Russell Weller killed 10 people in Santa Monica, Calif., by crashing his car into a pedestrian market, but no charges have been brought against him. Weller deserves to be charged with involuntary manslaughter, though his age might be why no charges have yet been filed. That's ridiculous - age should not be a restriction for punishment.
The 86-year-old man claimed he did not realize the street he was attempting to use was closed, jolting into the Santa Monica farmers market, killing eight on the spot and injuring up to 45 others.
Weller said he mistook the accelerator pedal for the brake.
Police also are investigating if he hit a Mercedes before the market accident, and upon inspection of his home said they found collision marks on his garage, possibly from him running into it on separate occasions. It doesn't take much to say this man should not have been on the road in the first place.
This is proof some people shouldn't be on the road and the driving system in the United States is flawed. Changes need to be made so similar accidents can be avoided.
Those who prove to be a danger on the road such as Weller, should not be allowed to drive. And the loopholes that allowed him to do so need to be closed in the system.
And this isn't merely an age issue - anyone can be an bad driver. Take for example the woman in Atlanta who swerved across a freeway causing a 24-vehicle pileup because she did not want the sofa in the back of her truck to get wet when it started to rain.
Some people don't have the motor skills and others lack enough common sense to drive. Law enforcement and Secretary of State offices need to collaborate on a new system that will keep our roads safe from bad drivers.
People should be given road tests, not written but actual driving tests, every few years to ensure they are still capable of safe driving. If you fail, you can't drive. It's as simple as that.
Being told that you cannot drive is not a bad thing. There's still public transportation. It might not get you to your destination as quickly as you'd like, but it's worth a try if it will save the lives of others, much less your own.
