Driver Jailed for Deliberately hitting cyclist - a bit of mess.

[Tom B]

Cyclist doesn't cover himself in glory.


https://www.smry.ai/proxy?url=https...-driver-put-cyclist-hospital-using-car-weapon

 

[Mo1959]

Some serious road rage from both parties by the sounds of it.

 

[Drago]

It's a deliberate assault rather than a driving incident, and while I in no way condone the drivers behavior I find that people don't assault me because I don't go around winding them up.

It's a life lesson, and one so simple that even a dipsheet like me has figured it out.

 

[Cathryn]

What are you reading that I'm not? Cyclist is cycling to work. The car passes very close and then cyclist gets verbally abused? He passes a bus and the car zooms back at him?

Yeah the door kicking is very poor behaviour but unless I'm missing something, the driver is aggressive from the start!

 

[raleighnut]

It's a deliberate assault rather than a driving incident, and while I in no way condone the drivers behavior I find that people don't assault me because I don't go around winding them up.

It's a life lesson, and one so simple that even a dipsheet like me has figured it out.

Yeah but you are a twat of the first order, nobody is gonna start a row with someone who is built like a brick shithouse.

 

[Drago]

Yeah the door kicking is very poor behaviour

Thats the bit you're missing.

It's poor behaviour on both their parts. Kicking the car is not justifiable at any level, and certainly not in self defense - it was nothing more than utter bellendery.

The problem is that when the car driver decides also to be a bellend his stick is a lot bigger so the consequences potentially more unpleasant, but that in no way justififies, excuses or negates the cyclist being a tool.

They're both bellends.

 

[markemark]

One is likely to cause a few quid of damage. One is likely to seriously injure or kill. Completely asymmetric reactions and consequences. Particularly as the door kicking was a reaction to their safety being threatened.

If throw a milkshake over someone who was putting me in danger I’d expect and probably deserve a reaction. If that reaction was for them to shoot me that person should be put in prison for life.

 

[Tom B]

It's a deliberate assault rather than a driving incident, and while I in no way condone the drivers behavior I find that people don't assault me because I don't go around winding them up.

It's a life lesson, and one so simple that even a dipsheet like me has figured it out.

Betaris box....



you can substitute "your" for "their"

One is likely to cause a few quid of damage. One is likely to seriously injure or kill. Completely asymmetric reactions and consequences. Particularly as the door kicking was a reaction to their safety being threatened.

If throw a milkshake over someone who was putting me in danger I’d expect and probably deserve a reaction. If that reaction was for them to shoot me that person should be put in prison for life.

The point is kicking out at the car was never going to resolve the situation or improve / de-escalate the situation, improve safety or make the driver think, "ah silly me, I will now always give cyclists more space". It seems to me to be a reaction bourne of anger. Indeed it may have increased the risk as the cyclist reduced control and stability as he kicked out.

However you look at it the cyclists anger and kicking out precipitated the further outrageous behaviour.

Nothing excuses the massive and disproportionate subsequent actions of the driver. But if the cyclist had simply ridden sensibly, shaken his head, had a chunter to himself and gone on with his day none of this would have happened.

Then again I think some of these cyclists would happily be dead if it meant a driver going to jail for a long time.

 

[Drago]

One is likely to cause a few quid of damage. One is likely to seriously injure or kill. Completely asymmetric reactions and consequences. Particularly as the door kicking was a reaction to their safety being threatened.

If throw a milkshake over someone who was putting me in danger I’d expect and probably deserve a reaction. If that reaction was for them to shoot me that person should be put in prison for life.

What does kicking the door do that would make the cyclist safer?

If things escalate the response will obviously be asymmetric. Those of us trained in such matters call that an "impact factor", something to be taken into consideration when determining the safest response. That's why those who are genuinely concerned for their safety don't go there.

After all, if safety was genuinely his concern them why willingly commit an act to escalate the situation into an even more dangerous one?

You can't be genuinely worried about safety on the one hand, yet actively promoting and then participating in a dangerous confrontation on the other.

If you pick on a bully you cant complain when they turn round and smack you back even harder. You cant take back a good hiding, and being aggrieved over something doesn't make it hurt any less when they respond.

 

[Electric_Andy]

True, if the cyclist was fearful of his life then he could have dismounted and walked off somewhere. I've done it myself, shouted at drivers and lost my temper. No excuse to use car as a weapon but could also have been avoided

 

[bobzmyunkle]

I've done it myself, shouted at drivers and lost my temper.

Well exactly. From the warm, detached comfort of an armchair we can all see that kicking the car wasn't the sensible option.

 

[steveindenmark]

There seems to have been ample opportunity for both parties to have just stopped and let the other moron get away. Both seem to be as wrong as the other, which makes the sentencing to be a bit harsh. But probably correct.

 

[Marchrider]

I would like more clarification of 'the kick', the cyclist was riding at the time? how hard was this kick, did it even dint the door, very difficult to put much weight behind a kick whilst cycling. was it even more than a light tap on the side? I'm thinking there was little provocation the driver just seemed to go mental and tried to kill the cyclist.

if it was up to me it would have been more like 18 yeas than 18 months for the driver

and cyclist - if you do get yourself into an argument with a driver, don't then cycle in front of them, that's just stupid

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The kick was to let the moronist know the cyclist was there. Maybe they hadn’t noticed them?

 

[Drago]

The kick was to let the moronist know the cyclist was there. Maybe they hadn’t noticed them?

No, is was simple bellendery. If the rider was that concerned then the safest course is always to pull over, let the twot go by, and worry about it later with the dibble.

Risking a loss of control in order to supposedly warn someone that their actions might risk a loss of control is utterly nonsensical.

They were a being a tit and ended up arriving a gunfight armed only with a sense of righteous inignance.