Driving fit for a queen

The British queen is known as an enthusiastic driver, particularly for off-roading, but despite never having held a licence or sat a driving test. A legal anomaly means she has been able to drive without a licence although she did undergo training by the British Army when she served as a driver during WWII. Her off road driving skills are well known, particularly when at the wheel of her favoured Land Rovers. On one occasion during a formal visit by a previous Saudi king, he was surprised when she sat behin
December 14, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The British queen is known as an enthusiastic driver, particularly for off-roading, but despite never having held a licence or sat a driving test. A legal anomaly means she has been able to drive without a licence although she did undergo training by the British Army when she served as a driver during WWII. Her off road driving skills are well known, particularly when at the wheel of her favoured Land Rovers. On one occasion during a formal visit by a previous Saudi king, he was surprised when she sat behind the wheel of her Land Rover. Unused to being driven by a woman as females are forbidden to do so in his country, let alone a queen, he was perturbed at the pace she chose to drive at along the roads of the private estate. He repeatedly told his translator to ask her to slow down. They arrived at their destination unharmed but it is not known if he ever repeated the experience.

Related Content

  • Screening out bad drivers
    February 21, 2012
    In Japan a woman was arrested by police after driving 6km with the body of a pensioner in her car windscreen. The 23 year old driver struck the 80 year old pensioner as she drove home early on morning. It was the young woman's boyfriend who reported the incident to the police, who commented that the driver was perhaps too shocked that she did not know what to do. The driver was charged with causing a fatal traffic accident and leaving the scene of an accident, which carry heavy penalties in Japan.
    Read More
  • Questions over effect of tough sentences for driving offenders
    June 17, 2014
    A UK academic claims that research shows higher prison sentences are unlikely to deter death by driving offences. University of Leicester professor Sally Kyd Cunningham suggests new laws from the UK Government could fail as a deterrent to crimes committed while driving. In the wake of the Government’s recent announcement of a comprehensive review of driving offences and penalties, an academic from the University of Leicester has argued that higher prison sentences could fail to act as a deterrent against de
    Read More
  • Green screens cause drivers to slow down
    February 15, 2012
    A high risk collision site on the busy A574 in the UK has been made safer thanks to the installation of environmentally friendly Green Screens. The 1.8m high screens have been installed on the approach to the roundabout at the junction of Birchwood Way and Woolston Grange Avenue and mean that approaching vehicles have to slow down when approaching the roundabout. Warrington Borough Council explained that as the roundabout is large, many motorists approaching from the direction of the M6 motorway do so at s
    Read More
  • Increased use of recycled asphalt pavement
    February 29, 2012
    Increasing material costs mean that the US highway sector is looking to increase the use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP). At the recent World of Asphalt conference and exhibition in Orlando, Florida, two presentations explained the latest developments.
    Read More

Highlighted Content