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

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-16741868:

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.

[inspector_blakey]

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

[eightf48544]

Lucky she didn't short out the third rail.

[bigdaz]

Lucky she didn't short out the third rail.

And that, dearhearts, is the power of Tenna Lady

[anthony215]

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

I was thinking that myself when I read this.

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

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)

[inspector_blakey]

Lucky she didn't short out the third rail.

And that, dearhearts, is the power of Tenna Lady

As a Guardian-reading, wooly-minded, politically-correct liberal, I really shouldn't find that funny.

But it's hilarious! Definitely my nomination for post of the week. Possibly the month... 

[ellendune]

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

As someone not far off that age I would remind you that we are so fit and healthy that we cannot possibly retire until we are 66 or 67 or 68 these days.  I think your threshold needs to be set a bit higher.  Did it not say that the driver was 85.  That 25 years more than 60!  Thats like saying a 25 year old is the same as a 50 year old!

[JayMac]

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.

[inspector_blakey]

In the interests of balance, I'm not sure there's much correlation between age and ineptitude with the drivers I know. Some are truly terrifying but well under 60!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Without wishing to make any assumptions about her driving ability, the lady who drove her car onto the level crossing at Newquay last week is 28 ... 

[EBrown]

Without wishing to make any assumptions about her driving ability, the lady who drove her car onto the level crossing at Newquay last week is 28 ... 

Neither should have licences (unless they are somehow not at fault).

[Chris from Nailsea]

More details in a report from the Sun - including some startling pictures of the scene:

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.

There's a new career for her as a stunt driver, I reckon. 

[JayMac]

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.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Some people will go to extrodanry lengths to avoid buying a ticket!

[MrC]

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.

An emergency call to Eastleigh ECO^▸ (Electrical Control Officer) would have been the quickest way for the signaller. Must have been quite a shock seeing a car drive past your box along the rails.

The danger to the car occupants is more likely fire as a number of cars have gone up in flames very quickly in similar circumstances. The low voltage/high current in third rail land quickly generates a huge amount of heat in a short circuit condition.

The Brockenhurst incident is very similar to one at Wool a few years ago when a 79 year old misjudged a road junction and ended up driving on the rails past the box for quite a way. That car ended up a smouldering heap.