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Impatience. Inconsiderate. And, I think, they know really they should pull further over (maybe, some appear to see it as a weakness) but *there is oncoming traffic* so they just squeeze past as the easier option. Maybe also the perception that cyclist = push bike = 5mph tops..
That's even less likely to happen than any of the other suggestions, given that it pokes holes in the fundamental principle of innocent until proven guilty (which despite these issues is preferable to any other system of justice). There often seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding of "strict liability" - where it does apply it is used only in civil cases, not criminal ones
I had in mind exactly civil cases, where it already applies to some aspects of motoring (most obviously, rearending). The rest is about licensing, not punishment.
I do think we need to explicitly move away from treating this area as one of punishment, in part because it's so nearly impossible to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a plainly incompetent driver is guilty of an offence, and in part because it really isn't a punitive issue, but more about improving standards, in part by reducing the number of license holders.
No one worries about "fundamental legal principles" when someone is denied a gun license because of doubts about suitability. Since cars are at least as dangerous why apply less stringent standards?
100% agree with cookea on this.
We need an objective definition of careless and dangerous driving.
Without this it's a case of circular reasoning isn't it??
Now everyone thinks that Ms Purcells driving was not careless. These people will be in the jurys of future trials and so on.... nothing will ever improve.
Clear legal guidance is necessary.
No surprise to me that she avoided conviction, she got away from being held to account for poor driving due to police incompetence in proving a viable case for the CP. I cycle to work every day on rural galloway roads and whilst the traffic i encounter is in no way comparable to the sheer amount that those in the city face i often have to deal with idiots attempting to pass me at speed on twisty A and B class rural roads and whilst i have reported reg numbers to the police of dangerous passes where i have had to take evasive action onto the grass verge and occasions where i've had a whack from a wing mirror the response is usually a variation (my words/interpretation) of " The incident you have reported will not be followed up with an investigation as there are no witnesses etc etc".
Needless to say i have a very good memory for reg numbers and types of cars so as soon as i can come to a stop i make a note of the reg number/car type/time & place of incident in my waterproof field notes notebook in my work rucksack and when the time comes that i find the vehicle parked up i take my revenge by writing on the windscreen with a permanent marker "Drive like a dick you'll get treated like a dick", if i've had a shunt or had to take to the verge to avoid a shunt then i've absolutely no qualms about taking my leatherman to the tyre sidewalls as i pass.
**** em, if they show such scant regard for my life on the road and the police don't care when i report it then ****-em - they deserve it.