What are your views on this

ruby-roo_2

I have just been watching the news. There was a report about an 83 year old woman who had set out on a 3 hour journey and was stopped going the wrong way up a motorway in the fast lane - 19 hours after setting out.

She realised very quickly what she had done, which no doubt must have been shocking and terrifying for her, but travelled on for 7 miles hoping for a gap in the central reservation. If the road was as quiet as she claimed it was, why would she not just pull over onto the hard shoulder, phone the police, admit her mistake and ask for urgent help?

I am quite shocked that she chose to continue driving into the path of possible oncoming traffic who would most likely have been travelling at high speed. The carnage that could have been caused would have been horrendous. It was quite disturbing when she said "it only felt like minutes and it was unfortunate the police caught me before I could get off the motorway". Not really seeming to fully comprehend the enormity of what she had done. She has been banned from driving for 15 months and would need to retake her test before driving again.

I am in two minds about it all really. I felt concerned that this old lady now plans to rely only on her mobility scooter to get around and maintain independant living. Though considering the way she shot out of her shed on it and nearly crashed into her car, maybe that is a good thing. I do feel that her actions have now made her life much harder from now on and that this could leave her vulnerable and somewhat cut off.

daska

As a mobility scooter user and experienced driver I have to say this alarms me. I have long felt that there ought to be a competency test, and if she's doolally enough to drive the wrong way up the motorway then goodness knows what danger she could be in a busy pedestrian precinct - or even on the road if it's a 6/8 mph version. Truly scary

ruby-roo_2

Good luck to all those who live in Ashford, Kent for the forseeable. The roads and paths round there have suddenly become far less safe.

the_cat

ruby-roo wrote: »

I am in two minds about it all really. I felt concerned that this old lady now plans to rely only on her mobility scooter to get around and maintain independant living. Though considering the way she shot out of her shed on it and nearly crashed into her car, maybe that is a good thing. I do feel that her actions have now made her life much harder from now on and that this could leave her vulnerable and somewhat cut off.

I'm not in two minds. For her safety and the safety of other road (and pavement:eek:) users she should never have been behind the wheel in the first place. Far better to be less mobile than to be dead or to kill someone.

The only awful thing is that she can still use a mobility scooter without restriction or any test for competency when clearly she is not mentally capable. She is after all in control (or not) of what can easily be a deadly weapon in the wrong hands

meritaten

I feel so sad - both for the old lady and the people who live near her!
Perhaps her mobility scooter could be returned for cash - and the old lady finds a reputable taxi company to take her places! she is a danger to herself and others - my mind boggles at the mayhem she could cause on that scooter thing!
(We have an old gent near us who has one - and believe me he isnt safe to be around - he apparently believes there is a force field of invincibility around him)

rachbc

What's there to be 2 minds about? She did something stupid and potentially fatal - any loss of independence is of her own doing. She shows no remorse or even understanding of what she has done wrong. I bet no one would be in 2 minds if this was a teenager...

WantToBeFree

Thank goodness she was banned!!!

A few years ago, a 91 year old woman had parked her car outside my house, when she returned to the car she apparently put it into 1st gear instead of reverse and smashed straight through a wooden fence of a play area and continued to drive around it!! :eek:
I called the police and went to check she was ok, and no charges were brought against her and she was allowed to keep her licence!!!

I just thank God it was in school hours as there could have a number of children, including mine severely hurt or worse.

I think all drivers should have to resit their test (or a version of it) by the time they reach 70 - this is for their safety as well as ours!

ruby-roo_2

rachbc wrote: »

What's there to be 2 minds about? She did something stupid and potentially fatal - any loss of independence is of her own doing. She shows no remorse or even understanding of what she has done wrong. I bet no one would be in 2 minds if this was a teenager...

Very good points raised here. I had no idea actually that mobility scooters could go so fast. Having thought about it a bit more I can see that even using this, she is very much a likely hazard to her own and other peoples safety. I think meritatens advice to sell the scooter and use the services of a reputable taxi service is a great one.

Have mobility scooters come on in recent years with regard to how stable they are? At one point wasn't there an issue about how well they could be manouvered without risking toppling over?

ruby-roo_2

WantToBeFree wrote: »

I just thank God it was in school hours as there could have a number of children, including mine severely hurt or worse.

I think all drivers should have to resit their test (or a version of it) by the time they reach 70 - this is for their safety as well as ours!

Yes thank god there were no children about, makes you shudder doesn't it. I am amazed she was able to keep her licence to be honest.

I was going to put something in my post about whether a resit test should be brought in for people of a certain age. I was worried that this view may have been considered an over reaction on my part, but actually the more time I have had to think about it, the more I think it is vital. Afterall what is of paramount importance is the safety of the majority not the mobility of someone who poses a danger. Especially when there are alternative ways for her to get around.

I wonder if social services will be involed with her to monitor her for her own sake. I realise they are a very stretched resource but cant help but feel she may be in need of them.

Ravenlady_2

Having being hit by a mobility scooter I can safely say they need a competency test! Those things really can pick up the pace and bloody hurt when they get you, even worse when they have those baskets on the front.

scooby088

I find most mobility scooter users are in the need of a right slap, they are arrogant, ignorant and down right rude, like drivers thinking they own the road, mobility scooters are the terror of the pavements.