@NorasMom I think that jactac may not be comparing like for like. My experience of rural Northern Cailifornia and the contrast between drivers there and in the UK may help put this into context.
School children are able to get a licence to drive to and from school at 16, senior citizens tend to drive on rural roads in preference to highways which are up to 12 lanes, rated at up to 65 mph and because of the size of the country newly rehabilitated drivers are often allowed to drive to and from work but nowhere else. Driving outside the major cities is very much less furious in nature than the urban styles of the UK. One good example is the 4 way stop, which I feel would result in carnage in the UK!
In a massive area like the USA there are not bus and taxi services outside towns and cities, but the distances involved are very large. My take is that most seniors and, by the tone of your messages, your own attitude feel that driving is a great gift, not an absolute right.
What the driver in the UK did seems to have done was; drive at 60% (20mph+) above the speed limit demonstrating no judgement at all, fail to stop for the police which is a crime in itself, then lose control - if he ever had any - and kill. His lawyer did not cliam that he was under the influence of drugs, but claimed that having MS in and of itself was the excuse.
@jactac - your description of the Sativex treatment sounds very worrying, but unlike the doctor, you know how to deal with it obviously. There are many users of common cold cures on our streets who are under the same kind of infuence, but because they are not “affected by a notifiable disease” just get in the car and drive.
@NorasMom - it is easy to drive without seeing anyone at all near to the city I visit, unless I go to a supermarket or into town. We joke that there are 12,000 people who live in the area who use the same markets, work at the same places but unless we have party, do not meet each others families
except at the county fair!
Enjoy life, take care of yourself and be respectful of those around you. Or is that what you said?