Margaret Hodge Doors A Cyclist

[simon.r]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22381347

'Senior Labour MP Margaret Hodge has promised to be more careful in future, after hitting a cyclist with her car door.'

That's OK then

 

[Sara_H]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22381347

'Senior Labour MP Margaret Hodge has promised to be more careful in future, after hitting a cyclist with her car door.'

That's OK then

Well, she has at least apologised and accepted responsibilty. Other drivers may have chased the cyclist and duffed him/her up!

 

[Melonfish]

"Mrs Hodge had her mobile phone in her hand as she left the car but was not using it."
what's the issue if she was? car was stationary.
i suppose seeing as the cyclist didn't ask charges won't be pressed. did she come clean immediately or did the news break the story and force her?

 

[jdtate101]

Seems everyone involved is happy with the outcome....so a bit of a non story. Must be a slow news day.......

 

[on the road]

If the cyclist was unharmed and the bike was undamaged then I don't see any reason for it to go any further, she admitted fault and apologised so she might be more careful next time.

 

[jefmcg]

I don't get this at all: this seems to be one traffic offence that you can only be charged if hurt or nearly hurt a cyclist. eg if you run a red light, it's still an offence even if you don't hit anyone, but if you open your door without looking it's only provable if some hits it.

So I think you should at least get fine/points. You can't get out of a speeding ticket by apologising.

 

[Banjo]

In a way its a good thing to have happened.Maybe all the publicity about it will have made a few people think to take more care before opening car doors.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I don't get this at all: this seems to be one traffic offence that you can only be charged if hurt or nearly hurt a cyclist. eg if you run a red light, it's still an offence even if you don't hit anyone, but if you open your door without looking it's only provable if some hits it.

So I think you should at least get fine/points. You can't get out of a speeding ticket by apologising.

eh? a red light is an instruction, ignore the instruction, take (or invariably not) the consequences, opening a car door isn't a criminal offence per-se any more than jumping a green light is.

As for not looking (never good) but not causing a collision or hurting someone, you may as well be insisting on criminal prosecution for people bumping into others on the street because they have their head in a text message rather than eyes forwards. where do you draw the line?

 

[ComedyPilot]

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 - 105. No person shall open, or cause or permit to be opened, any door of a vehicle on a road so as to injure or endanger any person.

Did someone order a sm@rtarse?

 

[ComedyPilot]

And given the fact she hit the cyclist with the door, then she should have been prosecuted.

 

[vickster]

Maybe the cyclist shouldn't have been so close to the parked cars?

 

[classic33]

Maybe the cyclist shouldn't have been so close to the parked cars?

Not always possible, as most of us know.

 

[vickster]

Erm, joke!

 

[summerdays]

Seems everyone involved is happy with the outcome....so a bit of a non story. Must be a slow news day.......

I don't think it is a non story - it has stated that the driver is at fault - just might make a few drivers out there realise it is their responsibility! Her position will give the story more circulation!