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Hedgehope Aztec
19/06/2003 at 12:37
Have a look at this story. The unbelievable thing is that the pratt drove for over seventy miles with defective vision. He should have been arrested, what if the idiot had killed someone…..
Alastair Dent
19/06/2003 at 13:27
I'm not quite sure what else he was supposed to have done. It says that he couldn't get a signal on his mobile - I suppose he could have waited for a passing motorist, or driven until he got a signal.

His vision must have been affected before, 'tho - so that implies he drive there in the first place with poor eyesight.
Si
19/06/2003 at 13:37
Where was his caravan?
Surely it was somewhere with other people?
I inferred that he had no phone coverage on the hill, and was explaining why he couldn't summon help up there.
If he did drive 60miles with screwed vision he was being a selfish twat IMO.

He would have been able to find SOME sort of civilisation before then, surely?

Si(C)
Katie
19/06/2003 at 13:47
As far as i know there is a type of glaucoma with sudden onset and no warning symptoms so it may never have happened before. I think that it is very rare and is corrected by surgery....if anyone knows more about this i would be quite interested!
I do agree that it wouldnt have been neccesary to drive the full distance though before finding some source of help.
His son deserves some credit though - I would imagine that most children that age would panic rather than stay calm when caught in that kind of situation.
Hedgehope Aztec
19/06/2003 at 14:15
Alastair "what else he was supposed to have done.", you're joking right? The w@nker put other's lives at risk (not least his own son's). The Ben isn't exactly in the middle of nowhere (or never anyone on it), there's just no excuse.

As far as his son goes, well done, luckily he must have most of his mother's genes.
Alastair Dent
19/06/2003 at 14:26
He had normal sight in one eye - it wasn't as if he was blind . . .
I've lost a lot of friends to road accidents, so I have no sympathy for bad drivers. This guy was a bit stupid, but not ness. criminally reckless.
Ben Hedley
19/06/2003 at 14:29
didnt it say it only effected one eye? My grandad drives quite legally despite being blind in one eye. Just because u have reduced vision in one eye doesnt mean your a selfish f**kwit who endangers everyone else. If that the case everyone who doesnt have 20:20 vision shouldnt be on the roads......
Ninja Marmot
19/06/2003 at 14:33
But he said that he couldn't judge distances at all and he couldn't have walked without his little boy telling him where to put each foot. I bet your Garndfather isn't like that.
Ben Hedley
19/06/2003 at 14:37
but he said all he could see throught that ONE eye was an orange glow n couldnt judge distances. Whn u loose one eye you automatically loose the sense of distance (e.g try n catch a ball with 1 eye shut) so if on rocky terain it would be difficult cos u cant see how deap each step etc is. Same when your driving u have to drive with more caution but as he was driving at 15/20 mph i think the chances of him doing damage to other traffic etc even with reduced depth perception are quite limited!
Hedgehope Aztec
19/06/2003 at 14:37
If you read the report, it says that his son had to guide him whilst driving... QED not fit to drive.

But of course it all could be another load of journalistic crap..

I expect it's nowhere near Ben Nevis "Saddle Peak" ???? Could be the The Saddle (Forcan Ridge fame).
Si
19/06/2003 at 14:39
Oh, ffs!
Ben, have you never heard of glasses?
Contact lenses?
Eyetests?

I reckon your grandad PROBABLY had to have his sight checked out before he was granted a driving license? If not, he bloody well should have IMO.

PLUS this guy had JUST lost the sight in one eye. Try that. Get your bike out, ride it round the garden for a bit, then tape one eye shut, or wear an eyepatch, and do the same thing again. Don't forget to perform manouvers that require you to judge speed and distance.

You might want to put a lid on before trying it though. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. Honest.

Its one thing being used to only having the use of one eye, quite another to suddenly being deprived of stereoscopic vision.

Si(C)
Ben Hedley
19/06/2003 at 14:42
Si see last post about loss of depth perception etc etc!

yes i have heared of glasses and contacts, am wearing them now!
Si
19/06/2003 at 14:44
So why can't people without 20/20 vision drive.

I was writing my last post in response to your rubbish about him being fine to drive cos your grandad can, or something.

IF the report is correct, then he wasn't fit to drive. A car driving at 15mph will still kill you. Especially if the driver doesn't see you.

Si(C)
Lorraine
19/06/2003 at 14:46
According to the Americal Health Assistance Foundation website, there are loads of different types of glaucoma.

For this guys' sight to suddenly go he must have been suffering from what's called "Acute Closed-Angle Glaucoma". The symptons may include severe pain, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and seeing a rainbow halo around lights. It says that this form of glaucoma is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately or blindness could result in one or two days.

I'm wondering how on earth he managed to drive with symptons like that.



Ninja Marmot
19/06/2003 at 15:36
With one eye closed?

IGMC


Ben - as Si says above, your papa is used to going about with one eye not functioning. To have it happen suddenly is nothing like the same thing.
DavidG
19/06/2003 at 16:01

The most amazing thing is the decision to drive to Inverness. If he was climbing near Ben Nevis, or the Saddle or anywhere in between, it's not the most uninhabited part of the Highlands. There are things like payphones, friendly locals, local GPs, etc, particulalrly if they were staying at a caravan site. It wouldn't have been hard to get help.

The Loch Ness road is not the safest at the best of times, never mind when you are driving yourself to hospital because of an eye problem.
DavidG
19/06/2003 at 16:04

"There's a motorbike overtaking a German tour bus round a blind corner, Dad, left hand down a bit"
Wee Beastie
19/06/2003 at 16:06
I've had to guide a person down off a hill who has lost sight in one eye and it is difficult for both people. That said, a good mate is officially registered blind, (no sight in one eye, partial in the other and getting worse), and he gets by okay. It's just what you're used to.

I also suspect there is a LOT of journalistic hyperbole going on. The Saddle in Glen Shiel the most likely location as I doubt he would drive past Ft William hospital. There is also lots of places where you get phone signal on that road and lots more places to stop for help. Cluine Inn being a fine place.

Hedgehope Aztec
19/06/2003 at 16:12
Yep so you can finish the job by getting blind drunk...
Alison Stockwell
19/06/2003 at 16:58
I understood that his son was navigating in the car, not guiding him. I have a friend with one eye who is a very capable mountaineer and also drives. Maybe the guy just needed a day to adjust to only having vision in one eye, or maybe the journalist has twiddled the facts a bit to make the story sound more exciting. It wouldn't be the first time !!!
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