Cyclist's death

[RedFeend]

Having experienced the life-changing consequences of a motorist's lack of care and consideration, I think there is every reason for cyclists to be aware of the ludicrously trivial penalties meted out to such motorists. That's if they get prosecuted at all.

In my case the driver did a runner having left a false address. The police said they were too busy investigating some fatal crashes elsewhere to spend any more time tracing him.

Only thanks to witnesses and a civil case did I receive compensation. Pure chance.

Asterix, I truly hope that you are fully recovered now.

On the news today it was reported that a cyclis was killed on an A road in Essex. That is a fact. I am not apportioning blame or placing a particular value on that cyclists life.

 

[Rob3rt]

I agree with Vernon!

I was reporting a piece of relevant news when I began this thread, as much to highlight the appalling standard of driving around cyclists on our roads as to bring to members attention the needless death of a fellow cyclist.

If having compassion and a sense of civic duty is morbid in your eyes, then so be it. I'm so glad I live in a country where free thought is not a crime. Happy days.

1) Driving standards around cyclists on the whole are not that bad.
2) Do members need to be aware of each and every death of a fellow cyclist? Where does civic duty come into this?

Having experienced the life-changing consequences of a motorist's lack of care and consideration, I think there is every reason for
cyclists to be aware of the ludicrously trivial penalties meted out to such motorists. That's if they get prosecuted at all.

In my case the driver did a runner having left a false address. The police said they were too busy investigating some fatal crashes elsewhere to spend any more time tracing him.

Only thanks to witnesses and a civil case did I receive compensation. Pure chance.

Not what is being discussed!

 

[vernon]

One of the things that I have observed in minority groups and, believe me I'm eligible for membership of more minority groups than you can shake a stick at is the; introspective, persecuted, hard done by, martyred perspective adopted by significant numbers of such groups. Their conspiratorial whispers and louder assertions that the odds are stacked against members of their kindred peers are bolstered by pimped up reports of victimhood.

I get my buzz out of being in a minority group of one while enjoying the pleasures of being associated with the happy majority of my fellow human beings.

 

[gbb]

Groan, (to myself for getting involved)...local to me, i remember reading some unfortunate soul had been killed in/near Crowland.
It makes me think...suspicion of dangerous driving ?. Hold your hand on your hearts and think back over your driving lives...have you NEVER, EVER had a close call, lost concentration for a moment, let your mind wander, gone round a bend a bit sharper than you anticipated and came face to face with an unexpected car, person, cyclist etc etc. Just a few of the myriad of potential dangers awaiting us all while driving...i know i have, thankfully very rarely.
Dark unlit A1, circa 1975, piddling it down, i took my eyes off the road for maybe 3 seconds...looked up...TRACTOR TYRE ....thats all i remember. Tractor had pulled out of a field, parked at the side, one wheel JUST over the white line...NO LIGHTS, thats why i had no chance of seeing him earlier.
BANG...i wrote a Landrover off. No-one badly hurt, miraculously, but despite my protestations to the Police re his position and lack of lights...Driving without due care.. I deserved it, i hit him up the rear, primarily my fault...primarily but IMO not entirely.
Could have been a cyclist...he wouldnt have had a chance.

Driving in Nottingham years ago....i'm looking for a road...ive just overtaken a cyclist but he didnt really register....bugger, there's my road, quickly made my turn... and remembered the cyclist i'd just overtaken Oh gawld.
No harm done, apart from scaring him to death. I apologised etc etc.

In the blink of an eye, thats all it takes.

Its VERY VERY rare (IME) you'll read a report of outrageously dangerous driving (we had one years ago in Peterborough, guy driving like a twat, overtaking at high speed, then cut across cars at the last minute, at high speed...and killed a poor cyclist that was just crossing the exit lane...he got the book thrown at him and villified in the local press..quite rightly, it was outrageous)

I don't know the circumstances of the poor womans death, but i do know 99% of us are quite capable of making a mistake. Luckily, 99% of us get away with it. Sadly, none of that helps when you become that 1%.

Time will tell how bad the woman drivers actions were, maybe a stupid mistake, maybe drunk, maybe outright carelessness.

RIP, condolences to the family.