Overtaking driver hit cyclist in Sussex (11/8/11)

An inexperienced driver knocked a cyclist off his bike after a “momentary misjudgement”.

Susan Maries, from Parkfield Close, Gossops Green, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, at Mid Sussex Magistrates’ Court last Friday (January 6).

She knocked the cyclist off his bike when driving along Crawley Avenue on August 11 last year.

Richard Lynn, prosecuting, told the court that Maries, 46, was driving behind the cyclist.

She decided to pull out into the next lane and checked her mirrors to see if any other vehicles were coming.

Mr Lynn added: “She noticed a car behind her and thought she had time to pull out but the car closed the gap between them rather more quickly than she expected and so she pulled back across quickly.

“She knocked the cyclist off his bike and he sustained some injuries.”

Maries had clipped the cyclist with her wing mirror but told the police she felt the other vehicle behind her was as much to blame.

However, David Street, speaking in mitigation, said the grandmother was still a new driver and fairly inexperienced.

“Mrs Maries only passed her test in October 2009 so she had been driving for less than two years,” he said.

“She doesn’t drive great distances, only to her job at Holy Trinity School as a teaching assistant three days a week, to her church and occasionally to Haywards Heath.”

Magistrate Graham Staples ordered her to pay a fine of £82, court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £15.

Four points were also added to Mrs Maries’ licence.