The force of the crash knocked out the Glass Services lorry's brakes and steering, causing it to smash into a garage forecourt

by James Scott

A glass company boss has criticised Kent Police's decision not to prosecute a driver who crashed into their lorry causing £100,000 of damage.

Glass Services Ltd's lorry was being driven by employee Steven Corrigan on the A262 Tenterden Road at Biddenden when a white rental van drove into his path.

The force of the crash knocked out the lorry's brakes and steering, causing it to smash into the front of John Page Trailer's garage forecourt on February 7.

The lorry was written off and its contents – expensive and finely-carved glass shelves and mirrors – were destroyed.

Mr Corrigan suffered knee pain from the crash, but was lucky to avoid any serious injury.

It is alleged the rental van driver told police his vision had been obscured by the sun.

Now Glass Services has discovered that - although Kent Police concluded the other driver was to blame - they would be making him pay £165 for an intensive driver's awareness course instead of facing prosecution.

The lorry careered into a garage forecourt

Ross Williams, who runs the firm on Kingsnorth Industrial Estate with brother Brian, is unhappy with the punishment.

He said: "The crash had a very serious and likely potential to cause injury or death. Had there been a pedestrian in our vehicle's path or a motorist using the filling pumps, our driver would not have been able to avoid the consequences.

"His own life was also seriously endangered by the steelwork the vehicle ran into. He was run off the road.

"We have lost the use of our very specialised glass-carrying lorry, for which hire vehicles are not available for about 12 weeks while a new one is acquired and built to specification.

"To suggest that what is little more than a slap on the wrist is an appropriate response to the magnitude of this incident has come as a matter of disbelief."

In a response letter, Alison Balfour from Kent Police, told Mr Williams she believed there had been "sufficient" evidence likely to result in a conviction of the van driver for driving without due care or attention.

She added: "In this case, the circumstances appear to support the view that [the other driver] was clearly at fault.

"The decision that followed [not to prosecute him] was not therefore based on a lack of evidence."

Damage after the crash in Tenterden Road

But she went on to say national policy indicated attending a National Driver Alertness Course was more likely to achieve a change in driving behaviour and make roads safer in the long term.

She added: "Academic research also supports the view that this type of education is more effective to the cause of road safety than any punishment that results from a prosecution.

"Having considered all the circumstances, and the recommendation by the investigating officer, I believe the decision to offer the course is correct. Provided the driver attends and completes the course satisfactorily, no further criminal action will be taken against him.

"This course does not impact in any way on the civil liability an individual may have to compensate an aggrieved party for any injury or damage caused.

"Whilst you may not agree with this policy, or the decision, the magistrates court would ask if a course had been offered and any financial penalty given by the court would be comparable to the cost of the course."