A 65-year-old man from Groningen who caused an accident with a 19-year-old scooter rider in Assen on 14 June last year was today sentenced by the Assen court to a fine of 750 euros.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) had demanded a community service order of 90 hours and a conditional driving ban of six months against the man, but the court did not agree.
That morning, the Groninger motorist was waiting at the traffic lights at the intersection of Groningerstraat and Europaweg-Noord in Assen. When the turning signal turned green, he thought that was the case for him. He pulled up and overlooked the scooter rider.
The woman on the scooter had received the green light and was already at the intersection. The result was a collision with the car of the Groninger. The accident left her with a concussion, facial injuries and an ankle sprain. Because of the injury, she was unable to walk or work for weeks.
The court finds it proven that the man was guilty of a serious traffic error, with major consequences for the girl. The accident was not caused by alcohol consumption or the driver becoming unwell. That has been investigated.
Although the court finds that a driving ban for a similar offense would be appropriate, it decided to deviate from it. The man needs his driver’s license for his work, but also because he is a caregiver for a family member.