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An 85-year-old woman drove down a train line for 80 yards (73m) after accidentally turning on to the tracks at a level crossing in Hampshire.

The woman was driving towards Brockenhurst station in the New Forest when she turned on to the track between Bournemouth and London Waterloo.

She stopped her car and called for help at about 09:30 GMT. She was treated, along with her passenger, for shock.

The incident caused rail delays and a bus replacement service was set up.

The car was later removed by crane.

Lucky she didn't short out the third rail.

A prime facie case for licence withdrawal at the very least, it would seem.

And that, dearhearts, is the power of Tenna Lady :D

Something needs to be done about drivers aged over 60 half of the ones I have encountered are bloody dangerous.

Without wishing to make any assumptions about her driving ability, the lady who drove her car onto the level crossing at Newquay (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=10178.0) last week is 28 ...  :P ::)

Gran, 85, takes wrong turn on to railway lines

A driver aged 85 diced with death this morning ^ driving up a rush-hour train track after taking a wrong turn at a level crossing.

The gran was believed to have been taking her 20-year-old grandson to the station when she mistakenly steered on to the busy rail line.

And she rattled along the electrified London to Bournemouth track for 70 yards.

Commuters watched in horror as the drama unfolded at Brockenhurst station, Hants.

Cops rushed to the scene and climbed on to the tracks before lifting the pair to safety, but the incident shut down the line for almost two hours.

Witness Alex Capozza, 30, from Bournemouth, said: "They are very lucky they were not hurt ^ the route is very busy at that time of the morning.

"Thankfully the signal box is quite close to where the woman stopped so they must have quickly raised the alarm to other trains.

"I saw the elderly lady in the car ^ she looked shaken. There was a police officer with her, trying to calm her down.

"When I saw it, I just couldn't believe there was a car on the tracks.

"Thankfully neither of them were hurt. I think the lady was taken away in a taxi ^ I don't think she'll be getting back in a car again."

A spokeswoman for British Transport Police said: "An 85-year-old woman driver and 20-year-old man that were in the car at the time have been treated for shock, but no other injuries have been reported."

A crane was later brought in to remove the stranded Renault Clio.

Lucky she didn't short out the third rail.

Would the bobby in the adjacent signal box have been able to instantly cut power to the 3rd rail once he saw the car drive onto the line?

Fairly sure there was little danger of electric shock to the car's occupants though. A car is a pretty good Faraday cage.

None of the news articles, from whatever source, have bothered to check the distance.  The car was stopped by the points no more than about 25 yards from the level crossing.  80 yards must have been a wild guess by someone which seems to have become accepted fact. 

Paul

Another points failure? All she wanted to do was change line...

None of the news articles, from whatever source, have bothered to check the distance.  The car was stopped by the points no more than about 25 yards from the level crossing.  80 yards must have been a wild guess by someone which seems to have become accepted fact. 

There's a new career for her as a stunt driver, I reckon.  :o ::) ;D

I have once come round a corner doing 60mph (the speed limit on the road) and had to slam on the brakes because some stupid o.a.p was only doing around 20mph and couldn't drive in a straight line, driver nearly clipped me as I overtook as she suddently realised she wanted to change lanes and didnt bother looking till I blasted the horn (and a bit of  hand gesturing)

I have once come round a corner doing 60mph (the speed limit on the road) and had to slam on the brakes

Gran who drove along rail track in Brockenhurst gives up licence

A pensioner who drove her car along a high-speed rail line has escaped prosecution after giving up her driving licence.

The 85-year-old was giving her grandson a lift to Brockenhurst station when she took a wrong turn and ended up on the track.

Instead of stopping or reversing back on to the road she carried on for about 80 yards ^ narrowly avoiding the live rail.

As reported in the Daily Echo, her silver-coloured Renault Clio came to rest on a set of points at the end of platform two, halting trains for almost two hours.

The pensioner, who lives in the New Milton area, was later reported for careless driving.

But British Transport Police (BTP) have dropped the case ^ largely as a result of her decision to quit driving.

A BTP spokesman said: ^Given the woman^s age, and the fact that she^s surrendered her licence, officers are taking no further action.^

The incident occurred shortly after the morning rush-hour on January 26.

The pensioner was halfway across a level crossing when she veered left, apparently mistaking the line for the entrance to the station car park.

The car was removed by a crane after she and her 20-yearold grandson were rescued and checked by paramedics.

A similar incident happened at the same spot in 1997, when a 46-year-old woman drove 15 yards up the track.

Hampshire County Council leader Ken Thornber, who represents Brockenhurst, has told highway chiefs to carry out a safety review of the crossing.

Councillor Maureen Holding, who represents Brockenhurst on the district council, said the line was next to the car park entrance and warned that a similar incident could occur in fog. Earlier this month it was revealed that the number of drivers aged 80 or over has topped one million for the first time. But motoring organisations say people over 70 should only be forced to stop driving if there were ^compelling^ reasons.

A year after OAP drove onto high-speed railway line, the wait for new signs goes on

(http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/resources/images/2311500/?type=articleLandscape)

It was a disastrous error that could have led to tragedy. An 85-year-old motorist was half-way across a level crossing when she suddenly veered off the road and along a high-speed railway line, narrowly missing the live rail and halting trains.

But highway chiefs have taken a year to devise a scheme aimed at preventing anything similar happening again.

Campaigners have condemned the delays surrounding the project, which includes new road signs either side of the barrier-controlled crossing at Brockenhurst station.

Denis Fryer, of the South Hampshire Rail Users^ Group, said: ^It^s very poor. The risks attached to any incident involving an electrified rail are huge. The county council seems to have taken an awfully long time to address something that should have been dealt with pretty quickly.^

The incident happened a year ago today. 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. She and her grandson escaped unhurt after rail employees quickly switched off the power.

Network Rail said trains were in no danger because the crossing barriers were up, which meant all the signals in the area were on red.

The gran was reported for careless driving, but British Transport Police dropped the case after she handed in her licence.

The proposed new directional signs aim to prevent anyone else making the same error.

Parish council chairman Russell Horne welcomed the scheme, but called for the inclusion of a ^non-standard^ sign highlighting the position of the track. ^At the moment there^s nothing to indicate that there^s a railway there,^ he said.

Cllr Horne defended the time taken to implement the measures. He said: ^It^s always a lot better when things are done more speedily, but the county council has had to carry out a proper process of consultation and consideration.^

A Network Rail spokesman said: ^What happened at Brockenhurst was incredibly unusual. It^s not the sort of thing we see every day.^

South West Trains declined to comment.

What the county council says

Councillor Mel Kendal, deputy leader and executive member for environment and transport, said: ^Immediately following the incident the county council, as the highway authority, carried out a preliminary assessment and concluded that signage was not a significant causal factor in this case.

^Because the incident took place on the railway, Network Rail undertook a detailed review and our highways engineers were happy to provide their input.

^Once the review was largely complete, our initial view was there was nothing to change our preliminary conclusion about signage but we did think it was appropriate to refresh the signing in the area. Some early proposals were prepared and have been discussed with the parish council.

^Following comments received from them, we are currently in discussion with the Department for Transport to see if we are able to accommodate a request for signs which ordinarily would not be compliant with the Department^s standards and regulations.^

Parish council chairman Russell Horne welcomed the scheme, but called for the inclusion of a ^non-standard^ sign highlighting the position of the track. ^At the moment there^s nothing to indicate that there^s a railway there,^ he said.

I'm surprised Denis Fryer of SHRUG couldn't find a way of blaming SWT.

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.

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.

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