Absolutely heartbreaking reading about the impact on the cyclist's family, and absolutely disgusting that she got off so lightly.
“I think it’s all a bit harsh. I know it should never have happened, but anyone could make that mistake.”
Anyone who shouldn't be on the road.
However if, instead of an airbag, a big metal spike came out of the steering wheel, do you think folk would be more, or less careful?
Yep - but that is an ever present reminder just in front of them that deals immediate obvious consequences.
Whereas I think the [i]possibility[/i] of a stiff sentence, [i]IF[/i] they drive badly, [i]IF[/i] they then hit someone and [i]IF[/i] they are found guilty is just too remote to have any additional deterrent effect beyond the existing "not wanting to kill someone" instinct.
Especially as most bad drivers won't consider themselves to be bad drivers in the first place.
The only trouble is with people who don't give a crap and will just drive anyway even if they are banned.
This is the biggest problem, especially when you read this - [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23967547 ]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23967547[/url]and consider that Police forces are getting more and more cutbacks, and lets face it unless you are stopped who's going to be aware that you are banned.
This is the biggest problem, especially when you read this - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23967547and consider that Police forces are getting more and more cutbacks, and lets face it unless you are stopped who's going to be aware that you are banned.
Well I guess this is where the large prison sentences would be used. Also surely this is an area where technology could be used. Maybe some sort of license key-fob which would be required to operate a vehicle?
Yeha, driving while you are banned IS a premeditated crime - so prison sentences would be more effective there. As would seizing the car.
But the issue is having enough police manpower to enforce it. I'm sure there must be a technological solution to it.
I'm sure there must be a technological solution to it.
Looking for a solution that might be years away - but a key card / transponder that has to be swiped before a car starts up? If you get banned, your card gets blocked. No active card, no driving.
And if you borrow someone's card to enable you to drive - that person's card also gets blocked.
how do you find out about card lending? good idea btw but I presume it's still down to getting stopped by a real proper policeman and him spotting that the driver is not the person on the card. And we don't have a lot of policemen to do that job.And if you borrow someone's card to enable you to drive - that person's card also gets blocked.
how do you find out about card lending?
Bind the license to car electronically? Make it an online thing and you could easily manage who has access to drive your car.
Simple - fingerprint readers.
i presume it's still down to getting stopped by a real proper policeman and him spotting that the driver is not the person on the card. And we don't have a lot of policemen to do that job
True. That's the same as we have now. Difference is that it becomes a real deterrent, you might not get caught but if you do, you just got your wife/dad/mate banned for a year as well, and banned in a way that you can't drive, not 'aren't supposed to'
Driving isn't a right, it's a privilege. Rights are hard to take away, privileges shouldn't be.
I'm still furious about the lenient sentence - it looks like they dropped it below the minimum for the lowest category of dangerous driving because she was "of good character" and had kids. You can be the nicest person in the world, it doesn't mean you should get a pass for killing someone through your completely avoidable actions.
The fact she was shocked that she got any jail time at all, accompanied by her neighbours saying that she "didn't deserve it" and that it was "harsh" really emphasises the need for stiffer sentences. 18 months (of which she'll serve half) and a 2.5 year driving ban seems a poor joke for somebody who wasn't looking at the road for nearly 20 seconds whilst doing 40-60mph, killing someone pretty much instantly as a result.
