THERE ARE IDIOTS in every age group, but some older drivers provide plenty of ammunition for calls to curtail the rights of senior drivers to continue driving.
One such is a man who faced court in Adelaide last month over an alleged hit-and-run collision with a motorcycle. He was facing charges of aggravated driving without due care, failing to stop and driving disqualified. He was also accused of impeding a police investigation.
The man, Brian William Ross, 72, has not held a licence since he was disqualified in 1987. It was disclosed in court that Ross had been “disqualified under the old scheme” and “never got around to doing anything about it”. The motorcyclist suffered a broken collar bone. When asked, outside the court after being granted bail of $500, if he had anything to say to his alleged victim, Ross replied “He did it to himself.” Video of the collision shows Ross turning right, across the path of the approaching motorcycle. Following the collision, he continued on his way, leaving the motorcyclist on the road.
All of which is bad enough, but to make matters worse, just ten days after agreeing in court to bail conditions that he not get behind the wheel or into the driver’s seat of any vehicle, Ross was pulled over on Friday August 3 while driving a silver sedan. He was arrested and charged with driving disqualified and breach of bail. His car was impounded.