Judge calls for urgent improvements to junction where Kendal cyclist was killed (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Judge calls for urgent improvements to junction where Kendal cyclist was killed
3:08pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News
A JUDGE has called for urgent improvements at a notoriously dangerous road junction where a Kendal cyclist was knocked off his bike and killed.
Geoffrey Bruce Davis, 52, was riding to work at about 7am on November 29 last year when he was hit from behind by a car on the sliproad of the A590 at Levens.
Carlisle Crown Court heard the driver of the car was so busy looking out for fast-moving traffic coming from his right on the main road that he failed to notice Mr Davis, even though his bike was well lit and he was wearing several items of reflective clothing.
Mr Davis, a father-of-three who lived with his wife Heather in Windermere Road, Kendal, was thrown from his bike and hit by another car as he lay in the road.
He died from multiple injuries to his head and body without regaining consciousness.
David Anthony Dixon, 56, who was driving the first car that hit Mr Davis, pleaded guilty to causing his death by careless driving.
He was ordered to do 200 hours unpaid community work and banned from driving for a year.
Passing sentence, Judge Peter Hughes QC called for improvements to make the “notoriously difficult junction” safer.
“The A590 is a fast and hazardous road and this was sadly not the first fatal accident on that stretch of road to come before this court in the last year,” he said.
“I would urge both the highways authority and the police to work together to see whether any steps can be taken – warning signs, improvements to visibility or speed limits – which would improve safety in the hope of avoiding similar tragedies in the future.”
Comments(2)
WilliamT
says...
7:16pm Wed 19 Sep 12
blade stall says...
11:22am Fri 14 Sep 12
However, as a cyclist, motorist, and hgv operator licence holder myself lets rationally look at this incident. The a590 is NOT a safe environment for a cyclist, esp at 7am on a cold wet dark morning. The poor cyclist would have been aware of the danger, elected to be on the road, and avoided the much safer route through levens and onto the cycle path. On the rare occasions i cycle on that stretch of road im accutely aware of how dangerous it is. So lets spare a thought for all the families involved, but at the same time not waste public money looking at making it safer for cyclists when an alternative, safer route exists.