Road users urged to take care and "think bike"
A man from California has been banned from driving following a crash with a motorcyclist on Sunday
Drivers in Wiltshire are being urged to "think bike" after a man in his 20s was left with serious injuries when a car pulled out in front of him on Sunday.
Paul Greenall, 45, of Benjamin Way, Healdsburg, California admitted to causing serious injury by careless driving and driving without insurance, following the incident.
Greenall, who was driving a Volvo V40, pulled out from a side road into the A3102 near Spittleborough Roundabout into the path of a Kawasaki motorbike on Sunday afternoon (12th July).
He's been handed a driving ban for a year and ordered to pay £18,000 in compensation to the victim and a £1,000 fine.
The rider was taken to hospital for treatment on his injuries.
Roads Policing officer PC Paul Davis said: “This was a needless collision in which a moment’s careless driving at a junction has left a motorcyclist with serious, potentially life-changing injuries.
“We have had a number of recent serious collisions involving motorcycles and I want to remind drivers of the importance of being aware of motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users, particularly during the summer months.
“Before pulling out of junctions, turning, changing lanes or opening vehicle doors, drivers should consciously ‘Think Bike’ and check carefully for motorcycles that are harder to spot than larger vehicles.
“I would also encourage motorcyclists to take extra care on the roads, particularly by approaching bends, corners and junctions at safe speeds, as the consequences of not doing so, as we see all too regularly, can be fatal.”