Duke of Edinburgh’s Road Accident

[SirGawain]

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

Many very elderly people will have started driving and obtained their licences before it was a requirement to take a test. It's quite likely that the Duke has never taken a test

I'm not sure the Duke is old enough to have been driving before compulsory tests. I think my dad just scraped in before tests became compulsory, and he would be over a hundred if he was still alive.

My dad and my late uncle, who was also driving before tests became compulsory, were two of the best and safest drivers I've ever known.

My father is 84 and a perfectly good driver, better than me any day. He's terrified of being involved in an accident in case patronising, pseudo-concerned ageist ninnies look no further than the age on his licence, regardless of the circumstances.

sarahandduck imagine what his insurance application looks like! Occupation: Prince of the Realm, Royal Consort

The country really does need to have a conversation about very, very elderly drivers now we have so many of them and more coming

Driverless cars might be the solution. Although I am not so sure.

For all those saying it must have taken some force to roll a Range Rover - it really doesn't. My mother was involved in a crash at low speed and her RR flipped over. They are too high sided and it really doesn't take much to roll them in a side on collision.

And he's fine to drive at 97 unless a doctor has declared him unfit to drive. I'd imagine the royals get pretty regular check ups.

FlamingJuno
I think you've met my neighbour ! Is the vehicle white and the town begin with a W ?

Tests were started in 34. He should have had one

@MartaHallard the initial reports were just about the Duke and clearly they had no objection as details have been released. My point is that the others involved in the accident is just as important. Saying the Duke has been involved in an accident with another vehicle and all involved are ok, would be much better form IMO.

Ah I bet he’s mortified, can’t be too harsh on him

I bet he's not, he has never displayed any evidence that his actions embarras him, hopefully he's concerned for the welfare of the other people, ashamed? Never.

Not sure of the relevance of whether or not he passed a driving test decades ago.

The pictures on the news showed a car on it's side - not sure if it was his car. They said that he was driving but nit whether any other vehicles were involved.

My dad is nearly 85 and still driving. I don't think he'd drive very long distances now but he does drive on main roads. He's actually a very good driver and extremely sensible about this - I have no doubt at all he will give up if he ever starts to feel it's getting beyond him and not safe, and if he didn't the rest of the family would tell him. He's in excellent health for his age, no cognitive issues, and we know his eyes are up to it, as he has them tested regularly. 97, though - that's stretching it a bit. Very glad nobody was seriously hurt.

I'm not sure sparkling, it was a bit of a diversion!

Wow! So there are over 100,000 90+ year olds driving and about 1.2 million 80-89 year olds driving. www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-40715377

He was in collision with another member of the public, we've been told how he is but no one has mentioned the other party.

BBC Breaking News mentioned two other people involved who were treated at the scene for minor injuries. That was in the very first breaking news that flashed up.

It's a bad turn out, the weather was terrible today, and speeding is common on that stretch.
(I know that road quite well)

The radio and a phone alert may have been before the breaking news - maybe at that point they didn't know. The Palace would have given the initial reports on the Duke, and they may not have had clearance to speak about members of the public.

It wouldn't surprise me if there are more accidents at this time of year when the sun's so low. I was blinded by it a couple of times this afternoon.

@Aragog I got an alert on my phone, BBC alert it was not mentioned on that. Nor was it mentioned in the three times that I heard it reported on my way home.

I do hope the other people weren't at fault. It is bad enough having an accident without finding out the other party is the Duke of Edinburgh.

Saying the Duke has been involved in an accident with another vehicle and all involved are ok, would be much better form IMO.

Although it would be VERY poor form for the palace to release a statement on the "ok" ness of someone entirely unconnected with them and without permission. Whereas it is their job to issue statements on the Royal Family.

@MrsMcW

So it doesn’t take much to roll a Range Rover according to you folowing your mother’s experience?

Jeez. No way I’d buy one now.

Assume he was being driven

The test was introduced in 1934. so yes he'd have been in the first few years of taking a test

Prince Philip probably never took a formal driving test and neither did the Queen StealthPolarBear

When I passed my test I was shocked when my dad congratulated me and said that was one more qualification I had that he didn't. I was very law abiding and worried he'd be in trouble. He was waiting for my prim reaction.

He'd have been 100 last year and learned to drive after he was called up in 1939 at the start of WWII.

By the time he was demobbed in 1946 the Government said he had a driving licence - it was the least they could do. He said he was also qualified to blow things up and kill people .

He did stop driving in his 60s because he didn't need to do it. I know people in their 70s who are more than capable though

Someone near here rolled a Porsche Cayenne by hitting a low road island as they pulled out of a car park recently, It can happen at slow speed. They were also an elderly driver and that was the headline, the fact he’s a well known businessman seemed to make it news worthy. He also walked away unhurt.
My dm is 85 and drives safely. When she does stop it will probably be because her neck is getting too stiff.