Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
He didn't say which Sun had blinded him, or even in which galaxy.
Suspended Sentence For Taxi Driver "Blinded By The Sun".
- Thread starter classic33
- Start date
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He didn't say which Sun had blinded him, or even in which galaxy.
Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
Doesn't mention if he had his licence revoked or even if he was banned, 'suspended sentence' is no punishment IMHO.
1 year driving ban only.
https://road.cc/content/news/taxi-driver-blinded-sun-kills-cyclist-unsafe-turn-311119
Life is cheap on the road.
OP
OP
classic33
Leg End Member
Hopefully his taxi license isn't renewed.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Sun newspaper he was reading at the time
Moodyman
Legendary Member
The cyclist was from Leeds. He taught near Thornton (West Bradford). His morning commute was East-West.
He’s unlikely to have cycled down Byron Street as it’s a street used by residents to get to their closed residential streets.
He was likely crossing Byron Street as he traveled down Barkerend Road.
That junction is indeed an accident risk. I’ve always been extra vigilant when I cross it.
OP
OP
classic33
Leg End Member
Initial reports put him on Byron Street. Maybe it was corrected later.
You'd expect higher standards of a "professional driver" though. Even if that's only the council imposing them.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Should never be allowed to drive again, but I'm preaching to the choir here.
MidnightRider
Senior Member
I am not commenting on this particular case as I obviouly did not hear what was said to have happened. I would say that on some roads, if you stopped totally due to being blinded at times, you and everyone else would be motionless until dusk. I think it is much less the case in built up areas where buildings block out light, or in hillier areas where the terrain helps.
Over the last few years I have driven across aspects of the Cotswolds, the bits with long views and fairly flat terrain and at this time of year and in the spring the sun when not covered by clouds it is awful to drive head on into, or up to 90 degrees to the sun. Totally blinding at some moments on open roads, unpredictable and often no alternative sun-free route. Not just pure sun but also intense rapid strobing to the point of real discomfort with spring and autumn hedges as the leaves are gone, but the branches etc are not. I have wondered if it ever triggers epilepsy in drivers/passengers.
This clearly does not make it ok to hit people or animals or run off at a bend, but sometimes the most careful person can still get caught out.
And no, so far I have never hit anything living, but I have struggled to progress up a road even at slow speeds, so I can see in some circumstances a person (not necessaary this case, I have no idea) can on occasion be caught out unexpectedly by strong sun. Its not automatically just an 'excuse'.
Over the last few years I have driven across aspects of the Cotswolds, the bits with long views and fairly flat terrain and at this time of year and in the spring the sun when not covered by clouds it is awful to drive head on into, or up to 90 degrees to the sun. Totally blinding at some moments on open roads, unpredictable and often no alternative sun-free route. Not just pure sun but also intense rapid strobing to the point of real discomfort with spring and autumn hedges as the leaves are gone, but the branches etc are not. I have wondered if it ever triggers epilepsy in drivers/passengers.
This clearly does not make it ok to hit people or animals or run off at a bend, but sometimes the most careful person can still get caught out.
And no, so far I have never hit anything living, but I have struggled to progress up a road even at slow speeds, so I can see in some circumstances a person (not necessaary this case, I have no idea) can on occasion be caught out unexpectedly by strong sun. Its not automatically just an 'excuse'.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
And...?
Being grossly inconvenienced is far better than killing an innocent person,
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
Yes.
Any prison sentenc is a more severe punishment than a community service order, even if suspended..
Brandane
Legendary Member
- Location
- Costa Clyde
Can't say I've lost any sleep over it. Nephew is a big boy, it's his problem to deal with, and he thinks he was dealt with fairly. It's more the leniency being shown to cyclist killers that is an issue.
matticus
Guru
Thanks. Makes sense!
What about the automatic DSQ? Any idea why that didn't happen in this case?
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
It did - 1 year driving ban.
"A taxi driver has avoided jail and was instead given a six-month sentence suspended for 12 months and a one-year driving ban for hitting and killing a cyclist in Bradford,"
Mo1959
Legendary Member
- Location
- Perthshire,Scotland
Meanwhile just this minute read a news article about 3 youngsters getting done for stealing phones and driving offences. One of them got three and a half years. Why is property valued more than life?
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
They are completely different offences, with completely different sentencing guidelines.
And one is a deliberate action, while the other is carelessness.
