Coroner critical of driver’s state

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 6

Coroner critical of driver’s state

PA Wellington Ernest George Davey, aged 69, a former Secretary of Labour, had a fatal heart attack at the wheel of his car on July 3, the Coroner’s Court in Wellington was told.

The car was in collision with another vehicle before crashing into a median barrier on State highway 1 on the Wellington motorway. Mr Davey was driving alone at the time. The two persons in the other car escaped injury. The Coroner, Mr Alex Protheroe, said Mr Davey should not have been on the road at the wheel of a car.

“I am informed that drivers are required to be cleared medically when

they reach 71 years of age.

“I would think that there are still many motorists under that age who, because of a known potentially fatal condition, should in the public interest give thought to the surrendering of their driver’s licences, or who should at least approach the Ministry of Transport for an assessment of their fitness to continue driving and maybe undergo an independent medical examination.”

Only a few cases of deaths of drivers from natural causes came before the Wellington Coroner annually. Most, fortunately, did not involve accidents with other vehicles, he said.