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Subscribe to RSSOfficials with the U.S. Postal Service are sending a special message to customers in Florida: Pay extra attention to your driving.
So far this year, eight motorists have crashed into post office buildings in Florida, including one customer who plowed through a lobby in the eastern community of Vero Beach, according to ABC affiliate WWSB7 in Sarasota.
The accidents prompted postal officials to release a set of precautions, including “avoid distracted driving," "visibly check to see whether your foot is on the gas pedal or the brake pedal,” and “visibly check to see if the vehicle is in park, reverse or drive,” WWSB7 reported.
Postal officials say drivers stepping on the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal or accelerating when the driver believes the vehicle is in reverse are the top causes for the accidents, WWSB7 reported.
Attempts by NBC News to contact post office officials in Florida was unsuccessful Friday.
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In June 2011, patrons escaped injury after 89-year-old Phyllis Slaunwhite roared her 2002 Subaru Outback all the way through a post office building in Oldsmar, the Tampa Bay Times reported. She told police she had no memory of the accident. Damage to the building: $250,000, according to the newspaper.
"It was just a big smash and everyone started shuffling toward the front of the building," resident Frank Kubacki told the Tampa Bay Times. "There you go. Another Florida accident."
WWSB7 provided a list of accidents this year:
9/17/2012: Punta Gorda. Customer pressed the gas instead of the brakes and ran into the
building, hitting a front pillar.8/21/2012: Leesburg. Customer she said she was startled by something falling from the
sky and accelerated into the post office lobby.07/02/2012: Fruitland Park. Customer pulled into the wrong parking lot and was going to
back out. He did not realize the vehicle was in drive and stepped on the accelerator,
driving into the retail area.6/14/2012: Lakeland MPO. Customer was sitting in vehicle talking to husband, put foot on
the gas instead of the brake, ran over the curb and knocked down a light pole.3/5/2012: Goldenrod. Customer drove vehicle into front lobby of PO. Customer
thought she was pressing brake pedal as she was parking in handicap parking spot in
front of PO. Instead she pushed gas pedal and drove vehicle into one of the building's
mail supports.2/12/2012: Vero Beach-Tropic Branch. Customer failed to brake and drove vehicle
through postal lobby.2/8/2012: Wimauma. Customer hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, hitting the
front of the Post Office. The front bumper of the car hit the brick portion of the building
breaking the front glass windows.1/3/2012: Indian Rocks Beach. Customer was leaving Post Office when foot slipped off
the brake and hit the accelerator, sending car forward over the curb into the east wall of
the Post Office. Car hit a cinder block wall, knocking down 2 sets of package lockers on
the inside wall
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I have heard of cars crashing into post offices in states other than Florida as well. Perhaps USPS should never have made its last afternoon post office carrier collection times so much sooner.
Part of it is also the design of post offices. It used to be that they were designed off the street, at a corner, with a separate parking lot, and built so that you had to go up steps to go inside (later, of course, wheelchair ramps were built). So you'd park in the lot, then make your way up to the building. Now, you have "convenient" parking right next to the building, on the same level as the lobby... that's a bit too convenient for some, it seems!
Decades ago Pennsylvania passed a law requiring everyone to pass a medical test before they were issued a drivers license. At the time some twenty thousand people gave up their license because they knew they couldn't pass.
Florida should follow suit, however the politicians would expect a backlash and fail to to do it.
USPS - It's Florida! We drive until we kill ourselves and others. Then we stop driving. You have a problem?
Maybe you could solve this crashing problem by putting elastic bumpers all around your buildings, then they would just bounce off and into something else.
What can you say - life is tough in the land of the grey hairs!
They're either driving into post offices or swimming pools
They are also fond of giving Dunkin' Donuts new drive throughs. Not to mention backing over their spouses in driveways.
I always drive into a PO lobby through the window when I am startled by objects falling from the sky. Seems like a normal thing to me. IT doesn't matter that no one else saw the objetcs or can find a trace of them after the incident. Driving through PO is the next level after driving 6 miles in the left lane below the Speed limit with your turn signal flashing. Ah, to be old and driving in Florida - the real American dream. So glad Florida is in the wacky news again. Wouldn't want Florida to lose it's #1 spot !
Old farts who keep on driving WAY past the time it is safe.
I'm nearing 71, but I do know the difference between brake pedal and gas pedal; me thinks it is time, as already suggested, that some families have serious talks with their elder parents about giving up the keys to their car. If they feel they need their own transportation see about one those little golf-cart like vehicles. If they hit something like a bldg then there won't be near the damage to the bldg but their cart would perhaps be wiped out.
WE'RE NUMBER 1, WE'RE NUMBER 1! Once again, Florida nabs the number one position in the entire Nation!
They should send NASCAR drivers down here to practice (and I don't mean in Daytona!) and see how they really drive under pressure. I do kind of like the "bumper car" idea though, giant inflatable bumpers that push everything and everyone out of the way.
And what about a Reality Show down here too, "Bumpers and Bluehairs' would show those Cajun Hicks, Crabbers and Honey Boo Boos a thing or two! We are being underutilized!
I hope this is a lesson to everyone about the power of voting
They will never change the laws to hinder the elderly because they are the majority of people who vote.
I bet only 1% of the 99%ers (OWS) will vote when the election rolls around - but grandma and grandpa will be up bright and early to vote.
You don't mess with the Grey Panthers!
Is there some sort of Darwinian irony here in the sense that the only people who use the post office anymore are old folks anyway?
Relax- just kidding- no disrespect to old folks, or for that matter snail mailers either.
Isn't Florida an Obama state? That would explain a lot. He will change that after the election since he is thankfully limited to 2 terms. Obaama can fix anything.
Had to stick something political in here. Could not resist. I hope no one was injured in these incidents.
But the question is, why the hell did you have to stick something political there?
I'm sorry, but what is the problem for making those over 75 take a driving test every year?
Actually, blame the lobbyists that threaten politicians if anyone even mentions making seniors re-test.
We've got a couple of retirement communities in my area and we had a lot of "elderly driver opens new drive through" accidents. The shopping areas affect put 6ft, concrete filled, steel pipes, buried 3ft deep, every 4ft around the edge of the parking lot. Instead of damaged store fronts and injured shoppers we get loads of bent Buicks, Caddies and Lincolns. The steel pipes are fine and just need a new coat of paint!
Isn't Florida special? Everyday there is an interesting story out of Florida.
Florida driver to Postal buildings - Stay off the sidewalk! I'm driving here!
:p
Hit the accelerator instead of the break? I bet some really thought the post office was a drivetrough.
Brake. Drive-thru. And yes, I'm being arrogant enough to act as the Spelling Guard at this crossing. (A "break" is something that's broken, be it time or a limb.)
Stand: You go with yo bad self. LOL But, when you're right, you're right.
On to the Question: Don't discuss it with them. Take the keys away, because cars are not children's toys nor second childhood's toys either.
You have to wonder if people are dumb enough to run into a post office with their car, what makes the post office think they are smart enough to pay attention to the public announcement?
That would be brake...fool.
It's Florida - they only published the age of one of the drivers, I'd be curious to see all of them to see if there's a pattern. I don't know if you've ever driven in Florida, but it can be almost comically scary sometimes.
Agreed...see my post #5 below. Luckily, I've learned over the years and can now spot the trouble long before it happens. It usually starts with a head of blue hair barely peaking over the steering wheel.
I think the post office officials and Florida DPS are missing an opportunity...they should promote this as a reality check to see if a driver is a bit to old for the responsibility or still spry enough to stay behind the wheel. DPS can send out an invitation to say a 85 year old who still holds a drivers license to meet at the local Post office for a coffee social. If the Octogenarian can manage to park safely and then depart safely they are good for another year. If they can't well DPS can save the kids the difficult job of taking away the keys.
Hey txmom32 if you invite all the 85 yr olds to the post office for a coffee social there won't be one post office standing by the end of the week. Although I only come to Florida for a few weeks every year I see some of the old folks running red lights, stop signs, changing lanes without looking and crashing through a lot of other venues and then saying I was stepping on the brake as hard as I could. At that point their license should be revoked immediately because on the second chance they will probably kill or injure themselves or someone else. I sure would not want to be the MV department officer doing the retest on these people as they must get the crap scared out of them now and then.
Sunken person behind the wheel with blue hair is the first sign, a NY tag is another to stay away_— far away as possible. It seems like every New Yorker who has never driven decides to buy a car and take up driving at 80 in Florida. Riding a motorcycle or bicycle down here is a true test of bravery or something else.
I got rear-ended in the parking lot of a PO in Miami. I let him go because my car didn't even get a scratch; it was just a minor bump. The old man though, started to beep at me after he had collided with my bumper and telling me I was in his way. I got out of the car and told him if he didn't shut the @!$%# up, I was gonna beat the @!$%# of out him. The fear that came upon his face was just PRICELESS!
FamilyGuy, I got hit 4 times in five months. The person puts their car in reverse in a parking lot, steps on the gas but can't be bothered to look in the rear view mirror. Like, how could there possibly be another car moving in a PARKING LOT. I hate to say this but it never was a man driving these cars.
just goes to show where the largest percentage of retiree's are!
While they only give the age of one driver in the cited incidents, living down here and driving for a living for most of it, I can guarantee that most (if not all) of the other incidents involved elderly drivers. Unbelievable what you see elderly drivers do down here on a daily basis.
We need a new national drivers license law that states all drivers over 75 must renew their drivers license by retaking BOTH the driving and written exams at age 75 and every 5 years after that (maybe every 3). Plus I recommend video tests as well. Older drivers are simply a menance to the road--higher accident rates than teenagers and that's a fact.
more2bits....you realize that Drivers licenses are distributed by a State authority and not a national authority? I personally wouldn't say 75 rather 85
That would actually be a backward step in many states. Where I live, elderly drivers have to take both every year once they hit 75 or 80 (not sure which).
But it's hard to put an actual age on it. My father was fine driving until 88 then voluntarily gave up his license when his sight got bad. But I've seen others who should give up driving in their 50's or 60's.
Actually most if not all states do require senior citizens to renew their licenses more frequently then other drivers.Normally that happens automatically as a safety precaution when one has mailed in their license once, and then the next time, they must go in physically to renew it.This is done so that photos can be updated.But it also allows the official to check out the person personally to see how they are functioning.
In addition there are medical questions which must be answered.Plus one must pass the eye exam. If any questions are marked yes, it requires one going to their doctor with a form requiring information from the doctor, who then mails in. Depending on how it is answered, the driver may have to take a drivers test. Failing the eye exam requires seeing an eye doctor and returning with a clearance letter. Usually wearing new glasses. So there are built in systems to check elderly drivers. I have worked a lot of accidents over the years involving many differently situations, with different age groups. The problem is, some types of behaviors are more common depending on the age of the drivers, though the root problems may be almost identical. Mistaking one thing for another, or making the wrong choice. Even younger drivers can get distracted.But the types of accidents they cause are different.Most often seen on freeways and more high speed incidents.
i think every state should require EVERY driver to retake the road test every 10 years...
there are some 30 yr olds that shouldn't be driving and atleast then the drunks would have to sober up once every 10 yrs....
I dont mind having to retake the test if it means the bad drivers get caught before they mow pedestrians down.
I agree that past some certain age (e.g. 65, 70) people should undergo more rigorous scrutiny before being allowed to continue operating a motor vehicle.
Its not a fact__the teenagers has more accidents than the elderly and that is the true fact.
Lousy article without the ages of all the drivers in the examples you cited.
This is Florida too ! We train em early here. I stopped behind a city bus picking up passengers with the red lights all working on the top of the bus, Noon,, dry, bright sunny day, got hit in rear by a college girl who was texting and didn't see the bus or my vehicle stopped. My metal bumper and trailer hitch came out of it OK. She had about $2,000 in damage to her plastic cute little car. First thing she did after picking up a few big pieces of her car and moving them to the sidewalk was start taking camera pictures of me and my vehicle. I hope she sent them to her Dad who doubtlessly footed the bill for her education. When she completes her schooling she may be after a Post Office next.
watch out. she may sue you for interrupting her texting. lol
They also left out if the drivers were trying to get to USPS or MVD, or, just Maybe they were trying to mail there license back with the car.
Perhaps it would be better, financially, for the Post Office to simply abandon Florida altogether?
Jeb Bush tried that he left his CHAD hanging!
u won't catch me in Florida, but if you do, I won't be walking
I'm betting most of these drivers were over 80 or close to it. Most of these drivers should not have been driving anymore. Tough to get so old and incompetent. But is the way of life. Most of us will get there. What can you do. Hope you don't kill someone.
No offense meant but likely senior citizen drivers, who probably no longer belong behind the wheel.
Maybe they should post the AGE of these drivers -- let's be honest, we know the demographics of the region, and the excuses from these people sound largely like seniors in denial about their failing reflexes and awareness. We really need to retest seniors every few years, it's not about being age-ist, this is a public safety issue, period.
what a thing to bitch about when people are dying all around the world that we can help way to go fl
STOP giving drivers license to anyone breathing and this wont happen. This is not a story why is it even on here? Isn't there ANYTHING more important to talk about ? Proves my point that someone decided on their own to print this nonsense....
Hello - they are called guardrails. The usps installs heavy rails inside processing plants, around every structure that the reckless, doped-up forklift drivers might (and do) damage. Same thing applies in the customer areas. In places like Florida (and increasingly so in all parts) a large number of drivers are decrepit and incompetent. The younger drivers also become less competent each day. The driving ability can be calculated - the formula = [(normal-driving-competency) divided by (current-iPhone-iteration)] minus (number-of-years-since-student-drivers-were-taught-with-stick-shift).
Any retail business in Florida should install sturdy guard rails between the parking lot and the building and pedestrian areas - also between the street and the building / pedestrian areas. A good rule of thumb is to assume that any car or truck going down the street or moving in the parking area is commanded by a person who had a massive stroke 3 seconds ago. In two or three instances per month, the assumption will be true (sometimes it's a coronary instead of a stroke.)
Coots! All of them! Dropping a steamer in their Depends probably distracted them. If you see one of these shriveled blue hairs coming your way, run for cover. Their eyeballs are below the level of the dashboard half the time, which doesn't matter because most of them have vision worse than Ray Charles anyway.
Pedestrians to old people: stop running us over on sidewalks
Old people to pedistrians-"Get off my sidewalk, I'm tryin to drive here"
Ok we get it mostly old and at times confused drivers that go to the post office....Put some serious concrete Pillers or barriers uparound the PARKING LOTS of Florida Post offices...Gotta do it the state is a Mecca for retired people and that population is growing daily....Prevent them for making the Post office drive thrus....Cant trust the Agede to make goood decision behind the wheel..Make it so they cant drive into your buildings...
Old people use the post office. Young people use email or UPS/FedEX.
It's all ratios. End of story.
...and old people can cut you out of the will. (rewritten - end of story)
You little whippersnappers better just get out of my way. I'm a senior citizen therefore I have the right of way always! LOL
Florida just needs to ban those old fossils from driving.
Yea, we tried that! But then they just get their parents to drive them!! YIKES!!
The postmaster should b more careful of where they build the post office, to avoid drivers running into them. Building them in high traffic areas is probably a bad idea, since the drivers might not see the post office in time to avoid an accident.
I couldn't agree more. If they would just build the post offices in the street, No one would ever hit them!!
Is there a co-relation between age of elder Florida drivers with their ability to drive causing this?
How in the heck did you ever reach that nutty conclusion? There is absolutely No coorelation between the 2.............it's just a coincidence!
Somebody needs to do a better job of proofreading. I expect a grammatical mistake from the peanut gallery of responses. I don't expect it from supposed professionals who are supposed to know how to write.
Actually I noticed "visibly" being used in place of "visually". In order to follow the USPS suggestions as written, a person would need another person present to watch them "visibly" checking. Not as egregious as those stray apostrophe's [sic] that are proliferating in everyday language. Or "everyday" being used in place of "every day" . Or....