Pensioner Caught Speeding

In the UK, Maurice Hollyfield aged 83 years old who is deaf and has a glass eye was caught speeding on the A9 in his new car. He was doing 88mph while towing a trailer on a single carriageway with a 50mph speed limit.

Even though it was the second time in less than a year that the pensioner had been caught speeding he was only banned from driving for 45 days.

The court had been told he was reading the rev counter instead of the speedometer, he was disorientated because he had just polished his eye and popped it back in and then he had to answer his mobile phone which he had difficulty in hearing due to being deaf and the loud music playing on his cassette player.

As well as the ban, the retired British Aerospace inspector was given a £300 fine and had the soles of his feet whipped with a bamboo cane for having the name Maurice and some humourous excuses.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: "He should know the difference between 50, 60 and 88mph. He would see the trees flying past at a great rate."

The court was told that Hollyfield had only ever passed a very basic test while driving a lorry in the Army nearly 70 years ago.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: "It was a new car and the instrument panel was very different.

He kept glancing at what he thought was the speedometer, but it wasn't also it was very difficult for him to see over the dashboard ."

Mr Holmes added: "He is not without a sense of humour. He told me he really likes the car, now that he knows where the instrument panel is, he has now worked out where the indicators are and it was the heater he was adjusting and not the radio."