A 90-year-old driver who seriously injured a cyclist when he pulled out of a junction in a SMIDSY-type incident has been banned from driving, reports the Bolton News.
The rider, retired police officer Peter Fitton, 53, spent 13 weeks in hospital with severe leg injuries after the incident and has only just been able to get back on his bike.
In addition to the driving ban, Thomas Clark, of Farnworth, near Bolton in Greater Manchester received a £100 fine and must pay £35 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He had pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.
Mr Fitton, said: “I give no pleasure whatsoever in him getting any punishment. I just questioned whether or not he should be on the road. I would like further assessment for driving so the sentence seems fair enough. I don’t know the man and I have no personal gripe against him.”
Mr Clark, a former driving instructor, struck Mr Fitton when he pulled out from the street on which he lives in Farnworth onto St Helens Road on September 16, last year.
Mr Fitton, from Atherton, had retired from the police force due to leg problems before the accident but still cycled 200 miles a week, reports the Bolton News.
The ‘paper says he is now likely to require knee replacement surgery sooner than had been anticipated given of the nature of the leg fractures he received in the crash.
Howard Sloane, prosecuting at Bolton Magistrates Court, said: “As a result of the incident, he sustained serious fractures to his left leg and extensive bruising, cuts and his legs were black and blue. He has competed at a national level in cycling and rode 200 miles each week.”
Mohamed Patel, defending Mr Clark, said: “He is deeply remorseful. It was an unfortunate accident. He has never been involved in any accidents before. It has been traumatising for him.”
Mr Clark, a widower, had worked as a driving instructor and drove a taxi until 2006 but will have to pass a further driving test if he wishes to drive in future.
Radar tells me their closing speed, if they are slowing and how far away. Then I decide to say a prayer. The change of light pattern is incidental.
Quite so, which is why our village 20mph zone covers the whole residential extent. Of course, enforcement is another thing..
£4.
No, that's very doubtful while proper testing would be fully destructive.
In that £1000 exactly scenario, beginners should probably be made aware that pedals will be extra.
What's wrong with dropping down on to the Millenium Bridge, or the swing bridge, then the brief, but satisfying climb back up the hill? #training....
The relatives might of course disagree, but in general I'd countenance a relatively light sentence* if only we could fix it so that those who...
Id forgotten that I got a second hand set of project two's for my getting to work bike over twenty years back.
My bet is that all these tires popping off are from people with bad pressure gauges or they're simply just putting too much air in on purpose. ...
David9694 - you were right! These new autonomous vehicles really are conspiring to run out of control!...