Prince Philip at 97

fmdog44

fmdog44

Well-known Member
Location
Houston, Texas
We are all aware he had an auto accident recently. The amazing news is he is unhurt. I saw a video of him walking and he walks like he is 30 yrs. old. The local news said moments ago he drove President Obama when he visited England in 2016. I wonder how the Secret Service took that! I would like to read about his diet and exercise program. I'm pretty sure I won't be driving when I'm 97 mainly because I plan on being dead;)
 

And of course, now that this has happened, there is outcry that a 97 year old was behind the wheel to begin with, even if it was a Prince!!! :mad:

"Prince Philip, as we know, is a very determined headstrong individual who has wanted to retain a sense of individual freedoms right up to the age of 97 and you can understand that," said Royal correspondent Roya Nikka. "This is also a man who served in the navy, who served in the Second World War, a man who has seen action, who has been active his whole life."
But over the years he's had to dial it back, giving up flying planes and playing polo. In 2017, he retired from his royal duties.
The prince is said to be home resting with the queen by his side. While he escaped uninjured, Buckingham Palace isn't taking this lightly. Some say it's unlikely he will be allowed to drive on public roads again."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prince...estions-over-why-the-97-year-old-was-driving/
 
Age has nothing to do with it.

Heaven knows I'm not the one to stand up for him, but either he was fit to drive or he wasn't.

If he was, age is irrelevant, if he wasn't, prosecute.
 

Camper6 said:
There is no age limit on getting a driver's license in England.
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I also read that he has to qualify for and get a new driver's license at the same intervals as everyone else. I do not believe it is fair to place restrictions on driving purely based on age. Everyone ages differently. My 91 year old neighbor is a fine driver and I have no qualms about riding with him at all; I've been driving him places lately only because he hurt his ankle and since he drives a standard, he needs both feet.

My cross-the-street neighbor, 65, is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. I wouldn't get in the car with her again on a bet -- she doesn't pay attention to what other drivers are doing and she is an accident waiting to happen.
 
Butterfly said:
I also read that he has to qualify for and get a new driver's license at the same intervals as everyone else. I do not believe it is fair to place restrictions on driving purely based on age. Everyone ages differently. My 91 year old neighbor is a fine driver and I have no qualms about riding with him at all; I've been driving him places lately only because he hurt his ankle and since he drives a standard, he needs both feet.

My cross-the-street neighbor, 65, is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. I wouldn't get in the car with her again on a bet -- she doesn't pay attention to what other drivers are doing and she is an accident waiting to happen.
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You don'e to "qualify" for a new licence in the UK. Once over 70 you simply declare that you are still fit to drive (you do this on line) and do the same every three years.

If you are applying for a new licence you are hardly likely to declare you are not fit to drive!

I cannot see as far as the front gate (this is being typed 6 inches from a 21 inch screen!) but I still have a licence, and wi'' be able to renew it simply by declaring I am still fit to drive.
 
Laurie said:
You don'e to "qualify" for a new licence in the UK. Once over 70 you simply declare that you are still fit to drive (you do this on line) and do the same every three years.

If you are applying for a new licence you are hardly likely to declare you are not fit to drive!

I cannot see as far as the front gate (this is being typed 6 inches from a 21 inch screen!) but I still have a licence, and wi'' be able to renew it simply by declaring I am still fit to drive.
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Excuse my frankness but this is crazy. If you are over 70 you ‘should’ HAVE to show up physically and prove that you can drive.
Just like you stated, people LIE. This is grossly negligent on your governments part. I wonder how many accidents this causes. It’s dangerous and unfair for the other drivers out there.
 
Laurie said:
Age has nothing to do with it.

Heaven knows I'm not the one to stand up for him, but either he was fit to drive or he wasn't.

If he was, age is irrelevant, if he wasn't, prosecute.
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I know that road where he had the accident, it's a country road leading out onto a Dual Carriageway, and the sun blinds you on a sunny day from across the fields on the opposite side of the road , so you have to pull out of that B road onto the main with real care . It's been said that he was blinded by the sun, and I can believe that, because looking at the photos he didn't have any sunglasses on either!!

That said, that Kia must have been going very fast to have hit that Land rover ( which might even be bullet proofed, making it very heavy )..so hard that it toppled it over more than once... and if so then the driver of the other car should be investigated also, for possibly driving over the speed limit, with a baby in the car!
 
Keesha said:
Excuse my frankness but this is crazy. If you are over 70 you ‘should’ HAVE to show up physically and prove that you can drive.
Just like you stated, people LIE. This is grossly negligent on your governments part. I wonder how many accidents this causes. It’s dangerous and unfair for the other drivers out there.
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Don't blame me, I don't make the laws, I just have to live with them, and all these unfit drivers!

No worse, I suppose, than your homeland security asking would-be immigrants if they intend to harm the president!
 
The thing that I found interesting is that Prince Philip was out driving by himself on public roads without any sort of security detail.

I always assumed that he and Elizabeth II live in a 24/7 security bubble.
 
Aunt Bea said:
The thing that I found interesting is that Prince Philip was out driving by himself on public roads without any sort of security detail.

I always assumed that he and Elizabeth II live in a 24/7 security bubble.
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yes that's unusual. In fact initially the Palace gave out a statement saying PP, and his protection officer were unhurt, which was a lie because the rescuer clearly stated that PP was alone!!

Philip is and always has been a very independent and stubborn person, and has almost always driven himself around alone aside from public duties ... I've had the pleasure of driving alongside him twice on the motorway in past years. My o/h has worked with him, and in fact my husband was a passenger in Prince Philips car some years ago... being driven on the Royal private land ..so it's not unusual to hear that he was without protection..but I always presumed that at this great age of 97, it would have been a given for him to have had someone else in the car with him driving on public roads.
 
Laurie said:
Don't blame me, I don't make the laws, I just have to live with them, and all these unfit drivers!

No worse, I suppose, than your homeland security asking would-be immigrants if they intend to harm the president!
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First off I wasn’t blaming you! Reread my post please.
Secondly we don’t have a president where I live.
You’re sadly mistaken.
We have a Prime Minister.
I’m from CANADA!
But I’ll forgive you.....
again :grin:

It might seem unbelievable
but it’s Trudeau:lofl:
 
I not only don’t blame you, Laurie, I don’t blame any of the citizens living there. Like I said in my post, it’s hugely negligent on your government’s part, without getting into politics. It’s irresponsible on ‘their’ behalf.
Perhaps crazy wasnt the best word to use. Perhaps ‘shocking’ would have been a better word.
 
Keesha said:
I not only don’t blame you, Laurie, I don’t blame any of the citizens living there. Like I said in my post, it’s hugely negligent on your government’s part, without getting into politics. It’s irresponsible on ‘their’ behalf.
Perhaps crazy wasnt the best word to use. Perhaps ‘shocking’ would have been a better word.
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Keesha you may be interested in these statistics.


After the Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a road crash where he was at the wheel, there was surprise in some quarters that he was still driving at the age of 97.
But he's not alone. The number of people over 90 holding a driving licence in Britain has been on the rise - it recently topped 100,000. So should you still be driving in your 90s?
Are elderly drivers potentially a danger?
The number of over-70s holding a driving licence exceeded five million for the first time last year, but figures suggest concerns that older drivers pose a danger are unfounded.
AA president Edmund King said high profile car crashes involving elderly drivers often spark calls for bans or restrictions - but it is younger drivers who pose more of a risk.
"Young, predominantly male, drivers are much more likely to crash within six months of passing their test than older drivers within six months of hanging up their keys," he said.
"Older drivers often self-restrict their driving by not driving at night and only driving on familiar roads."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46916429
 
Bee said:
Keesha you may be interested in these statistics.


After the Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a road crash where he was at the wheel, there was surprise in some quarters that he was still driving at the age of 97.
But he's not alone. The number of people over 90 holding a driving licence in Britain has been on the rise - it recently topped 100,000. So should you still be driving in your 90s?
Are elderly drivers potentially a danger?
The number of over-70s holding a driving licence exceeded five million for the first time last year, but figures suggest concerns that older drivers pose a danger are unfounded.
AA president Edmund King said high profile car crashes involving elderly drivers often spark calls for bans or restrictions - but it is younger drivers who pose more of a risk.
"Young, predominantly male, drivers are much more likely to crash within six months of passing their test than older drivers within six months of hanging up their keys," he said.
"Older drivers often self-restrict their driving by not driving at night and only driving on familiar roads."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46916429
Click to expand...

Hey Bee. Those statistics don’t surprise me in the least. It’s predicable that young male drivers would be at the top of the list. Most young people are, for lack of a better word, stupid drivers. They’re inexperienced and hyper active. That’s no surprise and except for random testing for drugs and alcohol I’m not sure what else can be done preventively.


Elderly drivers who shouldn’t be driving isn’t as predicable but could be preventable through appropriate testing.


Here in Canada after 70 you have to go in to show you are physically capable of driving which I personally think ‘should’ be mandatory by law. Anyone, no matter what age who isn’t fit to drive, shouldn’t.


Just last year both my father and my FIL had a mini stroke. My FIL discovered he was diabetic so passed out. His licence was immediately revoked as it should be. He needed to prove that he could drive again so his daughter flew out to help him get retested and get his licence back which he did. He failed the first time, passed the second.


My father didn’t go through the same process but is still driving , he’s 89.
Like the survey mentioned, the older drivers aren’t ‘that’ much of a risk, since they don’t drive often and drive during day light hours but it’s still a huge concern and I still think the government should be more responsible with their laws.
 
Keesha said:
First off I wasn’t blaming you! Reread my post please.
Secondly we don’t have a president where I live.
You’re sadly mistaken.
We have a Prime Minister.
I’m from CANADA!
But I’ll forgive you.....
again :grin:

It might seem unbelievable
but it’s Trudeau:lofl:
Click to expand...

Abject apologies, Keesha!

I know how frustrated I get when those damn Yanks refer to England when they mean Britain!

I'mm old enough to remember the last Trudeau (and even Mr Diefenbaker, who was always "Mr.").
 
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