Pensioner drives wrong way M6

Shimmy · 30 Oct 2007 at 14:21

Maybe regular eye sight checks at a GP, plus some sort of reaction test. Test to see if their limbs are fit to drive etc... This could be a 5 min checkup, once every 5 years? And then maybe 2/3 after age of 60?

It's totally dependent on the individual, I mean my driving instructor was 60+ and is gonna teach my brother soon. And they have to pass harder tests than we do.

McBain · 30 Oct 2007 at 14:57

GeX said:
they will probably fine whoever rang the police on their mobile, a good, solid, safe convivtion there.

^^

Matt82 · 30 Oct 2007 at 15:06

they should lower the national speed limit and put up more speed cameras so that if anyone is coming at you on the wrong side of a motorway youll be going slower and will be able to stop in a safe amount of time... have you seen how long it takes a car to stop according to the highway code?!

BigglesPiP · 30 Oct 2007 at 16:35

Matt82 said:
they should lower the national speed limit and put up more speed cameras so that if anyone is coming at you on the wrong side of a motorway youll be going slower and will be able to stop in a safe amount of time... have you seen how long it takes a car to stop according to the highway code?!

No, they should raise the national speed limit so anyone who does go the wrong way up the M6 is almost instantly wiped out, and so won't do it again.

Spoonman · 30 Oct 2007 at 16:58

I was late for work today because of the tailbacks caused by a pensioner doing 30 in a 60 limit. I hope he gets nicked.

Lunatic Dreyfus · 30 Oct 2007 at 17:50

jamoor said:
how is that possible? there arent any signposts either, and the shape of the road means its actually difficult to get on!

I thought this too, until today when I almost couldn't believe what I saw.

Just outside Aston Clinton I watched some old geezer in a Rover attempt to turn left on to an exit sliproad, which leads down to the dualled section of the A41. The fact that the road was angled sharply away from him, and that another car was arriving up that very sliproad didn't faze him at all. He indicated left, turned his car, stopped and waited for the other car to move out of the way. :eek:

Thankfully whomever was in the other car put the dozy fool straight and off he went back round the roundabout. But it goes to show, they can, and will do it!

I can only assume it was the layout of that junction (two roundabouts separated by a short link road) that got him all in a fuddle. But even so...

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 30 Oct 2007 at 17:59

agw_01 said:
It'll be a miracle if they charge her.

They'll just take her licence off her and make up some excuse as to why she isn't being done for due care.

Because what is the benefit of punishing her beyond a ban?

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:00

This incident is an example of why you shouldn't be allowed to do 130+mph on the motorway. What if you are coming head on at that speed? Unlikely to react in time.

BigglesPiP · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:03

Spoonman said:
I was late for work today because of the tailbacks caused by a pensioner doing 30 in a 60 limit. I hope he gets nicked.

I find pensioners turning right off dual carriageways the worst.

Pounding along the outside lane and a little old dear and her grand-daughter pull right out in front of me at 40mph, indicating right. This is all about 100m before the decelerating lane starts.

Didn't see me at all, even when I was standing on the brakes and flashing the lights trying not to hit them.

I like to pull into those lanes at cruising speed and throw out the anchors.

blueboy2001 · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:12

markyp23 said:
This incident is an example of why you shouldn't be allowed to do 130+mph on the motorway. What if you are coming head on at that speed? Unlikely to react in time.

That is the most ludicrous thing I've ever read on these forums!

DreXeL · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:16

markyp23 said:
This incident is an example of why you shouldn't be allowed to do 130+mph on the motorway. What if you are coming head on at that speed? Unlikely to react in time.

So it would be the 'speeding' person's fault, and not the dear old biddy doing 70mph in the wrong direction?

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:19

DreXeL said:
So it would be the 'speeding' person's fault, and not the dear old biddy doing 70mph in the wrong direction?

No, that's exactly my point! Whilst you may be completely not at fault, at that sort of speed an accident would probably be unavoidable.

EDIT: This is the point that I've always tried to make when people like PMKeates go on about doing 150mph. There are many cases when people do stupid things on the dual carriageways and accidents are often caused by the slowest, worst drivers. At 70 (and higher) you've got enough time to avoid an accident. At stupid high speeds, you will crash even though you are being "safe".

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:20

blueboy2001 said:
That is the most ludicrous thing I've ever read on these forums!

Take a dander into GD then, and stop being so sensationalist. Maybe add a reason why?

I see the "most ludicrous thing I've ever read on these forums" phrase almost once a day, I maintain I will never post the most ludicrous thing that you will ever see on OcUK.

divine` · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:21

DreXeL said:
So it would be the 'speeding' person's fault, and not the dear old biddy doing 70mph in the wrong direction?

I don't see the word 'fault' there, do you?

DreXeL · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:30

markyp23 said:
No, that's exactly my point! Whilst you may be completely not at fault, at that sort of speed an accident would probably be unavoidable.

But the speed wouldn't be an issue if the old biddy wasn't actually driving down the motorway the wrong way in the first place. Your priorities are all wrong, surely it's better to tackle the real cause of the accident in the first place?

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:31

DreXeL said:
But the speed wouldn't be an issue if the old biddy wasn't actually driving down the motorway the wrong way in the first place. Your priorities are all wrong, surely it's better to avoid the accident in the first place?

Yes, but you can't ever stop someone getting off their face on drink/drugs/old age and causing accidents.

People will always cause accidents, most probably due to an accidental lapse of concentration. How do you stop that?

BigglesPiP · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:33

markyp23 said:
This incident is an example of why you shouldn't be allowed to do 130+mph on the motorway. What if you are coming head on at that speed? Unlikely to react in time.

Ah, but if you can miss her, she has the potential to cause a whole string of incidents.

If we all did 130mph, she'd stop at the 1st accident, and we'd all run into the back of that accident.

If we did say 80-90mph It'd work out fine.

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:36

BigglesPiP said:
Ah, but if you can miss her, she has the potential to cause a whole string of incidents.

I don't really get what you mean.

If we all did 130mph, she'd stop at the 1st accident, and we'd all run into the back of that accident.

Could well do, yup.

If we did say 80-90mph It'd work out fine.

You very may well be right, and maybe an increase in motorway speed limit would be a good idea. Although would you be happy for this old biddy to be allowed to do 90mph?

Speed limits have to be made for the lowest common denominator.

Wicksta · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:36

markyp23 said:
Yes, but you can't ever stop someone getting off their face on drink/drugs/old age and causing accidents.

People will always cause accidents, most probably due to an accidental lapse of concentration. How do you stop that?

You're right. We should just stop everyone driving, it's far too dangerous.

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 30 Oct 2007 at 18:39

Wicksta said:
You're right. We should just stop everyone driving, it's far too dangerous.

Sarcasm. Great. Funny.

I'm making the point that you can't stop accidents happening. You are making the point that... oh no, you are just being hilarious.

Pensioner drives wrong way M6

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