Essex: Senior cop urges re-think on whether elderly can still drive (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)
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Essex: Senior cop urges re-think on whether elderly can still drive
9:55am Thursday 13th September 2012 in News
Essex: Senior cop urges re-think on whether elderly can still drive
A senior police collision investigator has called on elderly drivers to consider whether they are still fit to drive safely following a court case in which a man admitted causing a motorcyclist’s death by careless driving.
Inspector Keith Whiting was speaking after the prosecution of 83-year-old Donald Lambert following a fatal crash at Colchester.
A District Judge sitting at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday September 11 heard that motorcyclist Dean Sadler died after his bike was involved in a collision with Lambert’s Peugeot 207 at the Ardleigh interchange roundabout, Colchester on April 1 2012.
Mr Sadler, 33, of Waltham Close, Ipswich was certified dead at the scene.
Lambert, of Ramsey, Essex, was uninjured.
The judge ordered Lambert to carry out 100 hours of community work, disqualified him from driving for 18 months, ordered that he would have to take an extended re-test at the end of his ban and also told him to pay £85 costs.
Insp Whiting, head of the Essex Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Whenever you drive on the road you should take the utmost care at all times and observe the rules of the road as the slightest mistake can result in the loss of a life.
"This case highlights the issues of elderly drivers once again, and their ability to drive safely. I hope elderly drivers and their families discuss whether it is time to stop driving, and not wait until they are involved in similar circumstances.
"Our thoughts remain with Dean's family, his young son and his partner. Dean's family have worked with us throughout the investigation.
"I'm sure this sentence will give them little comfort. There is no sentence that could put things right for them, they will continue to live with the loss of someone who has played a special part in their lives.”
Comments(4)
*bubbles2
says...
2:24pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Farmhouse France wrote:i agree that they should have to do some sort of re test at a certern age, as they are getting older their reaction are not what they used to be, its not about people wanting to take their independence away but about them being safe on the road,
A terribly sad and tragic story. I agree that elderly drivers should question whether they should be behind the wheel. Unfortunately, in my opinion, I don't think that they actually realise or will not admit that they are unsafe drivers and no longer in control and if they stop driving a little more of their independence is taken away. With regards to the case above I don't think that Mr Lambert should get his licence back under any circumstances and he will have to live with the fact that he killed a young man in his prime and has left a little boy fatherless. Heart felt sympathies to Dean's family.
shame a life was lost :(
*bubbles2
says...
2:24pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Farmhouse France wrote:i agree that they should have to do some sort of re test at a certern age, as they are getting older their reaction are not what they used to be, its not about people wanting to take their independence away but about them being safe on the road,
A terribly sad and tragic story. I agree that elderly drivers should question whether they should be behind the wheel. Unfortunately, in my opinion, I don't think that they actually realise or will not admit that they are unsafe drivers and no longer in control and if they stop driving a little more of their independence is taken away. With regards to the case above I don't think that Mr Lambert should get his licence back under any circumstances and he will have to live with the fact that he killed a young man in his prime and has left a little boy fatherless. Heart felt sympathies to Dean's family.
shame a life was lost :(
Bit_Bytr
says...
5:57pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Farmhouse France says...
12:11pm Thu 13 Sep 12
With regards to the case above I don't think that Mr Lambert should get his licence back under any circumstances and he will have to live with the fact that he killed a young man in his prime and has left a little boy fatherless.
Heart felt sympathies to Dean's family.