Brockenhurst level-crossing woman drives along tracks - 26 January 2012

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

A New Milton pensioner was giving her 20-year-old grandson a lift when she mistook the line for the entrance to the station car park. Instead of stopping or reversing, she drove 80 yards up the track and ended up on a set of points near the end of platform two.

Hmm.  If the dear old lady was apparently so oblivious to the racket caused under her car by her driving so far up a railway line, I'm not sure that any mere visual signage would have dissuaded her from initially taking that route. 

[paul7575]

It worries me that the local media give 'SHRUG' house room.  As we can see regularly see, it seems little more than a one man rant factory.

I very much doubt if SWT^▸ (South West Trains) or NR^» (Network Rail - home page) give them any credence whatsoever.

Back to the level crossing - are they all trying to suggest that it is easily missed when the barriers are raised?  Are people generally really so useless these days...

Paul

[bobm]

What sort of "directional signs" are they planning?  No right turn?  I'm struggling to see what more you can do to indicate the presence of a double track railway.

[paul7575]

The supposed problem is that if you are heading south towards the barriers there is a right turn immediately before them leading towards the station building and one of the car parks.  But there must be many other set ups just like that all over the country, a succession of right turns in close proximity is hardly unusual. As the council have hinted at in their response, they think non-standard signage would be needed to cover the situation.  Do they then have to assume people could make the same error coming from the other direction, and/or when making left turns - I mean where do you draw the line?

Paul

[bobm]

I agree. She should have tried Wokingham. Don't have a photo to hand but a mini roundabout one side and a t-junction the other!

[Phil]

At the moment driving licences have to be renewed at 70, and then every 3 years after that. Unfortunately there is no 'fitness to drive' assessment carried out.

My own opinion is that everyone should be periodically reassessed.

Have to say, I agree with this wholeheartedly. That would also cure the issue of individuals aged over 80 with no intention of driving ever again, who take a hit in terms of penalty points incurred by family members who might wish to retain a clean or cleaner licence for employment purposes.

I should make it clear that I personally have no experience of this happening, and am merely recounting hearsay evidence reported to me by a person living well outside of my own immediate community....

[GBM]

I'm regularly annoying my family by saying everyone from 60 years should have a compulsory test every three or four years.  From 70 on it should be every two years. Failure should result in a complete retest from the beginning.
I'm almost 64 now (before anyone accuses me of being ageist).
It wouldn't go down well with any Government as a pre-election hit, but I'm sure the DVLA^▸ (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) would love the paperwork, (and test centres the extra work).

[Brucey]

I have to agree with you there GBM.  But I'd go even further and suggest compulsory testing of everyone every 10 to 15 years.  People forget things.  I'll never forget the argument with my mother after I stopped in a box junction waiting to turn right.  

By the way, on behalf of the forum team , welcome to the Coffee Shop forum GBM.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'll never forget the argument with my mother after I stopped in a box junction waiting to turn right.  

If you were trying to turn right onto the railway tracks at Brockenhurst, she was quite right!

[GBM]

Thanks Brucey.
Not often I find someone agreeing with me.........
Yes, lazy habits creep in and become the current new (like the current phase of steering with the flat palm of one hand........w h a a a t?).
I.A.M member for 35+ years, but bad habits had crept in,
Recently took my PCV licence: that shook the cobwebs out, and woke me up again.