Moment pensioner speeds along 70mph road on SCOOTER during rush hour at Spaghetti Junction – leaving drivers baffled
THIS is the terrifying moment a pensioner speeds along a 70mph road on a mobility scooter at rush hour – towards a huge Spaghetti Junction.
The woman had made a wrong turn and was calmly changing lanes when a heroic truck driver stepped in to shield her from the speeding traffic.
She was reportedly completely “unfazed” by the predicament, despite barrelling towards the spiralling Birmingham interchange.
Remarkable footage of the scene show the woman pinned to the far left of the inside lane of the huge three-lane highway.
Numerous other vehicles can be seen overtaking her, as rush-hour traffic also piles up in the opposite direction.
One unbelievable clip shows the granny speeding down the busy main road while a worried – or furious – lorry driver tailgates closely behind.
The lorry has its hazards on while cars continue to speed on by, blissfully unaware of why traffic was piling up on the inside lane.
Speaking to BirminghamLive, the recovery truck driver’s wife described how her husband had escorted the old lady to safety.
After noticing the dangerous situation, he pulled in behind the woman and put his hazard lights on to steer zooming vehicles away, she claimed.
And, along with a fellow lorry driver who swiftly pulled up alongside the pensioner in the right-hand lane, he successfully guided her towards an island in the middle of the roundabout.
She said: “My husband spotted her and called the police en route. She kept swapping lanes.
“An HGV driver also clocked what was happening and pulled alongside her to keep her in the inside lane.
“My husband phoned police to alert them and they managed to get her off at Pump Island.”
She added that the OAP seemed totally unfazed – and even defiant – throughout the incident.
“He said she didn’t look unduly distressed or worried,” she said.
“In fact, she flipped him the finger when he tried to her her off near Aston.
“[We’re] just glad she’s safe.”
Taking to Facebook, the good samaritan’s wife continued gushing over her selfless husband, saying: “Apologies to anyone held up on Aston Expressway this afternoon by a recovery truck with its beacons flashing.
“That would have been my lovely husband escorting an old dear on a mobility scooter to Pump Island, where police took over.
“She even gave him the finger when he tried to push her off at Aston.”
The Sun has contacted West Midlands Police for comment.
Rules on driving mobility scooters
Who can use mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs?
You can drive a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair if one of the following applies:
- you have trouble walking because of an injury, physical disability or medical condition
- you’re taking the vehicle to or from maintenance or repair
- you’re the manufacturer testing the vehicle
- you’re demonstrating the vehicle before it’s sold
- you’re training a disabled user
Can I drive my mobility scooter on the road?
- Firstly, this depends on what “class” your mobility scooter is. If it is a class 2, i.e. it has a maximum speed of 4mph or less, you can only drive it on pavements, cycle tracks and pedestrian areas. If it is a class 3, i.e. it has a maximum speed of 8mph, you can drive it on the road.
- Secondly, you need to check whether your eyesight is up to driving standard. You should be able to read a car’s registration number from a distance of 12.3 metres (40 feet).
- Thirdly, you need to ensure that your vehicle is registered with the DVLA. You might also need insurance.
For more details, check the government website.