They had a caregiver sitting in the back seat. They should have been the one driving, there's no way they hadn't noticed the dangerous driving of someone so old.
And it sucks that either of them had to be in that position. You can't hand a person a loaded gun, tell them it's safe and then act surprised when they shoot somebody.
The accident took place in Tennessee. I'm not sure what the Medicaid benefit is in that state for transportation. For those that are on Medicaid here in NY, Medicaid will provide transportation to doctor appointments and the pharmacy and that is it. It doesn't provide transportation for things like shopping, visiting family, ect. For anything else, the poor people here are reliant on public transportation, taxis/ubers, riding a bike/walking if physically able, or begging family/friends for a ride.
The poor, or elderly and poor, still need to drive if they have a vehicle, or find other means of transportation. Those other methods of transportation aren't cost effective in either time or money. Walking is free, but a 10 mile walk will take 3 hours, source: I have walked 10 miles when my bike had a flat and the busses stopped running. Public transit is cheap here in Albany, you can ride the bus all day for $3.90 if you use a bus card, but it can take 2-3 hours for a 10 mile trip in one direction depending on number of connections and schedule. The same trip in a taxi/uber might cost $20 - $30 but take only 15 minutes.
I know that here in NY, people in homeless shelters are sometimes given free bus cards with like x number of prepaid trips. The elderly and disabled can get discounts on bus fare, but they have to jump through hoops to prove their disability/age and keep re-certifying for the discount.
Do the poor get free transportation where you live?
Public transportation will always be cheaper than maintaining a personal vehicle. The problem public transportation may not exist or what does exist is very limited. Only the "big" cities will have some type of bus network. But the vast majority live outside in the suburbs which have absolute no access to public transportation.
100% this. With the exception of a 3 year stint in Dallas, I have gone my entire life without a car because I grew up in NYC and Albany where I live now has an adequate bus system, although I ride my bike 10 months out of the year.
My point is that when you are poor, it doesn't matter if you "have to" drive, you cannot drive. Poor people manage to survive in every city of the planet. Being a motorist is very privileged.
Where I live, the license only has to be renewed, but only every 2 years after turning 80. No driving test.
Apparently:
Tennessee does not set a maximum age for driving. Instead, the state evaluates drivers based on their ability to drive, which may require medical reviews, testing, restrictions and suspensions when safety concerns arise, according to Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
...
No states in the South impose a maximum age at which people have to stop driving, and only three enforce strict renewal laws for the elderly: Florida, Georgia and Louisiana
(source)
10 Comments
yardratianSoma@lemmy.ca · 12 pts · 11d
This spineless society that forces the elderly to drive, when they clearly should have alternatives means to get around. Look what happens.
smegger@aussie.zone · 7 pts · 11d
They had a caregiver sitting in the back seat. They should have been the one driving, there's no way they hadn't noticed the dangerous driving of someone so old.
ergonomic_importer@piefed.ca · 2 pts · 11d
And it sucks that either of them had to be in that position. You can't hand a person a loaded gun, tell them it's safe and then act surprised when they shoot somebody.
jerkface@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 11d
Too bad he wasn't elderly and poor. Isn't it amazing how poor people don't "have to" drive. We should figure out how they do that.
Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 9d
The accident took place in Tennessee. I'm not sure what the Medicaid benefit is in that state for transportation. For those that are on Medicaid here in NY, Medicaid will provide transportation to doctor appointments and the pharmacy and that is it. It doesn't provide transportation for things like shopping, visiting family, ect. For anything else, the poor people here are reliant on public transportation, taxis/ubers, riding a bike/walking if physically able, or begging family/friends for a ride.
The poor, or elderly and poor, still need to drive if they have a vehicle, or find other means of transportation. Those other methods of transportation aren't cost effective in either time or money. Walking is free, but a 10 mile walk will take 3 hours, source: I have walked 10 miles when my bike had a flat and the busses stopped running. Public transit is cheap here in Albany, you can ride the bus all day for $3.90 if you use a bus card, but it can take 2-3 hours for a 10 mile trip in one direction depending on number of connections and schedule. The same trip in a taxi/uber might cost $20 - $30 but take only 15 minutes.
I know that here in NY, people in homeless shelters are sometimes given free bus cards with like x number of prepaid trips. The elderly and disabled can get discounts on bus fare, but they have to jump through hoops to prove their disability/age and keep re-certifying for the discount.
Do the poor get free transportation where you live?
piccolo@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 9d
Public transportation will always be cheaper than maintaining a personal vehicle. The problem public transportation may not exist or what does exist is very limited. Only the "big" cities will have some type of bus network. But the vast majority live outside in the suburbs which have absolute no access to public transportation.
Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 9d
100% this. With the exception of a 3 year stint in Dallas, I have gone my entire life without a car because I grew up in NYC and Albany where I live now has an adequate bus system, although I ride my bike 10 months out of the year.
jerkface@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 9d
My point is that when you are poor, it doesn't matter if you "have to" drive, you cannot drive. Poor people manage to survive in every city of the planet. Being a motorist is very privileged.
Auli@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 9d
Don't they have to be tested every year?
yardratianSoma@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 9d
Where I live, the license only has to be renewed, but only every 2 years after turning 80. No driving test.
Apparently:
...