Brian Griffiths
9 Oct 2020 · Coroner Colin Phillips · Swansea and Neath Port Talbot
The coroner's concerns
1. elderly driver involved in collision without medical assessment
“On 29th April 2019 ( 5 months prior to the fatal collision) the driver had been involved in another collision at the same location of the Tesco Petrol station in the Gower. The collision was damage only and the road traffic officer dealt with the collision by way of SI70 ( exchange of details). The other driver involved was later treated for whiplash but this was not disclosed at the scene.”
2. lack of mandatory medical referral for elderly drivers
“There is no obligation to submit the form based only on the fact that the driver was elderly.”
3. missed independent driving assessment for elderly driver
“An opportunity was missed at the time of the collision in April 2019 for an independent assessment of the driving ability of the driver.”
4. lack of implementation of elderly driver referral scheme
“The schemes involves a cognitive test and also a driving test to assess the standard of an individual's driving.”
Responses
2020-0203-Response-from-South-Wales-Police_Redacted.pdf ↗· South Wales Police
Stated action · May 2021
“prior to receiving your letter, the South Wales Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) had already engaged with colleagues in Dyfed Powys Police to fully understand the elderly person referral scheme that they have in place, to inform a review as to how South Wales Police could establish a scheme of a similar nature”