I don't think it's appropriate to be racing anything (bike, car rollerskates, whatever) on an open public highway
That's why TTs have flourished. A TT doesn't class as a race...
At the end of the day the jail sentence is a deterrant to driving badly. Without that deterrant you've little or no reason to take any care. Just because on occasion a driver makes a mistake doesn't mean a custodial sentence is wrong. A) She didn't seem overly bothered by it to be honest. B) Many non cyclists think bikes should not be on the road, take away any real chance of anything other than a slap on teh wrist and you've got a heap of people who don't care about cyclists and have no reason to care if they hit one (even if they didn't intend to kill them).
She was jailed. She should have been jailed for longer due to her evasion of guilt.
You could argue that anyone arguing their case and pleading not guilty then using a lawyer to try to get them off should also have their punishment increased.
At the end of the day we only have one method of ensuring people drive safely - sentencing at the end of an accident. It'd be lovely if we could monitor everyone all of the time and pull them up before they have an accident, but we cant and therefore the onus is on the driver to drive safely. Humans tend not to follow rules unless they're threatened with repercussions. While jail may have a negative effect on this person, it must surely have a positive effect of keeping the majority "in line"? Imagine a world where we say "wreckless driving is no longer criminalised but you may have your license taken off you if caught" - how long before standards fall?
On a general note we could ALL slow down abit on roads. On a different forum a member went to jail for a moment of madness when he hit a motorcyclist coming the other way on a NSL stretch. It makes sober reading.
One moment we could be coming back from a brilliant ride with friends, looking forward to a relaxing beer etc then the next moment we have hit someone and your whole life changes at that moment.
You could argue that anyone arguing their case and pleading not guilty then using a lawyer to try to get them off should also have their punishment increased.
Pleading guilty often leads to a reduced sentence.
At the end of the day we only have one method of ensuring people drive safely - sentencing at the end of an accident. It'd be lovely if we could monitor everyone all of the time and pull them up before they have an accident, but we cant and therefore the onus is on the driver to drive safely.
But more used of the banning stick for speeding, etc. would get rid of some bad drivers before an accident occurs. How many times do you read a report of a conviction like this where it turns out the driver had loads of previous offences?
How much more slowly and carefully do people drive when they know one more point on their licence would get them a ban?
How much more slowly and carefully do people drive when they know one more point on their licence would get them a ban?
Better still. You hit 12 points you also have to resist your driving test again automatically.
Yunki, I really dont know where to start with you , pal.
How can cyclists be selfishly hindering the flow of traffic- THEY ARE TRAFFIC!, Its up to other vehicles to drive/overtake and conduct themselves safely on a non-motorway road.
Also whether you approve of roads being used for cycling events (not that road delays are ever caused when other sporting events like football, motor racing or running are on, are they?) there is no suggestion that the victim in this case did anything wrong, he was to all intents, just another cyclist.
then I suggest that you don't west kipper..
sorry pal...
I don't think that the victim in this case did anything wrong..
I just don't agree with cyclists using A-roads.. the same as I don't agree with mopeds and horses and cyclists using motorways.. or very young children playing with scissors.
I have no objection to races or time trials being held anywhere... but as someone suggested earlier... a rolling road block or at least some very clear marshalling and signage warning motorists of the hazard would be appropriate.
I wish British society in general was naturally and instinctively and wholeheartedly welcoming of cyclists as traffic on the highway.. but they're not.
Also.. and I really don't want to get pedantic.. but hindering the flow of traffic whether you are part of that traffic or not.. is I believe.. a criminal offence and.. I think.. sometimes a tiny bit selfish.
Father-of-two Maj Rhys-Evans was wearing the distinctive colours of the armed forces as he travelled southbound on the A1.
The distinctive black colours?
Just because you SHOULD be able to walk around in the dodgy areas of a city at night as a single woman, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Likewise racing on busy roads wearing black.
As for the punishment - no jail, not really necessary, but a lifetime driving ban. She clearly either doesn't think it's important to look where she's going, or has some problem with hazard perception.
Banging on about the driving test is a bit pointless too. I'm sure the vast majority of accidents are caused by people who are perfectly able to control their car and drive safely, they just can't be bothered. We need vastly improved road policing (ie funding) and a fundamental shift in attitudes.
Yunki, on a MIXED USE A- road the selfish ones are those drivers who assume that other vehicles should remove themselves from the way. Selfish for assuming that one journey is automatically more important than another based purely on the horsepower of that vehicle.
Luckily this is not how UK road traffic law sees it (see Crown vs Daniel Cadden if you dont believe me)
One reason Time trials are held on Dual carriageways is to allow overtaking. A non-selfish act that would not be possible were they to be held on narrow roads, a situation that would, no doubt, cause more frustration from drivers such as yourself.
I DO get it westkipper.. I just DISAGREE with you.
And maybe I'm being a bit of a cock about it because the A-road that I have in my mind is a very narrow single carriageway and has a perfectly serviceable cyclepath running alongside that gets ignored by a certain type of cyclist..
I think maybe my thought's on eejuts cycling on the road should have been saved for a thread that carried less passion and weight than the very serious topic being discussed here..
I apologise if I've caused any offence.
OK, yunki, I've calmed doon a bit, 😉
Its just that some of your views come across as being typical of a lot of motorists, and its my job to challenge them!
Maybe, your local cyclepath is crap (most are), maybe it de-prioritises cyclists at inconvenient places. There are countless good reasons why good, and particularly fast, cyclists will avoid cyclelanes in favour of the road, very few of them have any deliberate intention of p**sing off car drivers.
I dont think your arguing your point very well yunki.
You seem to be saying cyclists should be baned from ALL a-roads.
You cant possibly mean this or cycling would be impossible as a form of transport.
You say you only drive 2-3 times a year are you saying you only leave your small rural town 2-3 times a year ? Or does it have a good train/bus links ?
I do agree that on SOME roads cyclists and cars cant mix freely with out the potential for an accident rising above what most people would consider reasonable.
Ie on a motorway I would also agree that its not really possible for cyclists + drivers to safely (with in reason) coexist on rural dual carriage ways with national speed limits.
This is because in reality there is not room for a cyclist and 2 vehicle to go side to side across the road. Which means there is always the potential for an accident if one vehicle is over taking another as they both approach the cyclist.
Also if there is a rural dual carriage way there is generally a smaller better road for the cyclist to be on.
However you seem to be a suggesting a thin single lane A road. In this case there may not be another reasonable road to take.
Also if its a thin single lane A road presumably the traffic will be much slower than on a dual carraridge way ?
You have a point of sorts there Yunki. However I take issue with your comment on flow of traffic. And I also took exception both with my driving instructor and examiner who critised my driving for impeding (slowing down) the flow of traffic.
Many people argue that speed is not an issue in accidents. I'm sorry but in some cases I feel it does. Not necessarily exceeding the speed limit. What bothers me are the times when drivers do not alter speed to suit the prevailing conditions, whatever that may be, other road users, weather, visibility, whatever.
It seems to me that safety and lives are of less concern than maintaining a certain speed/flow of traffic.
Unfortunately this is a social problem in all walks of lives. Patience is no longer something that a lot of people seem to be able to exhibit. Whether it's buying things, work, or travel everything has to be done RIGHT NOW.
Until that changes as a whole in society I feel that driving quality will not improve or even deteriorate.
I will very quickly answer right now... and point out that the washing up needs to be done right now... cos the missus will be home very soon..
sku98rkr... you have misquoted and misunderstood me on a number of things and I don't really have much of a point to make.. I'm just having a whinge..
1961Bikie.. I agree with you but I'm a hypocrite and must hurry off..
so I am gonna leave this debate while the getting is good.. right here right now.
