A pensioner who drove his mobility onto a dual carriageway has required the services of not one but three road policing units as they attempted to direct him to safety.
Dubbed 'Dennis the Menace' by police, the former navy sailor was spotted by motorists zipping down a sliproad at a nippy 13 kph to the notoriously busy A38 dual carriageway outside Derby.
On responding to a call-out by an eagle-eyed motorist, Derbyshire's Road Policing Unit and Derbyshire Bikers RPU temporarily moved the navy veteran to the zigzag margin – just a couple of meters away from heavy traffic.
A unit from Derby City Police was then drafted in to close off a slip road to allow for Dennis' safe return to a footpath.
In a humourous aside, Derbyshire Police joked "[we] can’t help but think that our Derby RPU Bikers colleague is a tad jealous of the power."
The post on Derbyshire's Road Policing Unit's Twitter account reads: "A call out to assist young ‘Dennis’ who mistakingly thought he could roll down the A38 on a mobility scooter. Despite driving for 63 years, travelling the world with the Merchant Navy, and his mobility scooter having a max speed of 7 knots, we went to his rescue.
"Thanks to colleagues from @DerbyCityPolice (Derby West) for shutting the entry slip road so we could get Dennis to take a port side turn and travel contraflow."
A38 Mickleover
A call out to assist young ‘Dennis’ who mistakingly thought he could roll down the A38 on a mobility scooter.
Despite driving for 63 years, travelling the world with the Merchant Navy and his mobility scooter having a max speed of 7 knots we went to his rescue. pic.twitter.com/iXCRG2CUSe
— Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit (@DerbyshireRPU) November 29, 2022
'Dennis' was not fined for his actions.
