Duke of Edinburgh car accident

[TheSpottedZebra]

He's fine, apparently, but the car overturned. Nr Sandringham.

Royal or not, you do not have the faculties to be a safe driver at the age of bloody 98!

Not watched the 100 year old driver program then scotty?

Mumberjack. That's exactly what I was thinking. Plus, DOE really shouldn't be driving at his age.

Has it been said who was to blame?

I think he will give up now. Iirc, he gave up competition carriage driving after an accident.

It said he was pulling out of a driveway... so presumably the car went into the side of him

I'm glad he and the others involved are ok but if he was driving and it was his fault this might be a sign it's time for him to stop driving.

No, bigbluebus - that sounds like a ridiculous programme!

Surely sight, hearing and reaction times are so compromised by such a degree of old age, that it's just common sense not to get behind the wheel of a death machine. It's pure bloody arrogance is what it is. The nobber.

So many assumptions.

According to BBC news the Archbishop of York has tweeted a prayer

IMO it's pretty low calling a 97 year old who's just suffered a car accident a 'nobber' before we even know what's happened.

Don't people over 75 have medicals to see if they are fit to drive? Not the same for the Royals?

The statement from the palace was a bit odd to be honest. Why would they say he'd been with the Queen at Sandringham since before Christmas? Surely we already know that?

I agree Janecon.

I wonder if he was breathalysed? And would they tell US?

Actually that's a good point he might not have a licence because if his age. Or have they clamped down on that.

Royal or not, you do not have the faculties to be a safe driver at the age of bloody 98!

What an agesist statement!

We have no idea who, if anyone was at fault. May be he shouldn't be driving, but his age is not the deciding factor in that.

Ageism is as bad as racism and sexism!

My mum is just turning 73 and she had to self certify that she was fit to drive. It was quite explicit - there were loads of questions and there was no wiggle room. She'll have to do that every 3 yrs, but I don't know if the frequency increases as she gets older.

Nb - she is retired.

Sorry have realised tests came in in 1934

Don't people over 75 have medicals to see if they are fit to drive? Not the same for the Royals?

Maybe he has and has been deemed fit to drive. Just because he has had an accident doesn’t mean he’s not fit to drive. Accidents happen for all sorts of reasons. We don’t even know if he was at fault yet.

I'll be interested to know how the police, insurance companies, lawyers and The Palace handle this situation. Depending on which driver, if any, is found to be at fault, I predict a large sum of money and request/demand for silence heading towards the third party.

May be he shouldn't be driving, but his age is not the deciding factor in that.

Oh come on now, of course it's a bloody big contributer.

Is it also ageto to say that a 15 y r old would be too young to drive, if the law was different?

Ageist! What is wrong with my typing today?!

I don’t think we know his age is the deciding factor right now. Of course it might be, but until it’s established there’s any number of potential causes.

Anecdotally I know someone older than the DofE who is still driving, takes the medical and is a safe and competent driver. I know people much younger who I wouldn’t be willing to get in a car with.

No, we don't KNOW, but it's hardly ageist to suspect that it might be a big contributing factor!

Posters seem to be leaping to the conclusion that the Duke caused the accident solely because of his age.

Does it say anywhere that the Duke’s car was responsible?