Whatever Happened To Common Sense ?

[Canary42]

Parking in the fast lane of a motorway to ask directions !

Whatever happened to common sense ?

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pensioner-jailed-parking-fast-lane-motorway-ask-directions-leaving-two-women-dead-083818720.html

Although the offender received a great personal loss, the judge also dished out a jail sentence - this might seem to be a bit harsh as youthful joyriders often just get a slapped wrist.

[Ken4155]

Not harsh. Quite the reverse, imho. Where did he think he was, the High Street?

[Canary42]

Yes Ken, I tend to agree, I guess my remark was more a complaint against the lighter sentencing for deliberate joy-riding yoof.

[bednobs]

not harsh at all. imagine the utterly ruined life of the van driver

[retrocop]

Tantamount to Murder. You would'nt leave your passengers in a stationary car on the hard shoulder let alone the third lane of a motorway. Should be bnned for life from driving imo. He has to live with himself for the remainder of his life.

[Ken4155]

Just read the link thoroughly to discover that, having received an interim ban for the incident, he was then found behind the wheel teaching someone to drive!! Who in their right minds would take driving lessons from a moron?

[naomi24]

Some people just shouldn't be driving. I know an elderly lady who caused an accident when she thought the driver of the vehicle in front, who was slowing down and indicating to turn right, was telling her to overtake.... so she did .... almost. No one badly hurt, fortunately, but both cars written off.

[Ellipsis]

He was "only" 71 though. I know that's a pensioner, but not really that old ...

[ToraToraTora]

wow that beggers belief, what was he thinking.

[ludwig]

At his age he must have been driving a while, in which case I'm amazed he's lasted so long without killing himself or someone else before now.

I can only assume some form of dementia has started to take hold.

[derekpara]

'Whatever Happened To Common Sense ?'

It's never been common !

[Buenchico]

I agree that it's crazy behaviour but vehicles do break down in the fast lane of motorways and any competent driver behind should be able to stop or go around such a vehicle. So the driver of the vehicle which ploughed into the car wasn't entirely blameless.

[Canary42]

I agree Chris, sadly two wrongs don't make a right.

[SparklyKid]

Agree with Buenchico. The hazard lights were on, as they would be if broken down. White van man should share some of the blame.

[Old_Geezer]

Mental deterioration can happen at any time, and it takes something drastic to indicate it's gone too far. Could have been the first indication of such a disability. One wonders why the passengers didn't flee screaming as soon as he stopped and got out though.

[ummmm]

It was 3am...the motorway would have been pretty quiet so although he was a fool for stopping where he did how come white van man didn't spot him?

[hereIam]

Also agree with Buenchico.

[andy-hughes]

Thus looks like a senior driver who simply panicked and didn't think about where he was stopping - just about getting info.

He was obviously not able to drive properly, and either didn't grasp that fact, or was too arrogant to take notice, but either way, he is paying the price with prison, and a lifetime of guilt.

[Peter Pedant]

I had just moved house
and was driving to alphaville or somewhere when I zooped past two cars who had pulled on the vergey bit of the fast lane (!) and were swapping notes, having smacked into each other !

so i heaved and gasped and then thought - hmm cant quite remember when I had renewed my insurance

and yes I hadnt told them of the changed address
and I was driving uninsured

The buyer of my house knew where I had moved and just RTS'd the letters rather than re-address them.

[Peter Pedant]

// how come white van man didn't spot him?//

er because it was 3 am as you said ....

[ummmm]

And? He had his hazard lights on!