79-year-old drink driver..........

[Chippy_Tea]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utCVyRs43xo[/ame]


Dramatic footage of the moment a 79-year-old drink driver ploughs through a shop window into a young child has been released by police.

The incident took place on 29 May 2016 at Landside Wine Stores on Chestnut Drive South in Leigh.

The terrifying footage shows a six-year-old boy picking some sweets when, seconds later, a car smashes through the front window into the child.

The driver then tries to reverse, causing more of the shop to collapse on top of the car.

The boy’s family can be seen frantically trying to get to their son.

Miraculously the young boy escaped with only cuts and bruises.

A 79-year-old woman today, Wednesday 15 June, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a sample of breath and driving without due care and attention. She was disqualified from driving for three years and given a 50 hours community order and ordered to pay costs of £170.

Sergeant John Brennan from GMP’s Road Policing Unit said: “This was a horrific ordeal for the young boy and his family. Thankfully he is alive and well but those terrifying moments will stay with his family forever.

“When you choose to drive a car after having a drink, you are also choosing to put other people at risk. This family popped to the shop to buy some sweets yet found themselves caught up in somebody else’s selfish decision to drive while drunk.

“We have released this footage to reiterate the dangers of driving under the influence and the devastating impact it can have on other people. Please stick to none for the road if you’re driving. And if you’re having a drink, arrange alternative transport home.”

The footage has been released at the half way mark of GMP’s month-long drink and drug drive operation, which sees extra resources working around the clock to coincide with the summer and Euros – a time when celebrations are running high and people may be tempted to drink and drive.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Alcohol obviously played its part but i think with an ageing population it is high time we introduced a competency test for older drivers, i drive for a living so am on the road most of the working day, the standard of driving during the day (when most people are at work) is shocking, one of the main annoyances for me is people driving too slow, in your test you can fail for not driving to the conditions of the road yet how many times do you get stuck being (bear in mind trucks don't accelerate like cars do and we have delivery times to keep to) a driver doing 10 MPH less than the speed limit with an open road ahead of them, if they are not confident enough to drive at speed they shouldn't be driving.
[/rant over]

 

[MickDundee]

I thought you were going to post this before I opened the thread:

I don't intend to make light of the video in the OP or drink driving in general - drink drivers are the most selfish people on the planet IMO.

 

[brumbrew]

I thought you were going to post this before I opened the thread:

I don't intend to make light of the video in the OP or drink driving in general - drink drivers are the most selfish people on the planet IMO.

Along with people using the mobile with kids in the car. Makes my blood boil! Those kids don't have a say or choice.

Also agree for competence test over a certain age. They can take your licence off you for medical reasons, but why not old age.

I've lost unfortunately many a friend to drink driving and mobiles. :-(

RIP Olly I miss you.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

The police are all over Twitter at the moment about mobiles and driving (also drink and drug driving) the problem with mobiles is the idiots using them while driving don't see themselves as having the same lack of car control as a dink/drug drivers, the rest of us of course know better and some as us on a personal level.

 

[Halfacrem]

I'd agree with a competency test, but for all drivers, not just those over a certain age. Probably not feasible in reality, though.

I'm not so sure the stats would back up the point that elderly drivers prove a significantly greater threat than other age groups. No doubt there are plenty of old aged numpty drivers, but greater than any other age group?

 

[brumbrew]

The police are all over Twitter at the moment about mobiles and driving (also drink and drug driving) the problem with mobiles is the idiots using them while driving don't see themselves as having the same lack of car control as a dink/drug drivers, the rest of us of course know better and some as us on a personal level.

I badger my local force on Twitter all the time! Thing is the punishments given aren't a deterrent. A course or a small fine. Rarely are maximum fines and endorsements given. They caught just under 300 in their little targeted op. Still not enough in my eyes. And in my area traffic police only work 3-4 days a week. So people know they stand a chance of getting away with it.

What I don't understand is why doesn't the fine money go direct to the traffic police?self funded!

And no bias because I count daily how many people I see on my short walk or cycle home but it tends to be....

Males aged 18-30, in suped up cars or BMW Audi types.

And women aged 18-25 the ultimate worst offender.

These are from observations of my own, in my area.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I'd agree with a competency test, but for all drivers, not just those over a certain age. Probably not feasible in reality, though.

I'm not so sure the stats would back up the point that elderly drivers prove a significantly greater threat than other age groups. No doubt there are plenty of old aged numpty drivers, but greater than any other age group?

Having driven a recovery truck for many years i can tell you the age group that causes more damage to their cars by lack of judgement and confusion "I was sure i put my automatic in reverse then it suddenly shot forward" is the retired driver. (not to be confused with retired from driving)

 

[Halfacrem]

Having driven a recovery truck for many years i can tell you the age group that causes more damage to their cars by lack of judgement and confusion "I was sure i put my automatic in reverse then it suddenly shot forward" is the retired driver. (not to be confused with retired from driving)

So perhaps periodical competency testing during a drivers lifetime would mean future older drivers were more capable.

 

[terrym]

Alcohol obviously played its part but i think with an ageing population it is high time we introduced a competency test for older drivers, i drive for a living so am on the road most of the working day, the standard of driving during the day (when most people are at work) is shocking, one of the main annoyances for me is people driving too slow, in your test you can fail for not driving to the conditions of the road yet how many times do you get stuck being (bear in mind trucks don't accelerate like cars do and we have delivery times to keep to) a driver doing 10 MPH less than the speed limit with an open road ahead of them, if they are not confident enough to drive at speed they shouldn't be driving.
[/rant over]

I completely agree with the last sentence.
A competency test at 70 and then every 5 years (and that's from someone who will be 70 in the not too distant future).
But then what about
- young inexperienced drivers driving cars that are far too powerful for them (no restrictions on cars for young drivers after they have passed the test, unlike young motorbike riders)
- people on phones
- people on the school run distracted by their kids ( I live near a school)
- idiots who drive slowly in the middle lane on motorways causing people to undertake
- people who undertake on motorways
- people who tail gate
- etc etc
I have been driving/riding on our roads for over 50 years and the standard of driving gets worse every year

 

[brumbrew]

Couldn't agree more with all of the points in this thread.

One of the other big ones for me is the self entitlement to park when one likes. Drives me mad! And I have actually walked over a car parked on the pavement to prove a point. Although that would be criminal damage in the eyes of the 'law'

The people walking in the road around said car were astonished to say the least. One guy said 'fair play'

I don't drive anymore, but you know what, I'm glad!

I lost my licence through being an 18 year old dick head and racing around. A marvel since it was a mk 4 escort 1.4 :-)

So talking from experience. I've just never bothered to get it back. And I'm 30 now.

I wouldn't want to drive amongst the dick heads out there now.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

So perhaps periodical competency testing during a drivers lifetime would mean future older drivers were more capable.

I don't think that would make any difference, i think there comes a time in everyone's life when they shouldn't be on the road and i agree with Terry a competency test at 70 and then every 5 years would do the trick but i would go further and say 3 years, my mam is in her late 70's and she voluntarily gave up driving a few years ago, she said she didn't like the speed everyone seemed to be driving at (everyone's in a rush) and it made her nervous, another thing i find a worry is how many people who use walking sticks drive, if you cannot move your leg without the aid of a stick how can you do an emergency stop? (or how much further down the road would you have travelled)

 

[Halfacrem]

I don't think that would make any difference, i think there comes a time in everyone's life when they shouldn't be on the road

It goes without saying that everyone has to stop driving at some point. I don't see how anyone would disagree with removing any unfit drivers from the road (whatever their age). You seem to be focusing on removing a small group of potential problem drivers because you feel they cause the majority of issues. I don't believe you're right on that point but that's the point of a snug discussion, I suppose.

 

[Dutto]

............ one of the main annoyances for me is people driving too slow, ........... a driver doing 10 MPH less than the speed limit with an open road ahead of them, if they are not confident enough to drive at speed they shouldn't be driving.
[/rant over]

Oh dear!!

I just have to take you to task over the comments highlighted above.

1. With regard to "people driving too slow":

a) I and my motorhome are both quite capable of driving faster and if you pay for my fuel, tyre wear etc I will drive faster; a lot faster. As it is, I drive to conserve fuel, save my tyres (the last set did 44,000 miles) and at the same time save myself money.

b) If you are stuck behind me then don't blame me for your inadequate planning; you should have left earlier.

2. With regard to "a driver doing 10MPH less than the speed limit etc":

a) The Speed Limit is just that. i.e. it is there to LIMIT speed. It is an offence to go FASTER and (with very rare exceptions) not an offence to go SLOWER.

b) If there is an "open road ahead of them" it will be safe for you to overtake; especially if they are going so slowly! Yet again, please don't blame someone else for your own inadequacies as a driver.

c) Many, many people are "confident to drive at speed" and indeed in many cases they are also a lot more competent to drive at speed than some of the boy racers I see on the roads. The fact that they drive below the speed limit may be an indication that they are taking into consideration road conditions, weather conditions, the condition of their vehicle, the fact that they don't know the road etc etc etc.

Oh dear, maybe they are just driving safely, which is a situation borne out by the insurance statistics for people over 65 and who drive carefully. :thumb: :thumb:

Having said all that, I well remember listening to a radio programme in the 1980's when people in the UK were getting all het up about heavy traffic and constant traffic jams. I nearly choked to death laughing when one listener phoned in and said:

"I don't understand what all the fuss is about. I drive thousands
of miles every year up and down the UK and I have NEVER been stuck in a
traffic jam and I ALWAYS have clear roads ahead of me.
I think everyone should tow a caravan!"​

Enjoy! :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Way too much to answer all I can say is if you had to deliver goods within your driving hours (tachograph - i don't have a choice in how many hours i can drive a day) driving in the lake district in summer you would have a totally different view.