Accident scene at Leona's on Sheffield and Belmont.

Around 6 PM today a car somehow managed to drive in reverse through the window of Leona's at 3215 N. Sheffield. I snapped this shot because I live down the street and heard the crash and yelling. The Tribune reports nobody was injured, and the crash was cause by a 72-year-old man trying to leave a parking space. Illinois requires regular driving tests for the elderly to prevent just this kind of thing, but not until age 75.

Tribune: Car plows into Leona's restaurant in Lakeview
NBC: Senior Citizen Backs Car into Lakeview Restaurant

Sadly, this kind of thing doesn't surprise me. People don't take seriously how dangerous driving can be. Someone who could accidentally do this while trying to leave a parking space should not be driving a car, and it's disturbing that they would put other people in danger like this by driving. Unfortunately, many people don't have any other options for getting around, so they decide they'd rather put others at risk than give up their freedom.

When you mention reckless driving and enforcing traffic safety in community meetings, you'll mostly be ignored. We're too obsessed with reckless bikers and controlling pedestrians to worry about cars running people over. This should be so unacceptable that it's shocking, but it's just not.