Kill, lie... and get suspended sentence and a fine...

[briantrumpet]

It's obviously only slightly worse to kill a cyclist and lie about the cause to try to get off, than it is not to have a TV licence but watch the TV. That's the message that's being sent out by the courts, it seems.

http://road.cc/content/news/193037-van-driver-claimed-gust-wind-made-him-hit-cyclist

He got off with a suspended sentence, a £2000 fine, and a 12-month driving ban. 'Outrageous' doesn't even come close.

 

[Tanis8472]

Very selective gust of wind. Funny how it didnt affect the cyclist.

 

[Drago]

You could get worse for mistreating a dog.

 

[Brandane]

Whatever happened to driving in accordance with the weather conditions, FFS?
If it's windy, raining, whatever; SLOW DOWN and give even more space to cyclists than you normally would (should!).
The decisions made by the courts in the UK never cease to amaze me, and not just in Road Traffic matters. It's a farce, and a licence for people with such tendencies to do as they please.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

He was, at least, found guilty; which in itself is pretty remarkable.

The sentence really nips my sack, mind.

 

[uphillstruggler]

so a gust of wind from behind caused him to hit the cyclist - can it get any worse?

why didn't the court just slap his wrist for being a poor unfortunate van driver and send him on his way.

 

[jefmcg]

why didn't the court just slap his wrist for being a poor unfortunate van driver and send him on his way.

Umm, they did. Suspended sentence and 12 months ban is the definition of a (metaphorical) slap on the wrist.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Umm, they did. Suspended sentence and 12 months ban is the definition of a (metaphorical) slap on the wrist.

My point is that it's a pretty lenient sentence, it's almost a token gesture.

And it's just not good enough.

I can only imagine the pain that the family are feeling.

 

[Vantage]

Before we know it, a driver can claim to have farted with the ejected air pressure forcing him/her to press harder on the accelerator and the methane causing them to react slower. It'll happen. Just wait and see.

 

[ayceejay]

I thought this was going to be about Tony Blair but he hasn't been sentenced yet

 

[briantrumpet]

Here's a random example of the idiocy of this sentence in comparison. Drunk man an with air freshener tries to rob a bank. 2.5 years in prison.

 

[glenn forger]

Gust of wind/spider/coughing fit/sunlight/lack of sunlight/wrong sort of sunlight/moment's distraction.

 

[briantrumpet]

Gust of wind/spider/coughing fit/sunlight/lack of sunlight/wrong sort of sunlight/moment's distraction.

Hey, you're good at this. Though you've forgotten the sob story part of how your life would be ruined if you couldn't carry on driving, and so the judge would be cruel to take away your licence (despite having killed someone in broad daylight).

 

[glenn forger]

"It was early morning/around noon/in the afternoon/at night. Exactly when you don't expect to see a cyclist."

 

[Drago]

Before we know it, a driver can claim to have farted with the ejected air pressure forcing him/her to press harder on the accelerator and the methane causing them to react slower. It'll happen. Just wait and see.

There's already the defence of automatism, although I'm not sure anyone has used an involuntary fart as an excuse yet.