Coleen Nolan has shared a deeply alarming experience from her recent family vacation, describing how she was just "inches from death" during a terrifying car incident. The Loose Women panelist, who celebrated her 60th birthday last week, recounted the harrowing moment while traveling with her ex-husband Shane Richie and their four children.
The chilling account surfaced during an episode of Loose Women aired this week, where Coleen along with fellow panellists Christine Lampard, Myleene Klass, and Mariella Frostrup, discussed potential new restrictions for novice drivers. These rules are being proposed as a way to enhance driving safety, particularly for young individuals who have recently passed their driving tests.
On March 17, 2025, during their drive back from holiday, a frightening near-miss incident occurred. "We were nearly in an accident on Monday coming back from our holiday," Coleen explained. "There was a lorry in front of us, Shane was driving, six of us because it's a big people carrier. Out of nowhere, we're all chatting away and it's all lovely, and out of nowhere, don't know what happened in front of this lorry, this car appeared, and it spun right across in front of us and hit the central barrier."
The moment was tense, and Coleen acknowledged their close call. "Shane was so calm. He managed to swerve the car while keeping an eye on this car and he stopped literally about three inches from this lorry and going into the back of it. It was a split second. You know, that wasn't him driving erratically, I don't know what happened with this car, whether the lorry flipped it or whatever."
The discussion on safety regulations was prompted by the growing number of accidents involving novice drivers. New proposals include a six-month ban on carrying passengers for new drivers, a curfew that restricts nighttime driving, and guidelines on the number of lessons required before they can drive alone. Coleen, however, voiced her concerns about the potential ramifications of such rules. "It's a shame to start penalising all young drivers, there are some great drivers out there and some terrible older ones," she remarked, emphasizing the importance of equating restrictions to real driving skills rather than just age.
Her fellow panellists continued to echo the theme of experience driving as a crucial element of road safety. Christine Lampard commented, "It's all down to experience driving, isn't it? Let's face it, the more you do it, the better you get when you first pass your test and you get into a car, it's a lethal weapon in the wrong hands." This perspective brought to light the need for more comprehensive training and experience before young drivers fully take on the roads.
While Coleen’s personal experience highlighted the potential dangers on the road, the discussion also marked a critical juncture for considering how best to protect young drivers as they transition from learners to independent drivers. The tragic truth of road accidents necessitates leaders and lawmakers to consider proposals that can help prevent dangerous situations in the future.
As the conversation surrounding novice drivers continues, incidents like Coleen's serve as a stark reminder of the inherent risks on the road. Her frightful encounter underscores the urgency for improvements in driving regulations and the potential consequences of neglecting safe driving practices.
In a world where numerous factors can contribute to a car accident, the focus on honing skills and ensuring that safety measures are prioritized is of paramount importance. With Coleen Nolan’s near-miss being a part of a larger narrative on driving safety, it becomes clear that education, experience, and awareness should take front and center as we tackle the challenge of enhancing road safety for new drivers.
