A Calbourne woman who pulled out on a car at a notorious Island junction, causing a crash, has received 5 penalty points on her driving licence.
Carol Buckett, 74, of School Lane in Calbourne pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention when she appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier this week (Tuesday 15th August).
As previously reported by Island Echo, Police and paramedics were called to Forest Road at the junction with Betty Haunt Lane and Whitehouse Road – an area commonly known as Vittlefields Cross – at around 08:40 on 24th November 2022.
Buckett, driving her Citroen C1, pulled out of the Betty Haunt Lane junction and collided with a vehicle heading westbound towards Yarmouth.
The court heard how Buckett emerged from the junction slowly, with the other vehicle – which was travelling at 50mph – slamming on the brakes but still colliding with the French motor.
Speaking to Police, the 74-year-old admitted driving without due care and attention and that she made an error of judgment whilst using a road she travels along on a very regular basis.
The case didn’t have to come to court with Buckett originally offered the advanced driving course, however, due to the incident she was too shaken up to complete the course within the set timeline and, as a result, the case was brought before the courts.
Buckett’s defence solicitor told the court that the 74-year-old was still unsure how exactly the incident occurred and that she had held a clean licence for many years, never receiving a single point.
Magistrates chose to endorse Buckett’s licence with 5 penalty points. They also ordered she pay a fine of £138, costs of £85 and a £55 surcharge fee.
Before we get all the “Old Codger” remarks, take a second to read what happened…
“The court heard how Buckett emerged from the junction slowly, with the other vehicle – which was travelling at 50mph”
Travelling at 50mph? – that’ll be more like 60 mph then and anyone that knows that junction is a total idiot to drive at that speed as you go past it. It is of no consequence what the national speed limit is along there, it is a dangerous junction and the speed limit should be reduced to 30mph in the area, if not 20mph.
I feel sorry for the elderly driver who was said to have a blameless driving record which is now lost owing to one poor judgement and a speeding driver who should also have been prosecuted.
I feel sorry for her too.
Doesn’t change the fact that she was 100% to blame.
That is why she was prosecuted and the other driver wasn’t.
Only because the Police wouldn’t have any way of proving how fast the speeding car was going.
A speed limit is a “safe maximum” when the road conditions are favourable, not a minimum. As I said, you must be a total idiot to drive past that junction at speed and not lift off and check what the other drivers are doing.
Ever heard of “defensive driving”, no, probably not as it is always the other drivers responsibility to look out for you…
There is absolutely no suggestion in the report that the other driver was speeding. You’re accusing Jonathan Gilmour of being ‘aggressive’, ‘wokey’ and ‘incapable of having a debate’ and yet you’re accusing a perfectly innocent VICTIM in the accident, of being an idiot, and of breaking the law by speeding, when in fact, you have absolutely no knowledge of the circumstances involved.
“Victim”? More wokery…
What a twisted comment… it doesn’t matter how fast (or slow) the other vehicle was travelling. The simple fact is she pulled into the path of another vehicle. Imposing arbitrary speed limits to compensate for the fact that other drivers are unable/unwilling to look before pulling onto a main road is nonsense.
“Twisted” comment? – you poor Wokey.
Incapable of having a debate or conversation that have opposing views without being aggressive….
If you find words on a screen aggressive then I’m suggesting you are in fact the ‘wokey’.
You don’t seem to understand the fact that it doesn’t matter how fast someone is driving on Forest Road, they could be going 150mph for all it matters and never ever have a collision at the junction if no one was to pull out without looking and/or caring!
Your insistence that the speed limit is reduced to 20/30mph just says that you believe it’s acceptable to drive badly, risking other people’s lives and it’s up to the other drivers to accommodate for it. That is a disgusting and selfish attitude.
“Your insistence that the speed limit is reduced to 20/30mph just says that you believe it’s acceptable to drive badly, risking other people’s lives and it’s up to the other drivers to accommodate for it.”
I don’t think that is a correct interpretation of the comment by “Joe”
Reducing the speed limit on that stretch of road as it is often the scene of accidents, near misses and, indeed, a fatality, is common sense and in no way does that infer it would make it acceptable to drive badly.
The two most reasoned comments that sum it up are from “Martin” and “know it all”
Absolute rubbish. Ms Buckett, like many drivers, totally misjudged the speed of the traffic she was pulling into. I see many drivers, who are simply to impatient to wait, who see a gap, pull out SLOWLY, forcing the traffic to slow down or brake hard to avoid them, and there’s nothing behind them. They just need to learn patience and only pull out when oncoming traffic has passed. How can you blame a motorist, who was driving within the limit for an accident that the police and courts have found Ms Buckett guilty of?
They should of taking the old timers license away, she’s clearly incapable of judging on coming traffics speed, and dosnt have the ability to pull out of a junction and actually put her foot down which I see all too often with old people on the island, they pull out and dawdle along the rd unaware of what they have just done. they claim they have a clean licence and have never had an accident before, but have more than likely caused a few! Everyone should retake their driving test at 60
All drivers should be tested every five years, regardless of age.
Not to worry though as the youngsters will have their right to drive and freedom of movement taken away long before they get into their 70’s…
Totally agree… but there is a proportion of blame towards the speeding driver… You always need to be prepared for the fool that pulls out in front of you… you should always have your brake covered if travelling at speed…. just in case… A skill only learnt with experience.
Martin i agree whole heartedly. Always be ready for the unexpected After spending a lot of my time riding big motorcycles when i was younger, you should always are aware that something might pull out in front of you. I still have that instinct in my car.
What makes you think you’d pass if you took it now???
Ok. So when your 60 and if you drive I hope your same sense of sarcasm will be enforced . I’ve seen older people have more road sense than younger people who have been driving 5 minutes and think they are experts . It swings both ways
Ageist pig! 74 is not necessarily “old” for a driver!
74 is old John, your deluded if you think it isn’t! The reaction times and quick decision making abilities of OAPs is far slower than younger people that’s a fact, coupled with failing eye sight is a recipe for disaster! I just wish old people were not so stubborn and took the help that’s their for them, like a free bus pass, would free the rds up of dawdling old timers causing accidents.
I fear you are on sticky ground if you are proposing that people’s entitlement to drive should be based on speed of decision making and failing eyesight, Tax Payer. Does that mean a young person who is a ditherer with poor eyesight and below average reasoning abilities and spatial awareness should give up their licence? Hands up who doesn’t see dozens of them every day. Also can’t wait to see you give up your driving licence at 74…or you may feel a tad differently when and if you get there.
Nope I’m not on sticky ground at all, let’s be fair once you have been driving a while and learnt how to actually drive, your not going to really forget that are you, the things that deteriorate as we all get older is our eye sight and reaction times
Eyesight test is part of the modern day licensing to drive, if you can’t pass the test you shouldn’t be on the road period.
5 points! Cruel and unusual punishment! She shouldn’t be punished for not paying attention! Do you know how often I zone out while driving?!?
Theory re-test every ten years, if you fail, six months to take full test. Fail that, no licence for you. Simple. Will force people to relearn the rules and allow the DVLA to check that you are still a safe driver. Don’t have to be old have you your eyesight to fail. Don’t have to be old to pick up bad habits. Don’t have to be old to loose the skills needed to drive.
Some never acquire those skills…
Maybe a re-test would be a good idea.
Finally give a old fart some points about time
She got what she deserved she caused the crash,
Mrs Buckett???? Should that more correctly be Mrs Bouquet?
No, it is correct. Buckett rhymes with F…
What are this underachieving council ever going to do about this dangerous junction? It is only a matter of time before another death is recorded there.
A change in the layout of the hedges there would save lives.