Killer driver John Robertson raised ‘red flags’ but was given licence back anyway before he struck and killed cyclist Robert Hall, court told
A vision-impaired driver was given his licence back despite “red flags” during testing – and then struck and killed a beloved father, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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An occupational therapist who assessed vision-impaired killer driver John Charles Robertson said his attitude in testing was a “red flag”, an inquest has heard.
Giving evidence in the Coroner’s Court into the death of cyclist Robert Lloyd Hall on Horrocks Hwy at Quorn in May 2018, Nicola Hayball said she had assessed Robertson as he sought to get his licence back after a stroke.
“He was fairly confident about his driving despite his vision impairment,” she said.
She said she had noted his attitude as a red flag, but said “it wasn’t a conclusive thought”.
“It could be considered a red flag but it wasn’t enough for me to not go ahead (with a practical driving test),” she said.
Ms Hayball said Robertson was tested in an urban environment in July 2015 and she had made recommendations he have two further driving lessons and a driving test on rural roads in Port Augusta area where he lived. She said her recommendations also included annual testing.
Robertson had been diagnosed with a condition – known as absolute left homonymous hemianopia – which meant he had no vision to his left side, in either eye, about four years before he struck Mr Hall.
After his diagnosis he was deemed “not medically fit” for a licence but he sought testing to regain his licence, which was granted despite not meeting the required level of vision ability. He regained his licence in 2016.
The court has previously heard Robertson had been “dismissive of his visual field loss”. He was found guilty of a charge of aggravated causing death by dangerous driving and in May 2021 was sentenced in the District Court to a four-year term on home detention.
In sentencing, District Court Judge Simon Stretton said Robertson “should never have been given (his) licence back”.
During the inquest Ms Hayball recommended a more streamlined approach to assessing drivers with vision impairments, which could be easily accessed and tracked by assessors and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.
Outside court, Mr Hall’s daughters Megan Napier and Tracey Toune said their father would still be alive if Robertson had not been allowed to drive.
“If he was retested Dad would still be here. If the red flags were taken notice of, Dad would still be here, that’s the hard part,” Ms Napier said.
“We are here at the Coroner’s Court because he was killed because someone got their licence that they shouldn’t have. It’s very surreal.
“If those red flags were taken notice of, we wouldn’t be here.”
His family have previously described Mr Hall as a well-known and loved member of the Quorn community and an amazing husband, father and grandfather.
The inquest is continuing.
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