glasgowcyclist
Charming but somewhat feckless
- Location
- Scotland
From the BBC:
The figures aren't terribly surprising, we frequently read of weak sentencing and victim-blaming when cyclists are killed. I don't think we need further legislation, it would be progress if we could persuade the courts to apply stiffer penalties, and that's assuming we get beyond juries who are influenced by thoughts of '..there but for the grace of God...'.
But the biggest problem we have is overcoming the type of thick-headed attitude displayed in this example in the report:
GC
"The figures show that in the last seven years 148 people were charged with killing a cyclist.
Of those found guilty, 44% went to prison.
The average jail sentence was less than two years, while the average length of driving ban was 22 months. For 26% of drivers, no ban was imposed.
The average overall figure in England and Wales for those imprisoned for causing a death on the road, including pedestrians and other drivers, is about 60%."
Of those found guilty, 44% went to prison.
The average jail sentence was less than two years, while the average length of driving ban was 22 months. For 26% of drivers, no ban was imposed.
The average overall figure in England and Wales for those imprisoned for causing a death on the road, including pedestrians and other drivers, is about 60%."
The figures aren't terribly surprising, we frequently read of weak sentencing and victim-blaming when cyclists are killed. I don't think we need further legislation, it would be progress if we could persuade the courts to apply stiffer penalties, and that's assuming we get beyond juries who are influenced by thoughts of '..there but for the grace of God...'.
But the biggest problem we have is overcoming the type of thick-headed attitude displayed in this example in the report:
"A 26-year-old who is being taken to court for knocking down a cyclist and who cannot be named for legal reasons, said it was wrong to penalise those who kill or injure a cyclist in what could be seen as unfortunate accidents.
"I don't think it's fair because I wasn't driving dangerously, I wasn't driving erratically," he said. "I just failed to see someone who was on the road."
I really hope he takes the stand and puts forward that defence."I don't think it's fair because I wasn't driving dangerously, I wasn't driving erratically," he said. "I just failed to see someone who was on the road."
GC