In the news today: “The family of a cyclist killed by a texting driver has hit out at the courts for not banning his killer on six previous court appearances.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-37283994
What we need is for the law to reflect the danger of using a phone while driving.
I suggest ANY such case that is proved should result in a lifetime ban and that if death results, it should be treated as MURDER, or at least manslaughter…
Maybe it’s just me, but that article was initially hard to follow. The initial thought was that the entire family of the cyclist was killed, but not the cyclist. The later on it made it seem like the cyclist had been in the courts pleading for his license. And if the killer is sent to jail for 9 years and banned from driving for 14.5 years (why the half year?)…doesnt that mean he’ only banned from driving for 5.5 years? Unless the expect him to drive in jail?
A minnesota woman was struck and killed, and two other cyclists were struck and injured, by a driver near Athens GA a couple of days ago. The driver was charged, among other things, with vehicular homicide (there were 4-5 charges). Of course, we’ll see what happens…
The interesting thing is that many people see the driver as the real victim in these situations.
I agree. Too many people will claim that if you take away the driver’s license the person will lose his/her job because he/she will no longer be able to drive to work, drive their kids to school, go to the store, etc. But they don’t realize that because of this driver’s inattention to the laws or their surroundings there is one or more persons who will never even get the chance to go to work, or to school, or to the store, etc. ever again.
There is a charge of “Causing death by dangerous driving” in the UK. Which is what the driver in Tencons case was charged with (I think). The problem is when the driver comes before the magistrates (lower court) on a charge of using hand held mobile or speeding (same seems to apply) they always claim that loosing the car would a) cause their family hardship or b) make them loose their job. My feeling is they should’ve thought of that before committing the offence.
The other thing is if they are getting caught 8 times texting, how many other times are they doing it and NOT getting caught. Eight times seems to indicate that they are probably always doing it.
And don’t get me started about the drivers playing Angry Birds whilst ‘driving’… the sooner we get self driving cars the better.
In the news today: “The family of a cyclist killed by a texting driver has hit out at the courts for not banning his killer on six previous court appearances.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-37283994
What we need is for the law to reflect the danger of using a phone while driving.
I suggest ANY such case that is proved should result in a lifetime ban and that if death results, it should be treated as MURDER, or at least manslaughter…
Maybe it’s just me, but that article was initially hard to follow. The initial thought was that the entire family of the cyclist was killed, but not the cyclist. The later on it made it seem like the cyclist had been in the courts pleading for his license. And if the killer is sent to jail for 9 years and banned from driving for 14.5 years (why the half year?)…doesnt that mean he’ only banned from driving for 5.5 years? Unless the expect him to drive in jail?
Not all UK police forces are clueless.
Read this entry in an official Police blog and turn green with jealousy.
https://trafficwmp.wordpress.com/2016/09/09/junction-malfunction-and-a-new-dawn/
“I never saw them, they came out of nowhere.” = Get out of jail free.
I narrowly avoided such a fate 2 days ago, through completely instinctive fast reactions… lucky.
Motorcyclists have a similar problem – SMIDSY – (Sorry Mate I Didn’t See You)
A minnesota woman was struck and killed, and two other cyclists were struck and injured, by a driver near Athens GA a couple of days ago. The driver was charged, among other things, with vehicular homicide (there were 4-5 charges). Of course, we’ll see what happens…
The interesting thing is that many people see the driver as the real victim in these situations.
I agree. Too many people will claim that if you take away the driver’s license the person will lose his/her job because he/she will no longer be able to drive to work, drive their kids to school, go to the store, etc. But they don’t realize that because of this driver’s inattention to the laws or their surroundings there is one or more persons who will never even get the chance to go to work, or to school, or to the store, etc. ever again.
There is a charge of “Causing death by dangerous driving” in the UK. Which is what the driver in Tencons case was charged with (I think). The problem is when the driver comes before the magistrates (lower court) on a charge of using hand held mobile or speeding (same seems to apply) they always claim that loosing the car would a) cause their family hardship or b) make them loose their job. My feeling is they should’ve thought of that before committing the offence.
The other thing is if they are getting caught 8 times texting, how many other times are they doing it and NOT getting caught. Eight times seems to indicate that they are probably always doing it.
And don’t get me started about the drivers playing Angry Birds whilst ‘driving’… the sooner we get self driving cars the better.
I really and sincerely hope that the idiot that invented the smartphone rots in … Wait! He already is!