Woman killed in Leyland crash

[admin]

Police said a 53-year-old woman stepped from a shop doorway onto the pavement, before a car mounted the pavement and collided with her.

Fire crews, paramedics and the air ambulance raced to the scene, but the woman sadly died.

lep.co.uk

[germinal]

Yes sad isn't it. You never know. They said the driver was a 79 year old woman who was unhurt, but there is no information as to whether she had an attack of some sort which caused it.

[anacortesdamp]

Americans would have a tough time understanding that story. Over here, the paved area alongside the traffic lane is the "sidewalk". Anything covered in tarmac or concrete is "paved" and is referred to as "pavement", whether vehicles use it or pedestrians do.

Two peoples separated by a "common" language! We've been here long enough to be able to switch back and forth depending on our audience! Lancashire slang still give me a bit of grief. I called someone a "lummox" the other day and ended up giving a 5-minute explanation. At least I didn't say "Th'art a reight lummox". I'd still be trying to explain!

I feel very sorry for the family of the person killed. At 73, I'm keeping a close eye on my driving abilities. I don't want to become the "old fart waiting to cause a wreck". We do have a bus service - once an hour from our sub-division into town and only about a 20-minute time-span to get things done before it goes the other way. You don't make it in time, then its 80 minutes to the next one, but at least it's there. When you get to the point you can't drive any more, the agency has "Dial-a-Ride", which is like a taxi service, except you might be one of several passengers.

I gave my old boss at Skagit Transit a ribbing about "Dial", asking him how many people still had phones with a dial.

Frank

[noel]

We were actually at the scene of the accident, in Boots chemist next door when we heard the sirens and the air ambulance helicopter fly over. Later that evening our neighbour rang to say it was her niece Julie who had been killed. She was coming out of the shop, someone shouted "get back in quick" she just stared at the person who shouted and got run over still on the footpath. My wife goes in there quite a bit and it makes you realise there but for the grace of whatever..I've not heard any reports of how the 79 year old driver is I think Frank's outlook is the right one. I turn 70 next year and I think I have to apply for a new driving licence then?

[germinal]

That's right Noel, and every 3 years after that.

[anacortesdamp]

We don't have mandatory re-testing in Washington, Noel, but I think it's a good idea to volunteer for it every two or three years. We were refuelling at Costco the other day and Eileen commented "I don't think that chap should be driving".

I glanced across at the next lane and this very elderly, stooped man had spread all his credit/debit cards across the bonnet of his car, apparently looking for the one to use at Costco. He was at the pump before we were and hadn't started pumping when we left, and I'd put 15 gallons in our car in that time. He certainly shouldn't have been using a self-serve petrol station, though most of them around here are self-serve. He was unaccompanied, too, which bothered me a bit.

An accident looking for a place to happen, I think. Unfortunately, I don't think there's a method of alerting the authorities to that kind of incompetence.


Frank

[germinal]

Lancashire run a scheme whereby older drivers can be assessed and have feedback on their driving. There is a half day course too with a followup assessed drive to round the whole thing off.

The whole thing is free and available to anyone over about the age of 55 I think. There is a good takeup of this in the area I believe. I have done this myself. It does give you a good idea about the areas where you might have developed bad habits. It also shows you the latest methods in how to develop safer driving.

[noel]

Lancashire run a scheme whereby older drivers can be assessed and have feedback on their driving. There is a half day course too with a followup assessed drive to round the whole thing off.

The whole thing is free and available to anyone over about the age of 55 I think. There is a good takeup of this in the area I believe. I have done this myself. It does give you a good idea about the areas where you might have developed bad habits. It also shows you the latest methods in how to develop safer driving.

Is this held at the Centurion Way site? To be frank the way some of the younger drivers shape I think they could do with a reappraisal. 6 feet behind you at 50 mph, are they taught safe breaking distances?

[germinal]

Yes it's down the bottom of Centurion Way. Obviously for the drive they come to your home and you do the drive in your own car. They check that over too for safety etc. It is all very friendly though - not a bit formal and they don't inform anybody at all about your results. You just get a kind of check list of the things you should look at and things like that.