Arthur Clifford Shaw · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 13th January 2013 I commenced an investigation into the death of Arthur Clifford Shaw, aged 93 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 24th April 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was Death due to an Accident. The medical cause of death was multiple injuries.

At about 16.40 hours on 31st December 2012, Arthur Clifford SHAW was struck by a car whilst crossing Privett Road, Gosport. He was taken to Southampton University Hospital where he died at 09.55 hours on 1st January 2013 as a result of the injuries he had sustained.

The driver of the vehicle that struck Mr Shaw was herself 87 years old and was suffering from dementia at the time of the collision. This was confirmed by her GP whose evidence was that she had been diagnosed as suffering from dementia in November 2012 and the doctor believed the dementia had been present prior to that diagnosis. Her condition was such that the GP did not think she would be capable of giving reliable evidence at the Inquest and, accordingly, she was not called as a witness.

I was told by police witnesses that when persons over the age of 70 renew their driving licences, they have to be certified by their doctor as being fit to drive. However, whilst doctors check hearing and vision, there is no specific need for the doctor to consider mental fitness to drive. I believe that the circumstances of Mr Shaw's death demonstrate the need for more careful examination of an elderly person's fitness to drive beyond simple sight and hearing tests.