AN ELDERLY driver admitted he did not double-check the road was clear before attempting a u-turn on a by-pass, which led to the death of a motor cyclist.

Alan Wood, 74, said although he checked in both the rear view and wing mirrors of his silver Rover, he failed to look over his shoulder.

Mr Wood pleaded guilty to careless driving at Leeds Magistrates Court, on Friday.

The court heard how Mr Wood had parked in a lay-by, on the A660 Otley bypass, after becoming lost on a family trip to Otley Chevin, just before 3pm, on May 6, this year.

Realising he was travelling in the wrong direction, Mr Wood pulled out of the lay-by to attempt a U-turn.

Allun Rockett, 25, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, was travelling along the by-pass on his Kawasaki motor cycle, in the direction of Ilkley.

He collided with the Rover as Mr Wood was positioned across the carriageway.

Mr Rockett, a double-glazing fitter, had been thrown from his bike as he attempted to break and avoid the car.

His cousin Philip Rockett, who was travelling behind on his Honda motor cycle, saw the Rover pull out and Mr Rockett attempt to avoid it.

Mr Rockett received first aid and the attentions of West Yorkshire Air Ambulance but died at the scene.

Sue Greeves, prosecuting, told the court that weather conditions had been dry, clear and fine that day.

Miss Greeves said Mr Wood should have been able to see the approach of the motorcyclists from where he was parked.

She said: "There is a sight-line on that lay-by of 690 metres.

"The motor cycles had their headlights on, despite the fact that it was daylight.

"Even though witnesses said the motor cycles were travelling fast, there would still have been sufficient time for Mr Wood to see them and stop his manoeuvre.

"There is also a roundabout further down that road where you could turn around and go back in the other direction safely."

Helen Waddington, defending, said Mr Wood, who has been driving for 40 years, had not broken the law in attempting a U-turn on that stretch of road.

She said: "There was nothing negligent about the manoeuvre, in performing a u-turn on that part of the road.

"There is sufficient room to do that. It is a very wide road.

"He has been to this area before but not for many years.

"He would not have known that he could have just gone on that bit further and come back."

But she said Mr Wood admitted not making final checks before pulling out.

She said: "Mr Wood concedes that although he did make some check, he obviously missed the motorbikes because the sight-line is long enough to see them.

"That is why he is pleading guilty to this charge."

She added that two witnesses had described the motorcyclists travelling at estimated speeds of up to 100mph.

Mrs Waddington also said, in mitigation, that Mr Wood had been deeply distressed by the incident.

She said: "This is an extremely tragic event.

"Mr Wood has a deep regret and a great sorrow that this accident happened on this day and everybody's sympathies are with Mr Rockett's relatives."

In sentencing him, Mr Brumfitt, chairman of the bench, said Mr Wood's first punishment would be living with the consequences of the accident.

He said: "For a momentary lack of concentration a young person is now dead."

Mr Brumfitt fined Mr Wood £300 and ordered him to pay £50 costs.

He also placed nine penalty points on Mr Wood's driving license.