Elderly motorist who’s been driving without a licence for 72 years pulled over by police

An elderly motorist was found to have been driving without a licence for more than seven decades when he was pulled over this week.

The eighty-four-year-old pensioner was approached by police when number-plate recognition cameras flagged up his Mini One as it pulled up next to a Tesco Extra in Bulwell, Nottingham, on Wednesday evening.

But much to the officers’ surprise, the driver, who was reportedly unsteady on his feet and hard of hearing, revealed that he was born in 1938 and had been driving with no licence since he was twelve-years-old.

In that staggering time period, the man insists he has never been caught by police or involved in any accidents… Though the credibility to these claims are admittedly a bit questionable.

Bulwell, Rise Park and Highbury Vale Police shared their astonishing discovery onto Facebook, writing: “We can’t quite believe what happened next, as the driver, who was born in 1938 (!!), coughed that he had been driving with no licence and no insurance, since he was 12 (yes TWELVE) years old…..and somehow had managed to never be stopped by the police. (We’ll let you do the maths!!).

“Thankfully he had never had an accident, caused anyone an injury, and never made anyone lose out financially, by hitting them whilst uninsured!”

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The force concluded its post by warning other drivers of the accuracy of its number-plate recognition cameras, writing: “Due to the increased number of ANPR camera’s in Nottingham, even on the small trips, you are likely to hit a camera, so make sure your documents are in order…..because it will catch up with you…..one day…..”.

The Facebook post was quick to garner an array of comments from amused social media users, many of whom applauded the driver for his ‘excellent’ driving record.

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One person questioned: “Talk about pushing your luck. That has got be some sort of record surely?”

Another wrote: “How has he got away with that, can’t be too many people who have been driving longer than that without a licence. Rather dangerous but I strangely admire him.”

The police are yet to confirm whether the man was charged, though they did confirm to one social media user that they were ‘gentle’ with him.

The force replied: “We were gentle with him. however, this chap was hard of hearing, his reactions were poor and he was very unsteady on his feet.

“He was potentially not safe driving now, even if he was ‘road legal’.”