From the Metro 18/08/11:
Ten-year-old Josh Hooley managed to steer his mother’s car to safety after she suffered a panic attack on a busy motorway.
He steered the car past speeding traffic on to the hard shoulder after mum Karen, 40, lost control when she missed her turn-off on Birmingham’s notorious Spaghetti Junction.
‘I didn’t know where we were and I just started sweating and breathing rapidly,’ said Mrs Hooley, from St John’s, Worcester.
We’ve all been there Karen.
‘There were articulated trucks and cars whizzing by but Josh remained calm and put his arm on mine and helped me steer the car on to the hard shoulder.’
As a reward, Josh was taken on a tour of the Highways Agency’s control room.
As a what? As a REWARD?
Poor little sod – he’s just saved God knows how many drivers from a hideous calamity and he gets a tour of the Highway Agency’s HQ as a treat. Call me ungrateful but it’s not usually the type of outing which lights many 10 year olds’ fires is it?
Three cheers for Josh then. But the cynic in me says hero Josh has deprived a firm of solicitors from a couple of juicy road traffic accident claims. But hey-ho: who cares what they think.
I totally agree -- don't show him around the Highway Agency, just buy the guy an Xbox.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's messed up. The woman shouldn't be on the road!
ReplyDeleteWomen drivers... ;D
Stephen - nice idea... providing he doesn't choose to play driving games and re-enact what his panicky mother did. (It might get him into bad habits for later life!!).
ReplyDeleteAndro - that's a bit harsh! :p