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Original poster

What in the hell was DoE doing at the wheel in the first place?!

88 replies

PyongyangKipperbang · 18/01/2019 04:06

If it was any other 97 year old driving a very powerful car who caused an accident there would be outcry.

There is no excuse, they have drivers and other staff that can get him anywhere he wants to go.

OP posts:

user1457017537 · 18/01/2019 08:35

I am not defending him or judging the other driver who had a baby in the back of her car. The DofE appears to have been on his own with no police protection officer. I don’t think we will be told anything else re this crash.

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 18/01/2019 08:38

MyOtherProfile did you see the crash site? I drove past it yesterday

Newyearwhoohoo · 18/01/2019 08:43

if he was deemed unfit to drive someone would have stopped him for his own safety if nothing else.
I wouldn't like to be having to do that, can you imagine the response!

I don't think we can answer the op's question until we know the outcome of the investigation and who was at fault. I know that if I had to choose between being driven by a 17 year old or a 97 year old, I'd choose the 97 year old.

RB68 · 18/01/2019 08:48

I suspect speed was a major factor as that roads limit is under review as people constantly go to fast on it, he was pulling out and crossing so if the other driver was within speed limit its him if not then 50/50 likely - If the other driver was speeding, there was a baby in the car....perhaps more worryingly

BubblesBuddy · 18/01/2019 08:53

The main road appears to be straight where the accident happened and has a speed limit of 60. It’s now likley to be 50.

The Duke’s car was a Freelander. This makes it at least 4 years old and they are not very powerful! More of a workhorse. He seems to have one made in 2010. They are fairly solid but nothing like a Range Rover! I think he was very lucky and I doubt a Range Rover would have turned over.

He should certainly consider stopping driving if he misjudged the speed of an oncoming car and turned out of a side road in front of it. This is widely thought to be what happened. There was also a baby in the other car. No doubt there will be an investigation and it could be the Kia driver was doing something wrong too.

LucheroTena · 18/01/2019 08:58

I’ve never met a person in their late 90s who I would get into a car with, and I’ve met enough of them through my work. Sight and ability to react quickly are not great at that age.

MyOtherProfile · 18/01/2019 09:00

@Sugarhunnyicedtea on the tv yes. And it's a road I know. What did you see?

user1457017537 · 18/01/2019 09:00

A Range Rover would most definetely have turned over if hit at 60 mph sideways on.

MyOtherProfile · 18/01/2019 09:02

I know that if I had to choose between being driven by a 17 year old or a 97 year old, I'd choose the 97 year old.
Wow really? I would go for the 17 yr old.

user1457017537 · 18/01/2019 09:02

I once saw a saloon car flip over, hit the central reservation barrier, go over it onnto the other side of the road, keep rolling and ended up the high embankment. The car was probably doing 60 mph and just clipped another car.

JeezYouLoon · 18/01/2019 09:09

Must've been a shock for the other driver and passenger, firstly the accident and then to find out it's the DofE!

An interesting claim for the insurance company, I doubt we'll hear any more other than he won't be seen driving on public roads again. However he appears to be very stubborn, unless the Queen gives him a rollicking

CoffeeTableBook · 18/01/2019 09:09

There was a baby on board

Thank heavens it wasn’t more serious. I am sure he will give up driving on public roads now.

CoffeeTableBook · 18/01/2019 09:10

And those who don’t understand the principles of giving way when joining a major road - I suggest you re-read your copy of the Highway Code.

PattiStanger · 18/01/2019 09:12

I can well believe that he could have been blinded by the sun, I've seen two accidents due to this and in neither were the drivers elderly. I don't know what the insurance position would be but both that I've seen I'd call genuine accidents, neither driver was speeding, one hit a wall, one hit a parked car.

Sun blinding is really difficult and dangerous whatever age you are

Newyearwhoohoo · 18/01/2019 09:13

Oh Grrr! Meant to say 17 year old not 97 year old!!!

bibbitybobbityyhat · 18/01/2019 09:14

I do think it is wreckless and extremely selfish for any 97 year old to get behind the wheel of a car, tbh.

Bedheadretention · 18/01/2019 09:15

Its easy to overturn a 4x4, I was overturned years ago by a mini metro pulling out of a caravan park into the side of my jeep. We were told by onlookers the bonnet went between the passenger side wheels front and back, my back wheel continued to roll over the low bonnet of the metro, and flipped over, we were told we rolled 4 times back over front. I was only doing 25mph on the main through road in a busy seaside town, loads of pedestrians. Very strange occurence that it happened as it did, although the police said at the time 4x4s are easy to tip with the right speed/momentum. Oh and it was classed as her fault, she had done the same, pulled out without seeing properly. No one was hurt, apart from me and DH (DB at the time) with severe whiplash, cuts and bruises and needed months of physio.
DofE had a lucky escape especially at his age.

MyOtherProfile · 18/01/2019 09:54

@Newyearwhoohoo

Bedheadretention · 18/01/2019 10:17

@Newyearwhoohoo Would you get in with him next time, providing they let him drive again? it's cheaper than the rides at Alton Towers and probably more fun

overandunder9 · 18/01/2019 10:24

As a PP said, apparently he doesn’t have a licence. He comes across as the arrogant type that would drive even if told not to.

PattiStanger · 18/01/2019 10:38

As a PP said, apparently he doesn’t have a licence

How is it relevant whether he has a licence, you don't think that passing a driving test possibly 80 years ago has any bearing on anyone's current driving ability do you?

Today's driving test is very different to the one I took, it doesn't make me a better or worse driver than a 17 year old who passed this morning

PennyMordauntsLadyBrain · 18/01/2019 10:52

I was in a similar accident last year- tootling along an A road on my way to the supermarket, car flew out of a side road without looking and despite me attempting to emergency stop there was no way to avoid a collision. When the other driver (who was about 30) was questioned by police, she said she just didn’t see my car.

I don’t think the problem is so much purely to do with the driver’s age etc, but a combination of locals feeling they “know” the road and taking unnecessary risks, and some A roads having been designed back in the 50/60s when there were fewer (and less powerful) cars on the road.

tinstar · 18/01/2019 11:00

I know that if I had to choose between being driven by a 17 year old or a 97 year old, I'd choose the 97 year old.

Wow really? I would go for the 17 yr old.

Me too! I refuse to believe that a 97 year old's reflexes are good enough for them to be behind a wheel.

RandomUsernameHere · 18/01/2019 11:04

I agree OP, especially when he has chauffeurs at his disposal.
The poor women and baby in the other car. It's very lucky no one was more seriously hurt. Imagine the stress and anxiety caused to the mother by this happening with her baby in the car.

GoldenGumballs · 18/01/2019 11:22

He’s plenty of private land he can drive on if he’s that stubborn but no he shouldn’t be on public roads. If He has killed that family no one would defend him and I’m sick of the focus being in him, that poor family.

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