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Gran who drove along rail track gives up licence (From Daily Echo)
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Gran who drove along rail track in Brockenhurst gives up licence
6:00pm Friday 24th February 2012 in Travel
By Chris Yandell, Chief Reporter, New Forest
Gran who drove along rail track gives up licence
A PENSIONER who drove her car along a high-speed rail line has escaped prosecution after giving up her driving licence.
The 85-year-old was giving her grandson a lift to Brockenhurst station when she took a wrong turn and ended up on the track.
Instead of stopping or reversing back on to the road she carried on for about 80 yards – narrowly avoiding the live rail.
As reported in the Daily Echo, her silver-coloured Renault Clio came to rest on a set of points at the end of platform two, halting trains for almost two hours.
The pensioner, who lives in the New Milton area, was later reported for careless driving.
But British Transport Police (BTP) have dropped the case – largely as a result of her decision to quit driving.
A BTP spokesman said: “Given the woman’s age, and the fact that she’s surrendered her licence, officers are taking no further action.”
The incident occurred shortly after the morning rush-hour on January 26.
The pensioner was halfway across a level crossing when she veered left, apparently mistaking the line for the entrance to the station car park.
The car was removed by a crane after she and her 20-yearold grandson were rescued and checked by paramedics.
A similar incident happened at the same spot in 1997, when a 46-year-old woman drove 15 yards up the track.
Hampshire County Council leader Ken Thornber, who represents Brockenhurst, has told highway chiefs to carry out a safety review of the crossing.
Councillor Maureen Holding, who represents Brockenhurst on the district council, said the line was next to the car park entrance and warned that a similar incident could occur in fog. Earlier this month it was revealed that the number of drivers aged 80 or over has topped one million for the first time. But motoring organisations say people over 70 should only be forced to stop driving if there were “compelling”
reasons.
Comments(20)
Burton Saint
says...
7:17pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Linesman
says...
7:24pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Burton Saint wrote:I agree with your observation Burton Saint.
I am a professional driver aged 62 covering in excess of 70,000 miles a year. The majority of bad driving comes not from people over the age of 60 but those between the ages of 18 and 24. Statistically women are safer drivers than men. Maybe 'Nine Toes' needs to change his tag to 'Nine Brain Cells'.
With regard Nine Toes. I guess that there is something missing at the other extremity as well.
The Salv
says...
7:50pm Fri 24 Feb 12
opera phantom
says...
8:20pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Nine Toes. wrote:2 out of 5 young men between
Good news. Now we just need re-tests for anyone over the age of 60, especially women.
the age of 18 and 25, crash their
car within 2 years of passing their
test. With your train of thought
how about retesting them.
Don't generalise. Treat every
driver as an individual, no matter
what their age. It is too easy to
just put one particular age group into a little box.
Nearly an OAP
says...
8:28pm Fri 24 Feb 12
solomum
says...
8:34pm Fri 24 Feb 12
The Salv
says...
8:37pm Fri 24 Feb 12
The Salv
says...
8:44pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Ant Smoking MP
says...
9:12pm Fri 24 Feb 12
.
I agree with The Salv.
Huffter
says...
9:39pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Georgem
says...
9:57pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Burton Saint wrote:Correction: statistically, the demographic "women" costs the insurance industry less than the demographic "men". Not nearly the same thing
I am a professional driver aged 62 covering in excess of 70,000 miles a year. The majority of bad driving comes not from people over the age of 60 but those between the ages of 18 and 24. Statistically women are safer drivers than men. Maybe 'Nine Toes' needs to change his tag to 'Nine Brain Cells'.
clausentum
says...
9:59pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Huffter wrote:Depends where you eat a curry and what's in it.
All drivers should be re-tested regularly. If you work in food premises you have to renew a food hygiene certificate every three years - a car's a jolly sight more dangerous than a curry!
I've known someone confined to a loo 72 hours straight, with serious, wicked squidges . . .
Linesman
says...
10:47pm Fri 24 Feb 12
The Salv wrote:If it is votes that count, then the government would not have changed linking pensions with CRI instead of RPI.
What you seem to be failing to understand is that there are a lot more younger drivers than there are drivers 80 + that age group is ever increasing. Unfortunetely drivers in the 80's are high risk because of the nature of ageing reduces eyesight hearing judgement etc etc. At some point the Government will have to act upon this but they wont have the balls because a lot of pensioners are their voters!
They would not have reduced their winter fuel allowance, at a time when fuel prices were going through the roof.
Come in out of the rain Salv and see the situation as it is, not the way you think it is.
D.a.v.e
says...
11:50pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Linesman wrote:The Salv , Also known as pat ronise.
The Salv wrote:If it is votes that count, then the government would not have changed linking pensions with CRI instead of RPI.
What you seem to be failing to understand is that there are a lot more younger drivers than there are drivers 80 + that age group is ever increasing. Unfortunetely drivers in the 80's are high risk because of the nature of ageing reduces eyesight hearing judgement etc etc. At some point the Government will have to act upon this but they wont have the balls because a lot of pensioners are their voters!
They would not have reduced their winter fuel allowance, at a time when fuel prices were going through the roof.
Come in out of the rain Salv and see the situation as it is, not the way you think it is.
Sir Ad E Noid
says...
12:12am Sat 25 Feb 12
Cookiecutter
says...
5:22am Sat 25 Feb 12
Goldenwight
says...
11:24am Sat 25 Feb 12
Linesman wrote:I suspect that the original post was meant to be ironically humourous?
Burton Saint wrote: I am a professional driver aged 62 covering in excess of 70,000 miles a year. The majority of bad driving comes not from people over the age of 60 but those between the ages of 18 and 24. Statistically women are safer drivers than men. Maybe 'Nine Toes' needs to change his tag to 'Nine Brain Cells'.I agree with your observation Burton Saint. With regard Nine Toes. I guess that there is something missing at the other extremity as well.
Goldenwight
says...
4:02pm Sat 25 Feb 12
If so, could, Hants Police give me a call...
Seriously though, Dango was right here- no further problem, no loss of life, no accident, no conviction.
Nine Toes.
says...
5:11pm Sat 25 Feb 12
Goldenwight wrote:No, I was being deadly serious.
Linesman wrote:I suspect that the original post was meant to be ironically humourous?
Burton Saint wrote: I am a professional driver aged 62 covering in excess of 70,000 miles a year. The majority of bad driving comes not from people over the age of 60 but those between the ages of 18 and 24. Statistically women are safer drivers than men. Maybe 'Nine Toes' needs to change his tag to 'Nine Brain Cells'.I agree with your observation Burton Saint. With regard Nine Toes. I guess that there is something missing at the other extremity as well.
dango says...
6:42pm Fri 24 Feb 12