A CORONER has ruled that the death of a New Forest biker, who died when his bike was in collision with the car of a 93-year-old driver, was an accident.

Southampton Coroner’s Court heard how elderly driver Alfred Ross should have seen Jeffrey Bennett’s motorcycle when he pulled out of a junction on the A337 near Brockenhurst.

But as he pulled out of Sway Road onto the busy route close to the Filly Inn, Mr Ross’s green Rover went into the path of Mr Bennett and there was a head-on collision.

The court heard how witnesses had seen Mr Ross’s car “jerking” as it emerged from the junction.

Other drivers said they had been safely overtaken by 65-year-old Mr Bennett on his Honda motorcycle as he travelled north towards Lyndhurst.

Crash investigator Tony Johnson told the court that there was no evidence that either vehicle was speeding along the 50mph route but it was unlikely Mr Bennett would have been able to avoid the crash.

Deputy coroner Gordon Denson told the court that Mr Bennett died as a result of multiple injuries from the crash in October last year.

“It appears Mr Ross pul-led out in a jerking motion not under total control,” he said. “There is no reason he (Mr Bennett) should not have been seen.”

Mr Bennett, of Stanley Road, Lymington, was on the first day of his retirement when he was killed instantly in the crash.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Den-son said that the accident raised the question of whether “elderly drivers should consider to give up driving”.

“But this inquest is not the place to address this issue,” he said.

Following the incident, Mr Ross, of Sandy Down, Boldre, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and in April this year was fined £3,750, ordered to pay £70 costs and banned from driving for five years.

Since the court appearance Mr Bennett’s family have called for compulsory medical checks for drivers when they reach the age of 70.