The court convicts a 22-year-old man from Epe for causing a traffic accident in Apeldoorn on November 15, 2024. The court imposes the maximum community service of 240 hours. Additionally, the man is prohibited from driving motor vehicles for 2 years, of which 1 year is conditional.
The man is guilty of reckless driving by driving at 145 kilometers per hour through the built-up area. The applicable speed limit was 30 kilometers per hour. On November 15, 2024, the man collided head-on with an oncoming car while swerving to avoid a car pulling out. Due to the collision, the driver of this car broke her thigh and forearm.
Maximum community service
During the hearing, the man stated that he was accelerating hard, driving fast, and overtaking his friends in another car. He called it a game on the road.
This driving behavior had serious consequences. Considering the severity of the offense, an unconditional prison sentence would be appropriate. On the other hand, the court saw a young, remorseful man without a criminal record during the hearing. The court takes this into account. Therefore, the court imposes the maximum community service. A lower community service would not do justice to the seriousness of the offense and its consequences for the victim.
Driving ban
Additionally, the court imposes a driving ban of 2 years, of which 1 year is conditional. The conditional part has a probation period of 3 years. The court does not find a fully conditional driving ban, as demanded by the public prosecutor, appropriate here. The court assumes the most serious form of guilt and strongly reproaches the man for endangering other road users with his driving behavior. The fact that the man needs his drivers license for work does not outweigh the seriousness of the offense.