A family facing a “life sentence of pain” are fighting to add a speed camera to a dangerous South London road, after their granddad was killed from a crash in 2019.

Derek Harmer, 74, died on August 6, 2019, after the Skoda he was driving collided with a BMW on North Cray Road in Sidcup, Bexley.

A report from Irwin Mitchell said that Mr Harmer died of a heart attack two days after the collision while awaiting surgery for significant chest injuries.

The BMW driver pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Woolwich Crown Court on March 8 and was sent to jail for three years and eight months, as well as having his licence suspended for five and a half years.

News Shopper: The junction of St James Way and North Cray RoadThe junction of St James Way and North Cray Road

Data from BMW showed that the driver had repeatedly been driving at speeds between 81 and 90mph on North Cray Road in the weeks leading up to the crash.

Mr Harmer’s wife Janet, 75, said after the hearing that the family’s lives had been changed forever.

She said that despite finding answers to how the incident happened, nothing will replace their feeling of loss.

She added: “Derek’s death was needless and a waste of a life and has left us facing a life sentence of pain.

"All we can hope for now is that other road users realise how innocent families can be torn apart and take care on the roads at all times.

"We wouldn’t want others to endure what we have and so we want to see an average speed camera installed along that stretch of road.”

Mr Harmer’s wife and family are now working alongside Irwin Mitchell lawyers to request a speed camera be added to the stretch of road  where the incident occurred – the junction of St James’ Way and North Cray Road in Sidcup.

Jessica Bowles, specialist road accident lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said after the hearing that Mr Harmer’s family had been traumatised and were still trying to come to terms with the events over three years later.

She added: “Derek’s death vividly highlights the devastation that families can be left to face because of the dangerous behaviour of others on the roads.

"While nothing will make up for Derek’s death we hope this conviction will act as a deterrent and make drivers think about the consequences of their actions, so the number of people killed or badly injured on our roads reduces.”

Conservative Councillor Cameron Smith, representing the St Mary’s and St James ward, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “My thoughts are with Derek’s family and friends.

"There are no excuses for motorists speeding or driving recklessly. Sadly, we see it far too often on our roads locally.”

He added: “There is a strong case for a second permanent speed camera on North Cray Road to deter reckless driving and prevent tragedies like this from happening again.

"Last year, police officers using mobile speed cameras caught over 1,100 drivers speeding on the road, going on average 12 miles per hour over the speed limit.”

Cllr Smith said he and his fellow ward councillor,  Cllr Kurtis Christoforides, were discussing the possibility of adding a second camera with residents and the responsible authorities, while also pushing to improve road safety across the ward as a whole.

Bexley Council spokesperson told the LDRS: “Mr Harmer’s tragic death is an example of the dangers of speeding and the terrible consequences it can have for other road users and pedestrians.

"Enforcing speed limits is a matter for the police and we know that they often carry out enforcement activities on North Cray Road.”

They added: “We can only introduce physical measures to deter speeding. We have discussed the introduction of a second camera on North Cray Road, or average speed cameras, but the route does not meet the criteria used by the Safety Camera Partnership.”

Mr Harmer is survived by his children Jo, Stuart, Alan and Paul, along with his six grandchildren.