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| Man, 93, fined over biker death | Man, 93, fined over biker death |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A 93-year-old driver has been fined nearly £4,000 for causing the death of a motorcyclist in a crash in Hampshire. | A 93-year-old driver has been fined nearly £4,000 for causing the death of a motorcyclist in a crash in Hampshire. |
| Jeffrey Bennett, 65, of Lymington, Hampshire, died when his bike was hit by Alfred Ross's car on the A337 at Setley, New Forest, in October 2008. | Jeffrey Bennett, 65, of Lymington, Hampshire, died when his bike was hit by Alfred Ross's car on the A337 at Setley, New Forest, in October 2008. |
| Ross, of Sandy Down, Lymington, pleaded guilty last month to causing death by careless driving. He was disqualified from driving for five years. | Ross, of Sandy Down, Lymington, pleaded guilty last month to causing death by careless driving. He was disqualified from driving for five years. |
| Magistrates said a prison sentence was inappropriate because of Ross's age. | Magistrates said a prison sentence was inappropriate because of Ross's age. |
| Community service, supervision and curfew sentences were also not appropriate, said New Forest magistrates because of Ross's age and frailty. | Community service, supervision and curfew sentences were also not appropriate, said New Forest magistrates because of Ross's age and frailty. |
| If he decides to drive at the age of 98, he will have to take an extended driving test. | If he decides to drive at the age of 98, he will have to take an extended driving test. |
| Ross was fined £3,750 and told to pay costs. | Ross was fined £3,750 and told to pay costs. |
| Ross was driving a Rover along the B3055 Sway Road in Brockenhurst on 8 October last year when he turned right on to the A337 Lymington Road and into the path of Mr Bennett's Honda motorcycle. | Ross was driving a Rover along the B3055 Sway Road in Brockenhurst on 8 October last year when he turned right on to the A337 Lymington Road and into the path of Mr Bennett's Honda motorcycle. |
| Law 'grossly inadequate' | |
| Mr Bennett, from Lymington, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene - just one day after his 65th birthday and on the first day of his retirement. | Mr Bennett, from Lymington, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene - just one day after his 65th birthday and on the first day of his retirement. |
| After failing sight tests at the scene and again at the police station, Ross was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. | After failing sight tests at the scene and again at the police station, Ross was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. |
| Following a test by an optician, he was charged with causing death by careless driving. | Following a test by an optician, he was charged with causing death by careless driving. |
| After the sentencing, Mr Bennett's daughter, Lucy Bennett, and his partner Julia Mason said in a statement: "Nothing that has happened in court today will change what has happened to us, make it any more bearable or bring us any feelings of justice. | After the sentencing, Mr Bennett's daughter, Lucy Bennett, and his partner Julia Mason said in a statement: "Nothing that has happened in court today will change what has happened to us, make it any more bearable or bring us any feelings of justice. |
| "What it has done, however, is highlight the existing legislation governing older drivers, which is grossly inadequate. | "What it has done, however, is highlight the existing legislation governing older drivers, which is grossly inadequate. |
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| The crash happened on the A337 at Setley, New Forest, Hampshire | |
| "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. | "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. | "Only if they declare a medical condition are they required to have an examination by their doctor. |
| "The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents states that serious consideration should be given to a system of compulsory medical checks for older drivers. | "The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents states that serious consideration should be given to a system of compulsory medical checks for older drivers. |
| "Why this is not in place already? | "Why this is not in place already? |
| "What happened to my father was entirely preventable and should never have happened. | "What happened to my father was entirely preventable and should never have happened. |
| "His death will always be devastating and senseless, but if it can bring about a re-evaluation of the current legislation and prevent this happening to another family, we will have some comfort." | "His death will always be devastating and senseless, but if it can bring about a re-evaluation of the current legislation and prevent this happening to another family, we will have some comfort." |