I am stunned at all those who automatically blame Prince Philip because of his age. There seems a consensus in some quarters that the poor old dear isn't playing with a full deck these days.
I am glad nobody was seriously injured, not least Prince Philip as the airbags are not gentle when they are deployed and he may yet have two black eyes.
As to his driving, I think he drives only on the estates and this one is bisected by a public road in a well known black spot.
I'll wait for the local Constabulary to issue a statement and lay charges if required.
Well, as for me personally, I didn't blame anyone for Prince Philip's accident. I only shared a personal story, and I said I hope the accident is a wake-up call regarding Philip driving himself. And that's solely due to the fact that it's been proven reaction time and reflexes are slowed as people age. I have personal experience of that. For eg, my aunt was beginning to get into accidents: backing into things (not people fortunately), hitting a parked car because she became disoriented in looking for something in a mall parking lot and took her eyes off where she was driving. Also going around bends in the road, she tended to drift slightly over the center line before correcting her trajectory. But as I say, nothing tragic or overly disastrous occurred by the grace of God.
Obviously, what happened to Prince Philip could have happened with anyone driving, and with him being a passenger. In fact, when I first learned of the accident, I assumed that Prince Philip was a passenger in a vehicle involved in an accident. Still, at age 97, I'd be surprised if Philip's reaction time behind the wheel is the same as when he was even 10 to 15 years younger.
Discussing one's reaction time when they are operating a vehicle, has absolutely nothing to do with an elderly person's mental capacity. I tried not to be in a car with my aunt, and when visiting I would beg her to let me drive. None of her friends would get in a vehicle with her anymore unless they were driving. But with me being used to acquiescing to my aunt's fiesty strong will, I couldn't avoid being with her in a car a few times when she was elderly. Whenever I tried to be helpful and cautioned her to slow down, etc., she'd take it the wrong way and respond sharply. I understood why and so I tried not to say anything and I prayed with my heart in my mouth.
In one's 90s, I don't care how sharp a person is, I don't think it's safe to continue driving. But it's a delicate issue because perhaps some elders are more capable of continuing to drive than others. I also have a 93-year-old uncle who lives alone and still drives himself. He tends to drive cautiously and capably so I was less nervous being in a car with him.
Again, my concern for Prince Philip continuing to drive himself does not mean I think he caused this accident. I certainly do not think he's feeble-minded in any way. I realize he's a feisty, independent-spirited individual who likely doesn't take kindly to being told what to do, much like my aunt. In one's 90s, no matter the fine state of one's health, anything can happen at any time, such as stroke or disorientation. A stroke happened to Princess Grace when she was behind the wheel of a car, and she was in her 60s.
