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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Prince Philip back on the road

277 replies

Widgeon · 19/01/2019 19:53

I'm annoyed to read that he allegedly has a brand new Range Rover bad is back on public roads without a seatbelt today.

With elderly parents I know it's difficult but he's being a fool. OP post edited by MNHQ

OP posts:
redredrobins · 19/01/2019 21:07

It's not a Range Rover

Original poster
Widgeon · 19/01/2019 21:10

he should have shown a bit of respect towards the other people involved. It's that , isn't it. There could have been a baby involved.

I'm no royalist but this has got under my skin - I feel very sorry for his grandchildren who have done such a fantastic job with raising awareness of mental health, only to have this undone.

OP posts:
Butterymuffin · 19/01/2019 21:11

is there the possibility he reads this thread and sees us gossiping

Doubtful, but I would be prepared to say to his face that I don't think he should be driving. He's a man who values speaking your mind, after all Hmm

Wildcate · 19/01/2019 21:13

Don’t worry. Found one.

Letsmoveondude · 19/01/2019 21:18

In the news earlier was someone who said that he almost crashed into them too.

Don’t think he should be driving, but as my husband said yesterday, who the fucks gonna tell him not to... really, that’s the problem here, who’s he really going to listen to?

User758172 · 19/01/2019 21:29

This reply has been deleted

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HomeMadeMadness · 19/01/2019 21:32

It's not a problem unique to the royal family. I know two people who probably shouldn't be driving any more and still are. In one case their family are trying to convince them to give up voluntarily but they aren't keen. There probably should be a system to ensure people are still comptent to drive as they get older.

LynetteScavo · 19/01/2019 21:33

But why are you all saying 97 is too old to drive? It's perfectly legal. If it's genuinely a problem for a 97year old to be driving then you should campaign for people a certain age not to be allowed to drive. Or is it OK to drive until you have a crash?

Iused2BanOptimist · 19/01/2019 21:33

People should realise there are lots of elderly drivers on the roads these days, he just happens to be in the news because he had an accident and he's who he is.
Handing out drugs to take home to a very doddery 95 year old I pointed out the new advice leaflet re certain drugs and driving and then said "but you won't need to worry about that" and was stunned when he assured me he still drives. Daughter affirmed that he still drives but only short trips to the newsagents etc.
Someone I know was flagged down by an elderly man on a stretch of road just off the M4. He asked for help as he didn't know where he was. He thought he'd been going to lunch with his niece. She found some numbers in his phone and phoned his daughter who confirmed he had driven about 100 miles and then asked her to take him to the railway station in town and put him on a train home! She explained this was not appropriate as he was confused and agitated so eventually the police came and drove him home. A few days later she got a big bouquets of flowers from the daughter thanking her for her help and explaining her Dad had been in denial about his memory problems but had now agreed to give up driving.

Giving up driving is a grieving process as it means giving up a little piece of independence, accepting the march of age and one more activity you can no longer do. FIL offered DH his car which DH was very excited about but then the offer was withdrawn. He doesn't drive any more but likes to go and sit in it for a bit.

When someone is dithering on the road, think: it may be a confused elderly person who probably shouldn't be driving but still is. Back off, give them space and have a little sympathy. Our time will come too.

LynetteScavo · 19/01/2019 21:34

There probably should be a system to ensure people are still comptent to drive as they get older.

I agree

Iused2BanOptimist · 19/01/2019 21:36

I'm not sure of the details but there is an older person's driving assessment you can do, not sure if it is administered by a charity or who runs it. An old lady told me she did it as she wanted to reassure herself she was still safe. She said the woman testing her was very intimidating but she passed and felt more confident since.

tillytrotter1 · 19/01/2019 21:37

Not the first car accident in that family to be involved in a Royal cover-up

Early in the year for chestnuts.

The speed limit on that road has been discussed for years and the timing of the council meeting and HRH's prang were totally co-incidental, sorry if that doesn't fit the agenda.
Insurance companies will tell you that the most dangerous group of drivers is young men under 25, sorry again.

ajandjjmum · 19/01/2019 21:39

^
A bit more compassion and less judgement wouldn't go amiss. Difficult situation - Iused2Ban nailed it.

And that doesn't mean that I don't feel sympathy for the people in the other car - which was travelling fast enough to send a Range Rover rolling over across the road.

TheFairyCaravan · 19/01/2019 21:40

There could have been a baby involved

There was.

People are coming out of the woodwork saying he almost ran them off the road 20 years ago.Hmm. If he's been assessed as safe to drive then there's nothing anyone can do.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 19/01/2019 21:50

Jesus christ.

It wasn’t a fucking Range Rover!

If you’re all going to gossip about it, get your facts straight. It was a Freelander which is considerably smaller. Sorry to be pedantic but it keeps annoying me. That and all the lazy ageist comments.

And I agree with the pp who said that that road is notorious for accidents. It’s a really busy road with lots of speeding traffic, lots of little side roads and a lot of tree coverage. It’s bloody hard to pull out on to at the best of times. There have been so many accidents along there, even a member of the Royal family has now been involved in one.

PennyMordauntsLadyBrain · 19/01/2019 21:57

I don’t think anyone can comment on his fitness to drive outside his doctor and his close family. We don’t know the specifics of his health, eye sight or reaction times.

Aside from that, I’m amazed that the RF’s Spin team haven’t lost their minds at the potential PR nightmare of Prince Philip having a more serious accident and the possibility of him or the other parties involved not being quite so lucky.

ProfessorSillyStuff · 19/01/2019 22:02

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 19/01/2019 22:20

He is probably very much of the "Get back in the saddle" mentality. I bet if he has a tumble from his driving trap (horses) he gets right back on there.

And as for flounting safety laws , I am horrified that the Queen point blank refuses to wear a riding hat ( that;s a lie , I don't give a Shiney Shite, but she is Patron to many Equine organisations and should set a better example)
Horses , unlike cars, have a mind of their own. No matter how staid they are they can react , trip or (and this happened to someone I know) literally die (heart) under saddle.

His life was only saved because his car protected him, probably armour plated . Other motorists would not have that protection

BatShaped · 19/01/2019 22:26

@Flyingfish2019 you're not serious? That's one of the funniest things I've read on here Grin

Orchidflower1 · 19/01/2019 22:28

Tbh I think all motorists should have a retest betweenthe age of 75 and 80. Then it should be illegal to drive over 85.

elle1111112 · 19/01/2019 22:33

*Jesus christ.

It wasn’t a fucking Range Rover!

If you’re all going to gossip about it, get your facts straight*

Just calm down. There's no need to be so angry and aggressive. The OP thought it was a Range Rover and that's why others have.

NaturalBornWoman · 19/01/2019 22:35

He needs to stop driving, it is completely bizarre that he is let loose on the roads when he has staff to drive him

Why? You have absolutely no grounds for assuming his age had anything to do with the accident. He's passed an eye test today, and in any case he was seen driving on a private estate. Not that it's any of your business unless it transpires that his age was a factor. Age is a factor in many accidents, males under 25 have the most.

NotNowMrTumnus · 19/01/2019 22:39

Has anyone seen the David Icke lecture about Diana?

BouleBaker · 19/01/2019 22:41

What an agist witch hunt based on red top media shite.

delboysskinandblister · 19/01/2019 22:45

The speed limit on that road has been discussed for years and the timing of the council meeting and HRH's prang were totally co-incidental, sorry if that doesn't fit the agenda. Insurance companies will tell you that the most dangerous group of drivers is young men under 25, sorry again.

That doesn't mean he wasn't speeding. He's pulled out or he'd had a fit and it's flipped on it's side.

Either something wrong with the car IMO the nut behind the wheel.

Interesting none of the others were interviewed. Buckingham Palace have put a 'DSMA Notice' on this..

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