Motorists Cleared of Careless Driving Death

[gavgav]

Beggars belief. For 2 motorists to run over a chap on his bike, and kill him, and a third run over someone who had stopped to assist the cyclist, how is it not Careless Driving?

Basically reads to me that the cyclist shouldn't have been on the road because the sun was out.

Pathetic

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/...-of-a-shropshire-cyclist-by-careless-driving/

 

[Ganymede]

Beggars belief. For 2 motorists to run over a chap on his bike, and kill him, and a third run over someone who had stopped to assist the cyclist, how is it not Careless Driving?

Basically reads to me that the cyclist shouldn't have been on the road because the sun was out.

Pathetic

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/...-of-a-shropshire-cyclist-by-careless-driving/

It's just disgusting. Plainly careless at the very least.

 

[CopperCyclist]

The fact that the sun was out and made visibility more difficult should not be mitigation for careless driving. It should strengthen the case, saying 'hey conditions were difficult so ever more care was clearly needed'. Only my opinion, but I feel strongly about that. If the conditions were wet and the driver braked and skidded, that's EXACTLY what would be read into it.

 

[gavintc]

Meanwhile some idiot in a car has been jailed for 8 months for driving on Brands Hatch during a race. Dangerous, stupid - but is it really an 8 month in jail offence, when motorists killing a cyclist gets cleared ? I was amused at the comment "his bike clipped the wing mirror of a car". Comparable to the comment "the chin came into contact with his fist"

 

[raleighnut]

Unreal surely if you can't see you should slow down.

 

[jefmcg]

I wish more people did first aid. I did it in the 90s, but still remember DRABC. "D" is for danger. Make sure you and the victim are safe. If the rescuer had swung his car in front of the cyclist, a tragedy may have been prevented.

It's not his fault. But with his good will, and willingness to put himself at risk, I wish he could have been more effective.

 

[Hip Priest]

You'll never get a guilty verdict on a case like this. Many of the jury will be motorists, and thinking 'there but for the grace of God....'

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Yep "there but for the Grace of God go I, steaming ignorantly along at an inappropriate speed careless of the wet road with a low sun right in my eyes."

And one wonders if plod was there on behalf of the prosecution or the defence...

"Constable Ian Edwards, a collision expert for West Mercia Police, told the court sunlight would have been shining directly into the eyes of drivers travelling eastbound on the B4368 between Craven Arms and Bridgnorth on the day Mr Searle was killed.

He told the court it was possible more light would have reflected from water on the road, making it “very difficult” for drivers to judge what was directly ahead of them."

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I wish more people did first aid. I did it in the 90s, but still remember DRABC. "D" is for danger. Make sure you and the victim are safe. If the rescuer had swung his car in front of the cyclist, a tragedy may have been prevented.

It's not his fault. But with his good will, and willingness to put himself at risk, I wish he could have been more effective.

Really? I just wish more of the selfish ***** behind the wheels of motor vehicles drove more appropriately.

 

[jefmcg]

Really? I just wish more of the selfish ***** behind the wheels of motor vehicles drove more appropriately.

I wish for both. Someone lying in the road is in danger, no matter how skilled the drivers are.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I wish for both. Someone lying in the road is in danger, no matter how skilled the drivers are.

No drivers (moving) = no danger to a casualty surely?

 

[400bhp]

And one wonders if plod was there on behalf of the prosecution or the defence...

"Constable Ian Edwards, a collision expert for West Mercia Police, told the court sunlight would have been shining directly into the eyes of drivers travelling eastbound on the B4368 between Craven Arms and Bridgnorth on the day Mr Searle was killed.

He told the court it was possible more light would have reflected from water on the road, making it “very difficult” for drivers to judge what was directly ahead of them."

Well, not really. He is just stating a fact.

A very sad outcome. Must be hard for relatives to get their heads around it.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Well, not really. He is just stating a fact.

A very sad outcome. Must be hard for relatives to get their heads around it.

Then he's worse than useless. He is there for his expert opinion as to how/what the conditions were and how a driver of the appropriate standard should have responded to those conditions, no?

 

[400bhp]

Then he's worse than useless. He is there for his expert opinion as to how/what the conditions were and how a driver of the appropriate standard should have responded to those conditions, no?

Depends what questions he was asked. Could be a rather useless prosecution lawyer.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Depends what questions he was asked. Could be a rather useless prosecution lawyer.

Fair point.