An elderly D-Day hero who drove tanks during World War II believes Prince Philip should not be allowed behind the wheel of a car because of his age.
Eric Johnston, 95, of Aberdeen, decided to stop driving himself three years ago after narrowly avoiding an accident shortly after leaving his local hospital.
Mr Johnston, who has been awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur from the French government in recognition of his heroism during the Normandy landings and the liberation of France, accidentally drove the wrong way up a road.
Prince Philip shocked and shaken in crash while he was driving near Sandringham
And because of his own scary experience, he believes it’s time the 97-year-old Duke of Edinburgh also gives up driving.
The former tank trooper, who was just 20-years-old on D-Day, said: “My opinion on Prince Philip is that he should not be driving.
“I remember coming home from a visit to the hospital, and I went into the down lane instead of the up lane, and I realised that it was enough.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
“I never had any insurance claims all of my life, so I consider myself a good driver. I learned to drive in the army, and never once had an accident.
“So after going in the wrong lane, I thought it was a good idea to stop, and I sold my car.”
However a spokeswoman for the Institute of Advanced Motorists Roadsmart (IAM Roadsmart) said that older drivers are statistically some of the safest group of drivers on Britain’s roads.
She said: “Official crash statistics show the risk of older drivers hurting others in serious crashes is lower than middle-aged drivers and half that of young drivers.
“As we live and drive longer, it is not acceptable to stereotype the majority of older drivers who ensure they are fit to drive.
“We believe the government should increase the age of licence renewal to 75 however this should be accompanied by a recent eyesight check, we believe this can be done without compromising safety and would be a welcome additional safeguard, with which most drivers can easily comply.
