Elderly driver? Best let him off without charge then...
Discussion
I just dont get it...
If I drove the wrong way up the motorway due to my own stupidity then I would fully expect to have my licence revoked and told to retake my test.... at the very least.
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/man-87-drove-wro...
News and Star said:
MAN, 87, DROVE WRONG WAY ALONG MOTORWAY IN NORTH CUMBRIA FOR SIX MILES
Published at 11:03, Tuesday, 05 April 2011
Motorists looked on in horror as a pensioner drove the wrong way along the fast lane of the M6 motorway in Cumbria for six miles.
Police were bombarded with 999 calls from alarmed drivers who saw the terrifying incident at around 6pm yesterday.
The 87-year-old man at the wheel of the black Ford Focus, whose wife is thought to have been in the passenger seat, joined the M6 at junction 40 just outside Penrith, heading south in the third lane at 60mph.
As other motorists took evasive action, police began receiving “multiple” 999 calls from northbound motorists.
Police imposed a 20mph speed limit on the northbound motorway, and sent out traffic officers, including one patrol car given the job of catching up with the driver but on the southbound M6.
“The officers were beckoning to him to pull over,” said a police spokesman.
A police car did catch up with the pensioner, who pulled over safely at Shap Beck, six miles south of Penrith.
The spokesman added: “Thankfully, it was resolved without any collisions. But clearly the consequences could have been horrendous.”
Police worked with Highways Agency officials to ensure motorway signs told drivers to reduce their speed to minimise the risk.
The man, from Lockerbie, was taken to the force’s Durranhill HQ in Carlisle for interview. He was released without further action.
If I drove the wrong way up the motorway due to my own stupidity then I would fully expect to have my licence revoked and told to retake my test.... at the very least.
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/man-87-drove-wro...
News and Star said:
MAN, 87, DROVE WRONG WAY ALONG MOTORWAY IN NORTH CUMBRIA FOR SIX MILES
Published at 11:03, Tuesday, 05 April 2011
Motorists looked on in horror as a pensioner drove the wrong way along the fast lane of the M6 motorway in Cumbria for six miles.
Police were bombarded with 999 calls from alarmed drivers who saw the terrifying incident at around 6pm yesterday.
The 87-year-old man at the wheel of the black Ford Focus, whose wife is thought to have been in the passenger seat, joined the M6 at junction 40 just outside Penrith, heading south in the third lane at 60mph.
As other motorists took evasive action, police began receiving “multiple” 999 calls from northbound motorists.
Police imposed a 20mph speed limit on the northbound motorway, and sent out traffic officers, including one patrol car given the job of catching up with the driver but on the southbound M6.
“The officers were beckoning to him to pull over,” said a police spokesman.
A police car did catch up with the pensioner, who pulled over safely at Shap Beck, six miles south of Penrith.
The spokesman added: “Thankfully, it was resolved without any collisions. But clearly the consequences could have been horrendous.”
Police worked with Highways Agency officials to ensure motorway signs told drivers to reduce their speed to minimise the risk.
The man, from Lockerbie, was taken to the force’s Durranhill HQ in Carlisle for interview. He was released without further action.
NinjaPower said:
A police car did catch up with the pensioner, who pulled over safely at Shap Beck, six miles south of Penrith.
Define pulled over safely! My idea of pulling over safely doesn't involve doing it southbound on a northbound motorway lane!We get a similar situation where I live which is a bit of a "Gods waiting room" of retired pensioners. With monotonous regularity one of them will hit the accelerator thinking it's the brake, car will take off, and they'll panic and keep on pressing till they eventually hit something hard enough to stop them or they end up on their roof. We've even had one cartwheel an A Class end over end past a (fortunately empty) school.
There is never ever a suggestion that they should be punished.
There absolutely has to be a law brought into place where anyone over 70 is given a basic competency and reaction test. Up to scratch, carry on with all our blessings. But if they're no longer capable they need to be stopped because they will not stop on their own.
'Released without further action' is rather vague. My grandfather caused a minor accident and was given the option of either facing charges or handing in his license. He chose the latter and the police took no further action. The end result was the right one though - he was no longer allowed to drive.
In general terms I agree with the OP - it seems bizarre that there are people on the roads who have never taken a test and who, once past a certain age, simply have to declare themselves(!) fit to drive.
In general terms I agree with the OP - it seems bizarre that there are people on the roads who have never taken a test and who, once past a certain age, simply have to declare themselves(!) fit to drive.
wolves_wanderer said:
A mate of mine was killed on his motorbike by some old duffer who didn't look/see him at a junction. Apparently it wasn't in the public interest to prosecute. Ah, well that's OK then 
I bet it'd be a VERY different story if the driver was a teenager. He'd end up in prison before you could blink.Lucas North said:
Surely it's the road designer's fault?
Don't be so totally ridiculous!!!I get sick of namby pamby lefties like you on here.
It's obvious who's at fault, it's all those other speeding drivers doing 70mph, see they reduced their speed down to 20mph and danger was averted.
It's obvious
wildoliver said:
Don't be so totally ridiculous!!!
I get sick of namby pamby lefties like you on here.
It's obvious who's at fault, it's all those other speeding drivers doing 70mph, see they reduced their speed down to 20mph and danger was averted.
It's obvious
Aaaah. It is obvious, you're right. I get sick of namby pamby lefties like you on here.
It's obvious who's at fault, it's all those other speeding drivers doing 70mph, see they reduced their speed down to 20mph and danger was averted.
It's obvious
Twincam16 said:
wolves_wanderer said:
A mate of mine was killed on his motorbike by some old duffer who didn't look/see him at a junction. Apparently it wasn't in the public interest to prosecute. Ah, well that's OK then
I bet it'd be a VERY different story if the driver was a teenager. He'd end up in prison before you could blink.I really do not know what the fuss is about.
Young hooligans in stolen cars that crash get let off too...........if they are unemployed, its all about money.
I am going to be 60 this year and I am wondering when I will be old enough to drive the wrong way and when I can start just stopping for no reason, both on the road and in shop doorways.
Plus I want to know when I can drive at 20 in a 40.
Young hooligans in stolen cars that crash get let off too...........if they are unemployed, its all about money.
I am going to be 60 this year and I am wondering when I will be old enough to drive the wrong way and when I can start just stopping for no reason, both on the road and in shop doorways.
Plus I want to know when I can drive at 20 in a 40.
trackerjack said:
I really do not know what the fuss is about.
Young hooligans in stolen cars that crash get let off too...........if they are unemployed, its all about money.
I am going to be 60 this year and I am wondering when I will be old enough to drive the wrong way and when I can start just stopping for no reason, both on the road and in shop doorways.
Plus I want to know when I can drive at 20 in a 40.
LOLYoung hooligans in stolen cars that crash get let off too...........if they are unemployed, its all about money.
I am going to be 60 this year and I am wondering when I will be old enough to drive the wrong way and when I can start just stopping for no reason, both on the road and in shop doorways.
Plus I want to know when I can drive at 20 in a 40.
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