Comment: If only they'd listen to the experts

Expert witnesses are increasingly used in court cases these days. Simple empirical facts do not always tell the whole story. It was heartening to hear this week an optometrist called to speak in court but sad to see it was only after a young motorcyclist had died.

The case was that of a fatal road incident in which a 75-year-old driver was accused of killing a motorcyclist and the quality of her vision had been called into question. The court heard that an optometrist had twice read the accused the riot act for not wearing her glasses. Cataracts had featured on her record since 2003 but she did not wear her glasses. Even after the accident the accused is reported to have passed the driving standard of vision. The optometrist explained that at night in the face of headlights the driver's vision would have been further compromised.