Scooter driver injured in collision Oct. 15

SB POLICE REPORT

For the second time in as many weeks, a LW resident on a scooter was injured in a collision with a car.

The latest accident happened at 2:17 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the intersection of Golden Rain Road and St. Andrews Drive, according to a Seal Beach police report.

The car was traveling eastbound on Golden Rain, making a right turn onto St. Andrews, when it collided with the scooter, according to LW Security.

Orange County Fire responded and treated the female scooter driver at the scene. She was transported to Long Beach Memorial with moderate injuries.

She is the second resident injured in a scooter accident since Sept. 19, when a man was struck at St. Andrews Drive and Church Place.

LW scooter operators are encourged to install orange traffic-safety flags to help make the low-profile vehicles more visible to drivers.

Neither vehicle driver was injured, according to reports. In the most recent collision, SBPD closed northbound St. Andrews for a couple of hours to conduct an accident investigation.

Since January, Seal Beach police have issued 207 citations in Leisure World.

The majority of those were for running stop signs or red lights, and others were given for failing to yield to pedestrians.

If anyone has information on the Oct. 15 accident or specific concerns about areas or intersections, contact Traffic Bureau Sgt. Jordan Mirakian at (562) 799-4100, ext. 1618, or jmirakian@sealbeachca.gov.

Leisure World residents can also call the SBPD non-emergency line at (562) 594-7232.

Facts about Older Drivers

• One in five drivers in the United States is 65 years or older.

• Older adults are more than twice as likely to report having a medical problem that makes it difficult to drive, compared with people aged 24-64.

• Four in five older adults take one or more medicines daily. Physical changes that occur with age can change the way the body reacts to medicines, causing more side effects and affecting the ability to concentrate and drive safely.

• In 2018, almost 7,700 older adults (65-plus) were killed in traffic crashes, and more than 250,000 were treated in emergency departments for crash injuries. This means that each day, more than 20 older adults are killed, and almost 700 are injured in crashes.

Steps to Stay Safe on the Road

• In LW, drivers share the road with golf carts, scooters, pedestrians and cyclists. Drivers need to stay alert; put down cell phones; drive the speed limit, which is 25 miles an hour unless otherwise noted; and come to full stops when directed. Pedestrians, bikes and carts have the right-of-way in crosswalks.

• People operating scooters, carts and bikes must obey all traffic control devices. Always ride with the flow of traffic. • Maximize visibility by wearing reflective clothing and applying reflective tape to scooters and bikes.

• Always wear seat belts, and never drive impaired by alcohol, drugs or medicines.

• Discuss any medical issues with a doctor to determine if they might affect driving skills.

• Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year. Wear glasses and corrective lenses as directed.

• Plan your route before you drive.

• Drive during daylight and in good weather when possible.

• Plan routes that are familiar and avoid freeways during peak traffic hours.

It pays to drive safely and within speed limits.

In California, fines for speeding tickets max out at $490, according to www.ticketclinic.com.

Although it varies among insurance companies, older drivers routinely see premiums almost double after a traffic ticket.

The average car insurance rate increase for California drivers who get a speeding ticket is 42 percent, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis.

For senior drivers, it’s often higher.

So it pays to slow down and do your part to keep LW safe.