10mph - banned

[edgersoldchap]

Unfortunately it took an accident to make my father realise he was no longer fit to drive.

No one was seriously hurt thank goodness, but as he was in the early stages of Alzheimers, there is no way he would have made the decision for himself.

I think compulsory re-tests should be imposed at, say 65 and every year or 2 thereafter. I can say that now as I am not yet 65 - maybe I'll think differently when I reach that milestone.

But these mental and physical problems take over so quickly that just as these new tests for 17 year olds are being proposed, there needs to be more control at the other end as well.

 

[Spin_bowler]

Wrong, driving at that speed on a motorway is illegal, it's classified as driving without due consideration.



She was ordered to retake the test.



So, where did the system fail? It seems to me that the system has worked and removed her from the roads.

Whoa. Did she delay you getting to a meeting or something?

The point I was trying to make was that there are tens (hundreds, I'd venture) of thousands of people who are unfit to be on the road every day because, as things stand you can pass a fairly arbitary test and drive for, say, the next 45 years without re-testing or any type of review until something goes wrong and forces that intervention.

The system has taken her off the road, but only after this potentially life-threatening incident.

I concede your point about the re-test. She may well pass, though, given the lack of motorway testing in this arbitary exam.

Posters on this thread have been quick to condemn the actions of the individual without considering the bigger picture IMO.

 

[kikkthecat]

Am I missing something here ? I know she was ordered to retake her test but as motorway driving is not part of the driving test then why ?.
In fact the vast majority of drivers on a motorway are self taught anyway which is why so many get it wrong in too many ways.

 

[stevesey]

My point is that she is not that short of money as she runs a car, that money could be used on taxis several days a week to where she needs to go, I shall have to do that one day

Although as she has MS (unrelated to her fear of driving) it might well be that here car is largely funded by motorbility (in other words us ).

 

[television]

Watching and listening to the lady I have my doubts that she will ever get through the test.

Sure it will happen to me and I am soon 73, but I will take my advanced test this year, just so that I can pass.

Its a fact of life and no one here is being cruel

 

[stevesey]

Am I missing something here ? I know she was ordered to retake her test but as motorway driving is not part of the driving test then why ?

In this case that question is a bit acadenic - that section of motorway is 2 lane carriageway (and it becomes normal urban 2 lane dual carriageway, not motorway, 800 yards after the junction she would have joined at). It's not really your normal 3 lane NSL Motorway.

If she does her test at the local test centre the route will include a (proper 70mph) dual carriageway - so it seems to me unless she can overcome her fears and handle dual carriageway driving she won't be able to pass her test.

Someone mentioned the she's done's nothing illegal - given that any vehicle you take on the motorway has to be capable of 40mph. I think "driving without due consideration" applies if you choose no to to 40mph when traffic conditions allow.

 

[Satch]

no one here is being cruel

Not yet.

But there is one forum where they would in make her do the retest on the Ring and produce a sub 10 minute lap in order to pass.

 

[edgersoldchap]

You are to be congratulated on your social conscience and awareness!

Good luck with the test - interested to hear how you find it. Have thought about doing it myself but there's always something that gets in the way. Excuses, excuses.

I agree, no one's being cruel - there just comes a point where everyone should be able to realise that they should not be on the road. Reaction times, peripheral vision, mental awareness etc. etc.

We all know some one who really should give up and with the cost of keeping a car on the road, taxis are a viable alternative for someone who does minimal mileage. I guess it's not easy to admit to yourself that you are no longer capable and everything else that implies.

 

[television]

The way that old age creeps up on you is very odd, though I still work part time and am fully active. Driving back from Harogate the 293 miles that took 10 hours owing to accidents and fog took their toll from me, in terms of eye tiredness, and I was stiff when getting out after 6 hours driving for the first time. I would never attempt to do the 1000 miles in 1 day that I used too.

So what am I saying, from now on I will only do X miles in one day, as I am aware that I am not what I was, so long as I can recognise this things should be OK.

I am surrounded by old people here, where I live, they are so out of date its unreal and frightening when I see them get their cars out.

 

[whitenemesis]

At what age must one get a certificate from one's GP stating fitness to drive? (Physical fitness as opposed to competence)

 

[glojo]

Just another example of this governments hell-bent attitude to tax the motorist to death.

Tough on crime? Pah!

Targeting the easy pickings if you ask me, didn't catch any burglars that day did they huh?

Sorry, I just wanted to be the first to say it for once.

Oi!!!!!!
Haqving seen this lady on our local news I have no sympathy with her whatsoever. It could be that she was playing to the camera but she had huge problms trying to walk and showed very little co-ordination of any of her limbs. It is easy for her to say she needs the car to get to Staples! Her words not mine, but in my humble opinion we have a greater responsibility to other road users.

I have tried to explain that bad driving can always be dealt with by current legislation and this case highlights that, she has been prosecuted for that offence that got some folks so frustrated...... Driving Without Reasonable Consideration For Other Road Users, received a ban and ordered to take a retest. Hopefully she will see sense and surrender her licence but that will take a degree of self sacrifice.

Old age, illness or disability is a bitch, but to do what she did is not only selfish, but dangerous.

staples has an online service and for those of us that cannot drive, we just have to educate ourselves and learn how to shop online.

Just my two penarth and shame on those facist traffic officers that had nothing better to do other tahn pick on an elderly defenceless lady that has an unblemished driving licence and never been involved in any type of road traffic incident in thirty years of motoring.

Regtards
John the sleepless

 

[280gee]

Any comment on the notice
(computer printed before her ink cartridge ran out)
on her car window?

 

[glojo]

Any comment on the notice
(computer printed before her ink cartridge ran out)
on her car window?

Just like the rest of us, she thinks she is the perfect driver and everyone else is out of kelter.

John

 

[robert.saunders]

Regardless, it took over 4 months to reach magistrates

 

[glojo]

Regardless, it took over 4 months to reach magistrates

Excellent point,
I wonder if her licence was suspended?

regards
John

 

[verytalldave]

I was under the impression that we all had to drive at a speed at which we can stop safely within our view no matter what the road. In theory then, she posed no danger to anyone. However, as most DONT drive with this in mind, then in practise, she did pose a hazard. I notice nobody so far has mentioned that by stopping her driving could very well save her own life and others. The Police may very well have done her the biggest favour she could ever imagine.
What is more dangerous, this lady doing 10mph or.................
..........white van man tailgating at 80mph?
..........LHD artics pulling out to overtake?
..........a poorly maintained Halfords special trying for the ton?
..........drink/drug drivers?
..........unlicensed/banned drivers?

However, at the end of the day, I feel she, and all other road users would be better off if she redirected her finances towards taking a taxi and sold her car.........

 

[robert.saunders]

I'm quite confident that many drivers who undertake bad practice on the roads are dealt with by the police & associated court, and of course many are not seen (except by Joe Public).

However, let's not forget this is a headline grabber due to the speed/age/gender/disability.

Whatever the speed, drifting onto the shoulder is VERY dangerous

 

[glojo]

I notice nobody so far has mentioned that by stopping her driving could very well save her own life and others. .

in my humble opinion we have a greater responsibility to other road users..

Your correct we all must drive within the distance that we can see to be safe, but what you have not mentioned is also very important.

We all MUST drive with reasonable consideration for other road users.

John

 

[verytalldave]

Your correct we all must drive within the distance that we can see to be safe, but what you have not mentioned is also very important.

We all MUST drive with reasonable consideration for other road users.

John

Perhaps she was. If she had speeded up to say, 40mph perhaps she would have posed an even greater hazard.
I do see your most valid point though.

 

[Howard]

she needs the car to get to Staples!

No worries , Staples do mail order ....

STAPLES

Now she won't need her car any more !!