direction by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      I'd like to see it mandatory on new cars, but they are talking about not allowing older drivers to keep using their old cars.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    2. Re:Wrong Direction by HornWumpus · · Score: 3, Informative

      In Japan, nobody can afford to keep their old cars.

      After the cars are about five years old, annual inspection involves extensive disassembly, taxes also go UP for old cars. They junk them and we get the drivetrain components for cheap (JDM parts).

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    3. Re:Wrong Direction by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      Why not mandate this for all vehicles?

      Are you serious? It's expensive to change all the cars to the latest generation all at once. I'm sure some retrofitting kits must exist, but I'll bet those are super expensive and probably can't be applied to all the cars or all the trucks (considering the liability and all the testing that must be done).

      Also, it will be easier for older people to replace their used cars/trucks if they can resell them at a decent price to the rest of the population. Also, what you're describing will happen eventually for everyone, but it will take time. And we might as well prioritize the populations that have the most accidents or that can cause the most damage first.

      For instance, take a look at the Japanese laws for drunk driving. If someone is caught drunk driving in Japan, the driver is punished, the passengers are punished, and even the bar is punished (which usually means Japanese bars will take people's car keys before they even start serving them alcohol). http://www.motoring.com.au/dri...

    4. Re:Wrong Direction by sims+2 · · Score: 1

      You could say "all new vehicles are required to have automatic braking after july 8th 2020" Then they have 3 years that's how that usually works anyway.

      It will take a very long time for the older stuff to work it's way out of the market but it's still the most reasonable way to do it.

      Personally i've yet to use one with automatic braking my concern is how badly does it screw up when it screws up?

      --
      Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    5. Re:Wrong Direction by No+Longer+an+AC · · Score: 1

      I'd mod this up if I could.

      The only objections I can think of for requiring it on new vehicles (not retrofitting all the ones already out there) are:

      * expense. How much does this cost?
      * someone else mentioned a false sense of security. I'm not sure how likely that is. If my car has to brake for me I would take that as a sign that I should be paying better attention.
      * I did also wonder if it might brake before I would normally brake, but I should hope that wouldn't be an issue. I've never driven one.

      The peace of mind it could bring knowing that the person behind you is less likely to rear-end you when you don't run a red light would be nice.

  11. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just hide their keys. In plain view usually works after a certain point. :-)

    That's not one bit funny. I've got no problem finding my keys, thank you very much, once I find my glasses.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  12. Re:Njggers, spics, chinks, jews, hodgies, fags, dy by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    What about Special K? It's still part of a complete breakfast!*

    * according to the Foods Manufacturers Association and the illuminati

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  13. Larry Niven agrees by mykepredko · · Score: 1

    Elon Musk: "In the distant future, I think people may outlaw driving cars because it's too dangerous. You can't have a person driving a two-ton death machine."

    Larry Niven cited turning off autonomous driving features as a reason to be given the death penalty in his "Known Universe" stories written in the 1960s. Society benefits from safer use of automobiles and an increased supply of spare parts.

    --
    Mimetics Inc. Twitter
    1. Re:Larry Niven agrees by newcastlejon · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, you can't have it both ways. If you increase automobile safety, you will have fewer dead people, and hence, fewer spare parts.

      Which is why the death penalty will be expanded to include false advertising and unpaid parking tickets.

      --
      If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
  14. It will be by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    before too much longer, if only because of insurance companies. It's going to be the death of the auto body industry though. Heck, this plus single payer health care (to cover the injury costs) could make Auto insurance all but obsolete. If nothing else it'd drive prices way down as the risk drops to nil and more players could afford to enter the market.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:It will be by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Carbon fiber bodies make body shops doomed, medium term. CF fabrication cost has it's own Moore's law analog, the fit isn't bad, can't go as long as Moore's law did, but for now, it's cheaper every year, by a decent %.

      CF Hoods used to cost a few thousand dollars. Granting some of them now only have one layer of CF and weigh exactly as much as a fiberglass hood, the world has always had posers.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    2. Re:It will be by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      If it's repairable, at all. Single piece tubs plus low cost CF make every hard hit a total loss.

      BTW Lamborghini charges $25,000 extra to not fill and paint the CF on their overpriced Audi R8s.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  15. o_O by XSportSeeker · · Score: 1

    "Separately Japanese authorities are offering elderly drivers who give up their licenses a discount on their funerals."
    Dang dude.

    1. Re:o_O by John.Banister · · Score: 1

      For an even bigger discount, just hop into this meat grinder, and our paid employee will say very nice things about the paste that comes out, before it gets pelletized and sent to a fish farm.

  16. Well.. by XSportSeeker · · Score: 1

    Just remember people, it's a different culture.
    Japan has an aging population and very packed urban centers...
    Driving classes are very strict, they have a policy about new drivers using different plates, clear identification, and not driving by themselves.
    That and public transportation being very nice there.

    It's a country that is anxiously waiting for autonomous cars to arrive.

    Here in Brazil, elderly drivers aren't much of a problem... in fact, among all age ranges they are the ones least involved in car accidents. Age range between 30-40 are the ones involved with accidents the most.

    1. Re:Well.. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      I've long advocated 'yellow bumpers' for all new drivers (F1 rookie style). They have to go a year without tickets or accidents to legally take off the yellow warning tape. Some drivers would _never_ get their yellow bumpers off.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    2. Re:Well.. by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      I have a yellow car, you insensitive clod.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    3. Re:Well.. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Most terrible drivers are not so self aware. I applaud your warning to others. Good job.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    4. Re:Well.. by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 1

      It also means different things to someone in Japan than it does in the USA. In the US, driving is freedom of movement, because public transportation tends to be poor to nonexistent. Even in major cities, NYC/SF/LA/DC, it's decidedly lacking compared to most other major cities worldwide. Take away someone's license, and they can't get anywhere unless someone else drives them.

      It's an entirely different story in Japan. Public transportation is everywhere. Even if remote towns up in the mountains, there are clean/timely buses. There, a car isn't a necessity to the degree that it is in the US.

    5. Re:Well.. by zippthorne · · Score: 1

      So, you're going to reward bad drivers with a mark that signals other drivers to give them extra space?

      --
      Can you be Even More Awesome?!
  17. Wrong by kackle · · Score: 1

    Has anyone bothered to determine whether faster braking would have prevented these accidents? "No, let's just throw technology at it and hope for the best!" Having been around many seniors and watching them drive, my guess is that it's mostly that they're "turning into things" or getting in the way of normal traffic flow.

    In fact, the last time I was hit was by a senior who turned into the side of me while I was crossing an intersection, even though he had already stopped because his green turn-arrow had expired.

    As a side note (I know this will be unpopular on Slashdot where science now takes a back seat), I'm not a fan of millions of cars spraying EM radiation all around me as I drive. No, there's no definitive study/link between microwaves and cancer (nor will there ever be), but as an amateur scientist, I'll use logic as my guide and remind other like-minded folks about the superposition concept, where EM radiation can be additive in the minute destruction of your DNA.

    1. Re:Wrong by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      Yep, those little tiny lidar pulses. Nasty things, those.

      Look, you've got for years with just aluminum foil. In a car, you're surrounded by sheet metal. Orders of magnitude better.

      You should feel all safe and warm inside your Faraday Shield.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    2. Re:Wrong by anegg · · Score: 2

      Um.... its LIDAR (light radar) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidar. Visible and near visible (ultra violet and near infra red) light that is being sprayed around. You know, like what surrounds you all day long, especially while you are outside? So, while its true that the detection uses photons that are on the electro-magnetic spectrum, its not the same risk as from microwave frequencies.

    3. Re:Wrong by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Um.... its LIDAR (light radar) [...] light that is being sprayed around.

      O RLY?

      Both short-range and long-range automotive-grade RADARs are used (mostly in the narrow-band i.e. 27â"77 GHz) for AD applications.

      Modern self-driving prototypes rely on radar and lidar to âoecross validateâ what theyâ(TM)re seeing and to predict motion.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    4. Re:Wrong by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      You should feel all safe and warm inside your Faraday Shield.

      Cars are not faraday cages, as they are not free of sizable gaps in their metal layer — we call them windows. It doesn't take much glass to block most UV and most IR, but that's not what faraday cages are for. They're for blocking radio frequency energy, and they depend on being conductive. You could solve this problem with metallic tints, though, and they can be retrofit easily enough. Into most vehicles, anyway. My A8 is supposed to be a PITA to tint, which is too bad because I'd really like a metallic tint job on it. Not for protection for AD sensors, but because it works well and looks good for years.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  18. Cost by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    The only way this is fair is if vehicles with such capabilities cost the same as other vehicles, even taking into account the used car market.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    1. Re:Cost by Mal-2 · · Score: 1

      Since when has Japan been about fairness?

      --
      How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
    2. Re:Cost by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      I would hope that any government wouldn't actively create higher barriers for the poorer people than for the wealthy. If Japan does, I'm just happy I don't live there. Solutions that require a technology to be enforced on a person with the intention of making society safer as a whole should be funded by that society as a whole, not by the individual.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  19. Re:Njggers, spics, chinks, jews, hodgies, fags, dy by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 1

    The KKK??! Geez, even teenaged trolls are savvy enough to at least babble about the "Alt Right" or "White Supremacists." The teens are also smart enough to know that when the KKK was doing their very best cross-burning, lynching and KKK'ing they were the party of Southern Democrats, and *that* sure doesn't play well in these online forums.

    Why not just equate the behavior and mores of all Christians with the medieval Church Inquisition, like the real n00b anti-Christian trolls do, and call it a day?

  20. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by Kjella · · Score: 2

    I can scarcely imagine something more awkward and frustrating than trying to convince an elderly person that they are incapable of doing something... They will get insulted to say the least.

    Try beginning dementia, that's worse. When they're too far gone it's like a stuck record, but while they're falling apart part creating chaos and part remembering the chaos is agony. About driving it's mostly that they don't see any alternative, they've driven for 50+ years and being elderly they don't have the same ability to walk/use a bicycle/take public transport as young people so everything revolves around going places by car. It's back to being dependent on others, either friends and family or taxis/home delivery services and I think a lot of upper middle class elderly would easily drop $100-250k on an autonomous car that let them keep their independence. I just hope it's ready for my retirement in a few decades.

    Very often it's tied in to the other big life change that is moving, like you could live out here when you were 25 or 50 but now that you're 75 you need an apartment somewhere central. Less house and garden to maintain, less stairs, preferably a grocery store and other basic amenities in rollator distance. It doesn't have to be a nursing home or anything like that, just the easy life. Of course you also have those where being out and about is what keeps them running, the moment they get their apartment they sit in a chair and waste away. But you have to do it in moderation, some elderly refuse to recognize that they're getting older and want too much which can lead to them to some form of injury or breakdown. Sometime you just have to let the old find those limits themselves, though.

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  21. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by PPH · · Score: 2

    The elderly vote. More so than any other group. And they vote to protect their own self interests. So government officials who value their careers will do nothing to offend them.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  22. Re:Old people... by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    Doing needle point on her steering wheel. Stitch, stitch, look, stitch, stitch, look...

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  23. Re:Old people... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

    Back to Twitter with you, Mr. Trump.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  24. In 5 years, it should be AP equipped. by WindBourne · · Score: 1

    Seriously, in the future, we may wish to require AP equipped cars for elderly, as well as those with a DUI.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    1. Re:In 5 years, it should be AP equipped. by Mal-2 · · Score: 1

      Seriously, in the future, we may wish to require AP equipped cars for elderly, as well as those with a DUI.

      It's bad enough that old folks and drunks mix up the pedals and crash cars. Now you want them to be armor piercing too?

      (Yes, sarcasm. But I have no idea what "AP equipped" means in an automotive context.)

      --
      How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
    2. Re:In 5 years, it should be AP equipped. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Seriously, in the future, we may wish to require AP equipped cars for elderly, as well as those with a DUI.

      All major automakers have voluntarily agreed to include automatic emergency braking by by September of 2022. I'd also like to see lane keeping assistance in those vehicles, but that's still pretty good. There will be no need to require it. I, for one, would really like to have AEB as a feature so long as I can turn it off. I don't mind having to turn it off again every hour or so. Unfortunately, my car doesn't have ESP, so even if a retrofit product were to be made available, I could not reasonably install it.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:In 5 years, it should be AP equipped. by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      auto pilot.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    4. Re:In 5 years, it should be AP equipped. by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      well, AP will be here before 2022. In fact, Tesla's AP should be level 5 rated within a year. Then others will take time. Most likely, the Germans and Americans will end up buying either Apple or Google's AP who appears to be superior to all except for Tesla.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  25. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by anegg · · Score: 1

    Most people would get insulted, not just the old ones. If I recall correctly, studies have shown that most of us believe that we are above average (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/everyone-thinks-they-are-above-average/, https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/motr/when-it-comes-to-driving-most-people-think-their-skills-are-above-average.html#.WWEcscbMzdQ, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority) and tend to be incapable of recognizing when our performance is declining (sorry, couldn't find the references I was thinking of for this second effect).

    Add to that a tendency to be defensive about the things you fear may be happening to you as you age, and... it's not surprising that an elderly person reacts badly to being told that they aren't as good as others or as they used to be.

  26. Re: I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    I easily overpowered you, sorry. You are now dead.

    (struts away twirling your cane)

    I've studied martial arts for over thirty years.

    (walks away quietly over your prostrate body)

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  27. Because it's better than funding public transit by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    Try to get a bill through to pay for reliable public transportation (along with the taxes to fund it) and let me know how that turns out.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  28. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    The glasses are on your nose already.

    Whaddya know? If they were a snake, they woulda bit me.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  29. Re:Here's a better idea by stephanruby · · Score: 1

    Tell us. How old is too old for someone to drive a car without auto-braking? Is 86 years old too old? Is 100 years old too old? At what age do you draw the line? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    Please note that not all the auto-braking systems are designed to prevent a car from hitting something, those systems are not standardized yet, and they vary greatly in quality, some are super basic, but at least, those systems will brake once you've hit someone, even if you keep on pressing on the gas pedal afterwards (like it did in France when the terrorist tried to keep on going with the stolen truck, or like it could have helped the 86 year old man in the US who kept on pressing the gas pedal even though his car was plowing into the crowd of the Santa Monica Farmers market, killing 10 people and injuring 63).

  30. Re:Here's a better idea by Jeremi · · Score: 1

    Tell us. How old is too old for someone to drive a car without auto-braking? Is 86 years old too old? Is 100 years old too old?

    There's no set age; it's going to depend on the individual. The standard DMV testing methodology is to sit the person down and have them play OutRun; if they can get to the third checkpoint without crashing, their license is renewed.

    --


    I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
  31. Re: I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by ishmaelflood · · Score: 1

    My bodyguard shoots you. You killed me after I lived for 65 years, I had you killed after you scraped through some second rate college and worked in a cubicle for a couple of years. i win.

  32. Re: I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    wanks away quietly over his prostate

    I'm wanking over your prostate.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  33. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by sims+2 · · Score: 2

    I have to be sure I leave them in one of a few places if I leave them anywhere else I will have to spend at least a half hour looking for them.

    I'd have gotten bright neon frames on my glasses if they had been offered.

    --
    Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
  34. They already do that, sort of. by Chaset · · Score: 1

    In Japan, they already sort of do this. New drivers are required to display the "newbie mark" on their cars.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    And, they also already have the "old geezer mark"
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    So the new rules will be in addition to these much older measures.

    --
    -- "This world is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel."
  35. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by No+Longer+an+AC · · Score: 1

    It was very difficult to get my grandfather to give up driving. Driving around pointlessly shopping different grocery stores for the lowest price on Oreos was something he enjoyed. Of course he wasn't saving money by burning all that gas to save a few pennies on Oreos but it gave him something to do and living in his retirement home after my grandmother passed away was boring.

    That and going to Wendy's for a Frosty were among the things he liked to do. It was only after he got into an accident and we acted as his chauffeur that we finally wrested the keys away from him.

    Automatic braking could have prevented that accident as well as at least one near accident when I was a passenger. The only thing harder to do was to get him to quit smoking and that was only possible because it was beginning to have severe effects on his circulation.

    I've never driven a car with this feature but as long as it doesn't brake before I'm ready to I think I'd like it. Of course I'm confident in my driving abilities and don't think I need it, but my grandfather thought the same thing too. If I live that long I'm sure I'll insist I'm still just as good a driver as ever - maybe I'll even think I'm better.

  36. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    I'll keep that in mind. I "solved" my problem of not being able to find my glasses by not seeing them both times I stepped/sat on them and broke them.- boith my main pair and my backup, within a couple of months. So now I just don't wear glasses. It doesn't make much of a difference - the left eye went from 20/45 to 20/400, so that would take coke bottle bottoms to fix, and the right keeps getting blood collecting inside, which glasses also won't fix.

    As long as I can walk the dog and ride my bike I don't really care any more.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  37. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by sims+2 · · Score: 1

    Well as long as you're sure it's a dog.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    They say i'm a good candidate for lasik but can't convince myself that the slight risk of major complications is worth not having to wear glasses.

    Especially since wearing glasses has saved my eyes from damage in a few situations where I wasn't wearing safety glasses.

    I can't wear contacts I don't blink enough they dry out and peel off when I blink I might try something like restasis and try it again sometime that didn't exist when I first tried contacts.

    Hope your situation improves the only other thing I can recommend if you decide to go back to glasses again is getting one that has a 2 way hinge otherwise the flexing from putting it on your head will eventually cause the frame to break on the edge where the side connects.

    --
    Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
  38. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    Don't forget that Lasik is not a permanent fix - you'll need glasses as you get older as your eyes continue to change to be more farsighted (if you're like most people). Just not worth it.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  39. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by sims+2 · · Score: 1

    I'm nearsighted now so if I get to where I don't have sight for nearby things I'll be pretty much blind.

    I can see about 2-3 feet out before it gets blurry.

    --
    Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
  40. Re:I don't wanna be the one to tell them... by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    As you age, your eyes will normally get less nearsighted - so in theory you should be able to see better as you age. Unless something else screws up. Live long enough, it will.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.