Death smash driver, 93, escapes jail
Widow calls for tighter legislation on elderly drivers as court hands out five-year ban and £3750 fine
A 93-YEAR-OLD car driver has escaped prison after being found guilty of causing death by careless driving.
Last month, Visordown reported how pensioner Alfred Ross admitted causing death by careless driving at New Forest Magistrates Court, after he pulled out in his Rover 216 in front of Jeffrey Bennett's Honda VFR 750 on the A337 Lymington Road in Brockenhurst on October 8, 2008. Mr Bennett, 65, who had retired from employment the previous day, died at the scene from his injuries.
After pleading guilty to the charge Ross was fined £3,750 and banned from driving for five years. No custodial sentence was passed.
Following the verdict Mr Bennett's daughter and his partner called for tighter legislation surrounding elderly drivers. They said: "What it has done, however, is highlight the existing legislation governing older drivers, which is grossly inadequate," they said.
"Currently, drivers who are more than 70 years of age are required to complete a form every three years and asked to declare any medical conditions. Only if they declare a medical condition are they required to have an examination by their doctor."
In conclusion, they added: "Surely, we need an immediate change in the law. I would also urge families of older drivers to address any concerns they may have about their driving abilities. You too have a responsibility if you think there is a problem."
Discuss this story
Haven't you heard? They only jail people these days for non-payment of the TV license, council tax and driving offences! Burglars, rapists and paedos etc. are given lesser sentences like community service and access to retraining and education so that they can be better at their chosen criminal profession next time around therefore evading capture in the first place!!! FFS  Result is that the serious crims are kept in society and the people who don't deserve to spend any time at her madjes pleasure are banged up!
Posted: 04/04/2009 at 01:28
So this guy happened to be old, what's being done about all theothers that cause smidsys. What's happening about all the riders that fail to avoid them and drive into emerging cars?  Are they going to be required to take an eye test and a driving test? Technically they do have to have a check by a doctor - in reality as long as they can make it to the surgery doctors seem pretty loathe not to tell them they are alright to drive.
Posted: 04/04/2009 at 07:22
Ultimately any loss of life is always hard. But i must say the difference in approach by the courts/police is pretty hard to bear. I watched an episode of " Traffic Cops" the other day where they pulled some old boy over: Do you have a license sir?? - Well its just a piece of paper, and not a real law? Do you have insurance? - Well its so very expensive these days Do you have an MOT - Have you seen the cost of labour, i am only on a pension.. OK then old boy lets take you home: Policemen drives gent home in his car and gets an earful for his trouble. Anyone want to take a guess how that conversation goes if you swap the old geezer for an 19 year old in hot hatch??? Cant see him getting a lift home somehow?
Posted: 07/04/2009 at 14:10
I saw one reverse into a bollard at Homebase and the car ended up with the back wheels stuck off the ground. I hate it when you are stuck behind one in the car doing 40 in a 60 zone then goes on to continue at 40 in a 30 zone as if they only have one speed.
Posted: 08/04/2009 at 09:45
i do about 12,000 year on my bike and maybe 20,000 in the car things are getting so bad even i getting bit off arse twitch on my bike women pulled out on me last week some snobby bitch in stourbridge while i was filtering the she had the ad to wave to me as though it was ok if i could turned round i would pulled all her hair out as i dragged her out the car and taught her to look both ways not to the bloody left dumb bitch must been one of jaki smiths the mp s mate s dumb cow had a nice tangle with a black murc lambo on the hagley rd thought he could loose my little 750 gixer ha ha what a knob get some lessons first  prob guy from royal bank off scotland thought they wre meant be fast he cained in every gear i was still behind him didnt like when filter passed at the lights haha ps not saying women are crap just usually old, asian ,taxi,van,chav,teenagers,and max biaggi and sete gib and stoner cause he got big head glad to see lewis hamilton finally got his com upence haha cocky little shit think he should join bmw then he can drive with spliff in his mouth didnt his dad write off his super duper porsche what a shame maybe he should pushed him into bikes ha ha not man enough me thinks
Posted: 08/04/2009 at 10:00
I saw one reverse into a bollard at Homebase and the car ended up with the back wheels stuck off the ground. I hate it when you are stuck behind one in the car doing 40 in a 60 zone then goes on to continue at 40 in a 30 zone as if they only have one speed.
Thats my personal favourite, but at least on the bike you can easily blast past.
Posted: 08/04/2009 at 10:11
The bike overtook in a really crap place. My mate who was in the artic reckons the motorcyclist shouldn't have overtaken there. Just bad luck. That's not any sort of luck. It is, if true, really the riders fault isn't it?
Posted: 08/04/2009 at 10:31
I second FJSRiDER on this one. You should never overtake over a junction/side road, a rule that is repeated in a lot of places, from magazines articles to the Motorcycle Roadcraft. Clearly, checking that the road ahead is free of dangers becomes quite tricky when you have to overtake a large vehicle, like a lorry or a coach. Ride Safe,
Posted: 08/04/2009 at 13:00
I second FJSRiDER on this one. You should never overtake over a junction/side road, a rule that is repeated in a lot of places, from magazines articles to the Motorcycle Roadcraft.
Even the Highway Code, disobedience of which is bad news in court. 167 DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example - approaching or at a road junction on either side of the road
Posted: 08/04/2009 at 13:30
I hate it when you are stuck behind one in the car doing 40 in a 60 zone then goes on to continue at 40 in a 30 zone as if they only have one speed.
that boils my piss as well mate. 
Posted: 08/04/2009 at 17:53
had the gov or road watever knob head society just drop the speed limit to 50 from 60 like every other road in bloody tamworth why do i have to put put every day behind the morons who travel like sheep into brum or derby every day when i can safely drive at 60 70 80 im better with a clear road in front so i can see tractors dumping there shit in the middle off the road these people are to blame not giving us the choice it been taken away from us free country my bleeding arse like the police and there new helicopters you watch the progrmas how many actual criminals do they catch fuck all they all get slap on wrists or com service why not have chain gangs like america or the death plenty people actually pefer jail to real life what thats all about guy took a life eye for eye give him leathful injection then maybe guys family feel better he knew he was to old to drive and didnt have the reaction s off a young person so if you to old to drive stay off the road or do a bloody track day where you only putting yourself in danger im sure a 65 bloke would think twice when overtaking???????????????? cause i got a 8 year old lad and two friends that died one at 8 gavin mcrae yes colins 1st cousin and my best mate alastair who my sons named after who one was killed by some idiot pissed up in blackwood lanark scotland and the other went head on into a tree after passing out on yts for nissan so sometime s thing stop you being a twat on the road "rip gavin, alastair colin and little jonny mcrae Great post, but i'm out of breath reading it.
+1: great post, but a few spaces would be greatly appreciated. Just about getting my vision back..
Posted: 08/04/2009 at 21:46
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