Bizarre moment pensioner drives mobility scooter down 70MPH A-road at night after ‘accidentally taking wrong turn'

The Irish Sun

3 days ago

THIS is the moment a pensioner drives a mobility scooter down a 70mph A-road at night after accidentally taking the wrong turn.
The man appeared unfazed while on the slip road on the A13 carriageway near Dagenham, which had to be closed in order to escort him onto local roads.
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The man was driving along the A13 carriageway near Dagenham
Credit: UKNIP
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Police had to close the road while he was taken to safer side roads
Credit: UKNIP
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Drivers had to swerve around the man as he drove on the side of the motorway
Credit: UKNIP
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Emergency services were already in the area due to a separate vehicle fire
Credit: UKNIP
Video footage of the incident shows the man slowly driving next to the footpath of
The man is wearing a black jacket making him
While he does have flashing lights on the scooter, they are very small and hard to see at speed as seen in the
His scooter continues to slowly creep along the inside of the three-lane motorway as a driver slows down to
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Passing vehicles are forced to swerve in order to miss the old motorist, while truck drivers can be seen slamming on their brakes.
Later, emergency services can be seen with flashing lights ahead of the man, while officers approach him on foot.
They continue to talk to the man outside an ambulance.
The policemen then appear to be assisting the man with directions, pointing towards the sliproad to Dagenham.
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During the video, a man can be heard saying "he's following his satnav".
Under Rule 46 of the Highway Code, mobility scooters must not be used on unrestricted dual carriageways where the speed limit exceeds 50mph.
But if being used, users should have an amber flashing light to warn other drivers that they're on the road.
Drivers of mobility scooters should always take care when travelling on the road as you're likely to be travelling more slowly than other traffic and may be less visible.
The maximum speed limit for mobility scooters is 8mph on the road, but 4mph on the pavement.
Emergency services were already in the area - responding to a separate vehicle fire - which intervened to save the man.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command, based in Chadwell Heath, managed to bring the situation under control,
No injuries or collisions were reported.
The Metropolitan Police said: 'At around 9:40pm, officers were alerted to a man on a mobility scooter travelling eastbound on the A13. The man was escorted to safety and advised. The road has since reopened.'
The potentially-dangerous mistake thankfully had a happy ending.
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He could later be seen leaving the sliproad to Dagenham and Hornchurch
Credit: UKNIP