Duke of Edinburgh’s Road Accident

[SirGawain]

AIBU to ask why on earth is the Duke of Edinburgh driving at the age of 97.

I can understand the seat belt thing, as 99% of his driving will be on the private estate where he doesn't have to wear one - it would be easy to forget in the last "public road" but of his journey.

(Although I also suspect a degree of the same thought process I mentioned up thread - his vehicle is likely to be the biggest in a collision so not the one to be coming to the sudden stop. You don't have seat belts on buses for this reason.)

Yes in the dm, the passenger who broke her wrist; said that they have not been contacted by the palace. That was all just pr spin.
The Queen has obviously taken heed and was photographed on the second day wearing a seatbelt ( after she was seen without).
All very well Philip doing what he wants on a private estate but he should be banned from public roads. His ppos are useless if they can’t enforce the actual law with him.

@thenightsky, it was brilliant sunshine on Thursday afternoon. I was completely dazzled as I drove home at 3.30, so was everyone else on the same stretch of road, we were all driving at about 25 mph because nobody could see a thing.

balloon You don't have seat belts on buses or trains, as otherwise companies would not be allowed to carry standing passengers. Rail companies in particular have actively fought any push to make seat belts a legal requirement on trains.

If I had been in an accident, I wouldn't be contacting the other party involved either. I'd let the police and insurance sort it.

Given that the woman in the other car has apparently lied about the weather, I wouldn't give credence to anything else she says. Wouldn't your insurance be invalid if you contacted the other party? Insurance companies always advise you to never admit an accident is your fault.

There should probably be restrictions on driving east in the morning and west in the evening in mid winter as it does get very dangerous. Maybe a lower speed limit in those directions?

If the sun was dazzling, he should TF not have turned out into the main road, he should have waited until he had better visibility.

Sounds like he was driving without due care and attention. I would imagine there will be a large out of court settlement for the injured driver. Prince Philip shouldn’t be driving.

Wouldn't your insurance be invalid if you contacted the other party? Insurance companies always advise you to never admit an accident is your fault.

Extremely wealthy people (and large organisations) are allowed to self-insure - I don't know if the Royals do this but if they do, he can what he likes, as he'll be paying anyway -

www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/48l40m/you_can_drive_a_car_in_the_uk_legally_with_no/

I expect he thought 'the sun's in my eyes and I can't see but this thing I'm driving is the size of a tank and if I run into any minions they'll take all the impact.... what the hell I'm just going to go for it'

At least his car is suited to his environment, unlike many who drive Chelsea tractors! Who knows what 'land' he drives across, but I agree if, because of his lessening abilities (doesn't do public engagements as much?), he can't do other activities on the country estates, yes, he should downsize, but so should many people! He's far from the only one notwanting to give up his life.

As far as I am aware he was told at the scene that he was no longer fit to drive.

No one at the scene of an accident would have the authority to decide that legally. They might say that in their opinion he shouldn’t, but it’s up to a court or the DVLA to remove someone’s license.

ExFury I know someone who was told by the police at the scene of an accident, that if he surrendered his driving licence, they would not prosecute him. So in reality the police did make the decision he was not fit to drive.

Its a very strange world cooking through in some of these posts, that anyone who gets dazzled by sun must never drive again! There will be many of these kind of accidents at this time of year because of the suns low position in the sky.

There is even a pp who is witness to that at the location. That the law works in this weird way and none else gets a car replaced, when in fact everyone does! Or can do, depending on the add-ons. they choose from their policy

If I have a car accident I’m entitled to a courtesy car. Under my policy it would most likely be delivered on the same day. Like for like.

Apparently the car was fitted with cameras so the police should be able to work out who was at fault.

My 92 year old father ran into the back of a queue of traffic and wrote his car off. Not as much damage to the Volvo he hit. Police attended and were very kind to him while suggesting that it may be time to hand in his licence which he declined to do. He received a letter advising him that he would be prosecuted for without due care but could avoid a court appearance if he underwent a fitness to drive assessment. Either that or he could voluntarily surrender his licence which he reluctantly chose to do, aided and abetted by me telling him how costly his insurance would be and casting doubt on whether he would even get insurance at his age. So, much to my relief he never drove again. Although I was glad at the outcome it was sad to see this formerly big, strong HGV driver so diminished, especially when he said to me ‘well that’s it. I’ve got nothing left now’.

marymarkle In that case the person made the decision though, not the police. The police don’t have the authority to decide to prosecute, they can only present to the CPS, and they can’t remove a license.

They also could have massively cocked up if the person was a danger because of the person had reapplied for their license afterwards they’d have had no idea!

Would anyone here who had an accident contact the people in the other car?

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't if I was at fault and wouldnt want any contact with the other driver if they were, I'm not sure why one of the drivers being a member of the RF changes that.

Can you imagine FirstDitects reaction if you sent flowers to the person you’d been in a collision with?

Is it possible the passenger in the Mail didn’t hear anything because, ax she says, she couldn’t stop screaming?

should be prosecuted for dangerous driving and banned

Yes, certainly have been actively pursued/harassed, even through court, hounded until I came to court (they lost BTW), and have also remained in contact with TPs in other fault claims also, avoiding need to claim on insurance as TP paid out cash

Can't say I'm impressed by the attitude of the passenger in the other car with her daily mail sad face etc.

So, yes, certainly, as have many others I'm sure, regardless of RF!