Should this old lady be charged?

[daffy654]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/706 7916.stm

I don't think she should be taken to court as such but really think she shouldn't be driving.Is there any way they can take her licence off her without court action?

[Whickerman]

You can hear the phone call now.

"Mum, are you on the M6?"
"Yes Dear"
"Well keep an eye out, the news reckons there's someone driving the wrong way up it"
"Some ONE? There's flippin' thousands of 'em!"

[Whickerman]

But on a serious note - this is part of the argument that people over a certain age should need to retake their tests every few years.

[naomi24]

No, she shouldn't be charged, but this is definitely one person who should take another test.

[Dassie]

She could have caused someone else's death. She was obviously confused and should now be banned from driving for the general good of the public.

[whiffey]

Yes, she should be charged. Just because she is a grey-haired fluffy old dear doesn't exempt her from dangerous driving. A head-on collision, a family killed ?

No, charge her, fine her, ban her.

[daffy654]

I do agree she was driving dangerously whiffey but what purpose would taking the old lady to court serve? Many pensioners barely survive on the money they have so fining her would be pointless as she'd possibly starve to death or get hypothermia before she could pay up. I think there should be a cut off age for driving licences. Every old person I know says there responses are not as quick as they used to be so should they really be in charge of a car?
I hope they do prevent her from driving again though.

[chompu]

A sunny spring morning in a sub-urban shopping area. Suddenly a large salon car accelerates through the plate glass window of a shop. Sales assistants and shoppers rush out thinking a ram raid is taking place. No, it is a retired dentist in his 80s who has got his false leg wedged against the accelerator and has lost control.
One of many incidents I dealt with during my last couple of years as a police officer which I mainly spent investigating traffic accidents.
Our force policy then, was that providing there was no serious injury involved, we would try to get the person to voluntary surrender their licence. The alternative would be to take them to court who would probably order a re-test etc.
I never had any that didn't choose the first option

[naomi24]

daffy, out of interest, at what age do you think driving licences should be withdrawn?

[weeal]

lol @ Whickerman

[daffy654]

I think maybe 75 would be a fairly sensible age naomi.I know people will argue that many 75 year olds are perfectly fit and able and have all their faculties but there are many that age that don't.Those that wish to continue driving after that age should be retested to ensure that they are able to do so safely

[naomi24]

Hello daffy. That sounds pretty reasonable. I wouldn't like to impose a definite cut off age for driving since I know people in their late 80s who are perfectly capable and fit, and completely on the ball mentally. However, I also know some who aren't, which is worrying.

[Oneeyedvic]

If (heaven forbid) a fatality did occur, would you want her prosecuted then, or would it still be 'ah bless'?

[Dassie]

At 75+ they may still have their faculties and be fit BUT because of old age their REACTION times are much slower and that could make a big difference.

[Sweep2k]

Of course she should be prosecuted. She was doing 60-70mph in the FAST lane. That's enough for me.

[ruby27]

Before I can make a decision I want to know her
immigration status and
whether she was on benefits

If she is a sweet white haired, british born then, obviously no
but if she is on benefits and I don't care if it is a pension then she is a scrounger and should be charged and deported, and all her chavvy family with her.

[jackthehat]

But, oneeyedvic, there was no fatal accident in this case...............
We know the details of this specific case and the general consensus seems to be "Thank God the wake up call for her to hand back her licence came at reasonably little cost, save the injuries to the poor Daewoo driver."

What good would prosecution do in this happenstance ?

[Supernick]

What if it was me, a 27 year old man that had done the same? I'm on an unfamiliar stretch of road at night, get confused with my bearings and end up going down the wrong way on the motorway, barrelling along at 70mph and forcing another car to plough into the central reservation, injuring the occupant.

I've never had so much as a parking fine in 10 years of driving. Is it in the public interest to prosecute me?

[jake-the-peg]

I think it revolves around whether or not there was a degree of recklessness in her decision to drive.


If she clearly knew she was not fit to drive but did so anyway she should be charged because this sort of behaviour needs to stop.


I think you need to know more about her personal circumstances

[ojread2]

I think she should be prosecuted

What will it serve to do? Keep her off the road.

I have long said there should be compulsory re-tests once you reach 65 - this just justifies by belief in it

I don;t thin k you need to know anything about her 'personal circumstances' either - she is guilty of dangerous driving end of

Like supernic says, if she were 27, or even 37,47,57 - there would be no question of her being prosecuted whats the difference here? Apart form her age and the fact she may, or may not, have fluffy white hair