Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Original poster
Widgeon · 19/01/2019 22:46

I really do think by getting behind the wheel again so soon he's demonstrating a real lack of self awareness and common decency, not exactly behaviour I would hope to see from a member of the royal family. This!

OP posts:
Craft1905 · 19/01/2019 23:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

AnotherPidgey · 19/01/2019 23:03

Out of all the very elderly people still driving around, he's probably one of the ones in the country most monitored in terms of health and fitness to drive. I would be astonished if his driving skills or those of any royal have gone untrained since the day he got a driving licence. He is in near constant proximity to people with advanced driving training. If he really was medically unfit to drive and highly likely to cause another at best another royal embarassment behind the wheel, I'm sure Sandringham is big enough that you could hide the car keys to thwart him.

Yes, he's 97, but he has not had an average life and is far more active and mentally stimulated than many of his peers and only a few years into retirement.

The stretch of road is notorious for accidents and speeding. I don't have the facts to blame either driver involved. There are some elderly people who have passed the point of having the skills to drive safely, but that doesn't mean that someone is unsafe based soley on their age.

Gth1234 · 19/01/2019 23:05

He's slipped his handlers again.

Craft1905 · 19/01/2019 23:06

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.

It wasn't a Range Rover, it was a Freelander, about half the size and weight. If you pull out of a side road into the path of an oncoming car, being hit at anything above 30mph at the right angle can flip a car over. The speed limit was 60. There was no suggestion that the car that hit Philip's car was doing anything wrong.

But don't let the actual facts get in the way.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/01/2019 23:09

According to the man who helped him out of the car, after the crash, his first concern was for the people in the other car, and he showed little or no concern about himself.

Sarcelle · 19/01/2019 23:09

Apparently Buck Hse will not comment about whether D of E has ever passed a driving test...

He was always a macho type of guy so not being able to drive would hit hard despite the availability of drivers.

There was an elderly woman driver on breakfast tv this morning, who has had lots of tests that prove she is okay to drive. But she raised a valid point that elderly people cling on to driving because public transport has been cut.

BarbarianMum · 19/01/2019 23:09

It's not ageist to suggest that people of 97 shouldnt be driving any more than it's ageist to say 10 year olds shouldn't be driving. It's just common sense.

Physical deterioration as you age is a reality. You can be as pc as you like but it doesn't make it any less true.

Original poster
Widgeon · 19/01/2019 23:12

Out of all the very elderly people still driving around, he's probably one of the ones in the country most monitored in terms of health and fitness to drive. Wtf?

OP posts:
Schmoobarb · 19/01/2019 23:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MorganKitten · 19/01/2019 23:16

It was not a public road he was driving on today, it was on the family estate.
If he used a driver people would mean about the money spent on that.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 19/01/2019 23:18

I'm not sure of the details but there is an older person's driving assessment you can do

Here you go: www.roadar.org.uk/drivers/driving-assessments.htm

delboysskinandblister · 19/01/2019 23:18

After the age of 70 you have to reapply for your licence and declare all medical conditions.

I don't think this is his age though because as a PP said earlier Insurance companies will tell you that the most dangerous group of drivers is young men under 25. So he's been driving like this since he was a teenager.

Be honest it's him.

Craft1905 · 19/01/2019 23:20

My grandfather stopped driving when he got older as he just realised it was sensible and he could maintain his independence taking taxis. I hope my dad will do the same when the time comes, I think he will.

Funny that you mention your grandfather giving up when he got old, and then saying you hope your dad will do the same.....but you don't say that you will????

Aeroflotgirl · 19/01/2019 23:21

Arrogant git, he could have killed those that he collided with. But as long as he's alright jack.

WhataLovelyPear · 19/01/2019 23:25

But it's ageist to say this, unless you would also advocate that anyone involved in similar crashes should stop driving, regardless of age.

In other words, if it had a 30 year old who pulled out in the path of a 97 year old, would you be saying the 30yo should stop driving because they are clearly unfit?

I'm sure age-related deterioration can be a factor in RTCs, but it's just rude and prejudiced to assume it's the case, because people age very differently.

delboysskinandblister · 19/01/2019 23:27

People say it about young drivers too. Doesn't mean it's irrelevant.

BarbarianMum · 19/01/2019 23:32

No at the extremes of age it's just common sense. Where are these 97 year olds with the reflexes to drive safely? Have you ever met one?

GloryforGloves · 19/01/2019 23:35

But it's ageist to say this, unless you would also advocate that anyone involved in similar crashes should stop driving, regardless of age.

I was just about to post the same thing. Unless you know for absolute that the accident was age related (and I don’t think a single poster here could confirm that) then it is ageist.

So many people end up in accidents because they drive when tired, when stressed, after an argument, with noisy, distracting children in the car, etc. They are all likely to reduce reaction times and be hazards too.

And again, it is ageist to ban all 75/80/85+ drivers based purely on the potential danger due to their age but not then put the same ban on the high risk group of upto 25 year old males.

Cuppaand2biscuits · 19/01/2019 23:38

Was anyone else really surprised that he's allowed out alone, without any security guards?
Perhaps they follow in a separate car?

BeanTownNancy · 19/01/2019 23:41

I've got no idea why we waste so much money funding police services to do actual criminal investigations with all that evidence and whatnot when there are a bunch of people right here on Mumsnet who will be judge and jury for free without even bothering with it!

Samcro · 19/01/2019 23:42

i love mn. just think we could save so much money. we don't need courts/judges/ juries
mn will solve it all and decide who was guilty/to blame
job done

delboysskinandblister · 19/01/2019 23:45

Don't forget Twitter with its page the 'Duke of Hazard' Wink

elle1111112 · 19/01/2019 23:45

But it's ageist to say this, unless you would also advocate that anyone involved in similar crashes should stop driving, regardless of age

So by that logic is it ageist to say a 14 year old can't drive? A 15 year old? There has to be a limit. 97 is a ridiculous age to still be driving, we aren't talking 80 years old. If people want to risk others lives in the name of political correctness then that's disgraceful. Surely it's just common sense that there should be SOME cut off point.

And yes if somebody - any age - proved to be a danger on the roads I would want them banned, no matter what there age.

jacks11 · 19/01/2019 23:46

I really do think by getting behind the wheel again so soon he's demonstrating a real lack of self awareness and common decency

This is nonsense- i't's got nothing to do with decency or consideration for the driver and passengers in the other car. If he isn't safe to drive, then he shouldn't be driving because it isn't legal or safe for other road users. That's what would be the concern.

If you've had an accident, how long should you leave it before driving again, so as not to upset the other party? 24 hours? 1 week? 1 month? And in most cases, you wouldn't know or care. It really doesn't make a difference unless there is a reason they are unsafe to drive or have been driving drunk etc.

I'd presume that if the police or medical advisors felt he was unsafe that they would do something about his licence. It would seem they haven't, so presumably he is still allowed to drive. Obviously, I have no idea whether he is safe to drive or not- I suspect that no-one else post here knows that for sure either. He may well not be. Equally, he may be fine. Either way, it's got nothing to do with decency or consideration for the driver and passengers in the other car.

Swipe left for the next trending thread