Representing himself at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday, the man, who The Courier has chosen not to name, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving with drugs in his system.

He was driving on Elsworth Street about 4.10pm on October 11 last year, when a motorcycle collided with his car.

According to the police summary, the motorcycle rider had turned into Elsworth Street and was travelling in the wrong lane.

The man was in the correct lane, driving at a speed of between 49-60kmh in a 60 zone.

The rider was travelling at a minimum speed of 75kmh, and died at the scene.

The man made full admissions to smoking cannabis the night before the accident, and while a preliminary breath test returned a negative result, he agreed to go to hospital for a blood test.

Upon analysis, cannabis was detected in his bloodstream.

Police reported there was "no sign of impairment", and when interviewed in January, he was "totally cooperative and honest with police".

The man said in court he was a truck driver, and his mental health had suffered since the accident.

Magistrate Julie Granger said she had to suspend his licence for six months, but would not cancel it, noting his lack of prior driving charges and guilty plea.

"I haven't been through it myself, but I've seen a lot of people in your position and it's not pleasant," she said.

"You can get through it, there's people with specific skills to help - it can be treated.

"Given the tragic circumstances of the offending, and difficulties with your job, other than suspending your licence for six months, I don't intend to impose further penalties."

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