Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Brian Griffiths

Ref: 2020-0203 Date: 9 Oct 2020 Coroner: Colin Phillips Area: Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

An opportunity was missed to assess an elderly driver's fitness after a previous collision, highlighting the need for robust driver referral schemes to take unsafe drivers off the road.

Date 9 Oct 2020

56-day deadline 4 Dec 2020

Responses identified 1 of 1

Road (Highways Safety) related deaths Wales prevention of future deaths reports (2019 onwards)

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

An opportunity was missed to assess an elderly driver's fitness after a previous collision, highlighting the need for robust driver referral schemes to take unsafe drivers off the road.

View full coroner's concerns

On 29th April 2019 ( 5 months prior to the fatal collision) the driver had been involved in another collision at the same location ofthe 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. No D751 medical referral was considered by the road traffic officer but no medical factors were disclosed or identified that would support the submission. There is no obligation to submit the form based only on the fact that the driver was elderly. An opportunity was missed at the time of the collision in April 2019 for an independent assessment ofthe driving ability ofthe driver. I was informed at the Inquest that there are a number ofpolice forces which have elderly person driver referral schemes / fitness to drive which can be used as an alternative to a prosecution for minor driving offences or collisions. Dyfed Powys have a scheme that has been running for 4 years after an initial pilot and it has been used as a successful tool to take unsafe elderly drivers off the road The schemes involves a cognitive test and also a driving test to assess the standard of an individual's driving.

Responses

1 respondent

South Wales Police Police / Law Enforcement

26 Nov 2020 PDF

Action Planned

South Wales Police plans to implement an elderly person referral scheme by May 2021, informed by a similar scheme in Dyfed Powys Police, and are discussing implementation with Criminal Justice Services, the Motoring Unit and the Wales Mobility Driver Assessment Service. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Mr Mhiccp < write in reply to your letter dated 9 October 2020 to Chief Constable Jukes (former Chief Constable of South Wales Police) , regarding the inquest into the death of Brian Griffiths. Mn asked me to respond to your letter on his behalf; in my capacity as Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for Roads Policing in South Wales Police The circumstances that you describe in your letter, concerning the death of Brian Griffiths , are as recorded by South Wales Police. As you outline, the first collision involving the same driver (aged 91 years) occurred on 29 April 2019 and was dealt with by way of Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (exchange of details). A D751 Medical Referral was not made on that occasion as the submission criteria was not met. However; in June 2019 the same driver applied for the renewal of his driver's licence and on 10 2019, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency confirmed that he passed the required medical standards for safe and renewed the licence This process did not involve medical tests but did follow the process required for an elderly driver and his General Practitioner signed through the license renewal; confirming medical fitness to drive, without requiring additional tests to be undertaken: Therefore, in the circumstances of this matter, the driver's medical fitness to drive was subject of review between 29 April 2019 and 30 September 2019. Mae Heddlu De Cymru yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaethyn Gymraeg Saesneg: Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd gohebuyn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi. South Wales Police welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh and English: Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and corresponding in Welsh will not lead t0. delay in responding Heddlu De Cymru swpolice Prif Gwnstabl | Chief Constable South Wales Police July driving

South Wales Police is committed to ensuring and improving the safety of road users within the force area and identifying opportunities for early interventions for those whose driving is found to fall below the required standard. Therefore, prior to receiving your letter, the South Wales Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) had already engaged with colleagues in Dyfed Powys Police to understand the elderly person referral scheme that have in place, to inform review as to how South Wales Police could establish a scheme of a similar nature In addition, Inspector Head of SCIU, has also engaged colleagues in Criminal Justice Services, the Motoring Unit and the Wales Mobility Driver Assessment Service , who facilitate the running of the courses, to discuss the implementation of the scheme in South Wales. The timescales for implementation of the scheme in South Wales Police is May 2021, however the relevant departments and agencies are working to deliver it earlier, if possible_ The death of Brian Griffiths was, and remains, a tragedy and would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of South Wales Police, to express my sincerest condolences to his wife

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 3rd October 2019 I commenced an investigation into the death of Brian Griffiths aged
66. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 7th October 2020. The conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision and the medical cause of death was 1a Right Tibia/Fibular fracture and Vascular Injury. 1b Crush in"u

Circumstances of the death

The deceased was Brian Griffiths and he died on the 2nd October 2019 at ITU Morriston Hospital Morriston Swansea. On 30th September 2019 a vehicle whilst leaving the Tesco Express store on Bryn Mor Road Gowerton and Petrol Station forecourt unexpectedly accelerated , veered out of control and collided with Mr Griffiths causing catastrophic injuries. The vehicle pinned Mr Griffiths to the cash machine from which he was withdrawing cash. The driver was elderly ( aged 91 years) and could provide no explanation for his driving. The driver panicked and was unable to engage reverse gear in a vehicle which he was unfamiliar with and which he was using because his own vehicle had been written off in a collision which had previously occurred in the same location. Mr Griffiths was freed by members of the public who intervened and came to his assistance. There was no mechanical fault in the vehicle. Mr Griffiths was taken to Hospital but died despite surgical intervention. There was no concerns with the medical care or treatment.

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Report details

Reference: 2020-0203
Date of report: 9 October 2020
Coroner: Colin Phillips
Coroner area: Swansea and Neath Port Talbot

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 4 Dec 2020.

Sent to

South Wales Police

Source links

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Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.