Dhirren Randhawa should never be allowed to drive a car again after fatal Charlie Stevens crash | Shashi Baltutis

As a young driver myself, I know inexperience is an unsatisfying excuse for Randhawa’s deadly driving, writes Shashi Baltutis.

What is a life worth?

The answer to that question, is $1000 apparently, after Dhirren Randhawa killed Police Commissioner Grant Stevens’ son Charlie with his car and received a suspended sentence with a good behaviour bond for it.

To add insult to injury, Randhawa, now 19, can drive again in a decade after his licence suspension expires.

Dhirren Randhawa, the driver who struck Charlie Stevens, has been sentenced at Adelaide District Court today. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

Charlie Stevens. Picture: Supplied

As a young driver myself, I know inexperience is an unsatisfying excuse for Randhawa’s deadly driving which inflicted immeasurable grief upon a family.

He should also never be able to get behind the wheel of a car again.

Randhawa fled the scene out of panic, shock and disbelief after striking Charlie, 18, with his car during Schoolies in November last year.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated driving without due care and to leaving the scene of an accident after causing death.

Randhawa’s bond is a small price to pay when you consider the penalty for leaving your bin out too long in the Port Adelaide Enfield council area is $312.

The driving offence carries a maximum 12-month prison term, leaving an accident scene has a maximum penalty of 15 years’ jail and licence disqualification for a minimum of 10 years.

On that fateful night in Goolwa, Randhawa was cautious enough to refuse partying teens a lift, but he neglected to heed the advice of any good driving instructor and slow down when a hazard is present.

He was aware Charlie and three of his friends, some of whom were drinking alcohol, were standing in the road but Randhawa did not decelerate, with fatal consequences.

It’s a lesson Randhawa will likely remember forever now but it’s advice which should have been fresh in his mind as someone who learned to drive not so long ago.

Police Commissioner, Grant Stevens and family front the media, after Dhirren was given a one-year suspended sentence. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

Speaking calmly following the sentencing, Mr Stevens agreed with Judge Joanne Tracey that no matter what happened in the courtroom, it wasn’t going to change anything for his family.

Mr Stevens also said living without Charlie “is not getting any easier”.

Regardless of the punishment, there are no winners.

A family is torn apart and a young man has had his life turned upside down by a bad split-second decision.

Shashi Baltutis is a 24-year-old reporter who has been with the Advertiser for two years. He attained his full driver’s licence in May.

Originally published as Dhirren Randhawa should never be allowed to drive a car again after fatal Charlie Stevens crash | Shashi Baltutis