Yet another needless death caused by phone use.

[Jameshow]

I assume he was giving evidence for the accused. Its a ridiculous statement to make. Its a road. You should be expecting the unexpected all the time. Bikes are allowed on roads. How can that be unexpected?

If I were the CPS lawyer I would be calling that inadmissible evidence due to bias!

 

[sheddy]

We need these on TV
https://www.sharetheroadtozero.com/TVWebPages/missing

 

[Cycleops]

Especially as "at night" - in this instance, 3am, is one of the times I will happily use trunk roads.

The only trouble with that is there's a fair chance that a higher percentage will have had a few drinks than those using the roads during daylight.

 

[DaveReading]

I assume he was giving evidence for the accused. It's a ridiculous statement to make.

A defence barrister is there to present his or her client's case. Whether it's ridiculous or not.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

If I were the CPS lawyer I would be calling that inadmissible evidence due to bias!

You'd look a bit silly if you did, mind.

 

[Solocle]

The only trouble with that is there's a fair chance that a higher percentage will have had a few drinks than those using the roads during daylight.

That's true, but doesn't change regardless of the road. In fact, a lot of drunks might use back roads to reduce the chance of encountering enforcement...

My biggest fear on the big trunk roads is someone asleep at the wheel.

 

[All uphill]

What happened to public information ads of the kind that persuaded us to use seatbelts and condoms, and avoid drink driving? ( though not at the same time).

Making phone use socially unacceptable must be the way to tackle this, along with enforcement before collisions happen as well as after.

 

[Jameshow]

Meanwhile, a former police officer and automotive engineer told Swansea Crown Court the crash happened on a busy, unlit highway and it was "asking a lot" for drivers to realise there was a "bike on a trunk road at night".

From the below link on the same story.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63319484

An automotive engineer is called to give expert witness of facts not to give missleading spin.

Likewise the police officer is there give the facts not his interpretation or feelings.

 

[DaveReading]

An automotive engineer is called to give expert witness of facts not to give missleading spin.

Likewise the police officer is there give the facts not his interpretation or feelings.

I think they are one and the same person.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

You should be expecting the unexpected all the time.

It really shouldn’t be considered unexpected.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Has any research been done on the effect of 'infotainment' screens on driver's ability to concentrate on the road? eg.

View: https://youtu.be/EoDqLshhqE0

 

[boydj]

So many reasons this man and his solicitor should go to prison. The guy even blamed his son. The solicitor blamed the rider for the clothes she was wearing. Yet the evidence was obvious. He was using his phone. He was not man enough to admit it. They tried every trick to get out of it.

Something needs to be done to stop hand held phones being used in cars.

True.

It wasn't just that he was using his phone, he was switching between social media apps like facebook for a significant period before the 9 seconds which he had available to spot the cyclist. He was clearly engrossed in his phone. An expert showed that a child could clearly not have held the phone in a specific orientation and switched between apps in the way that was done.

This was a particularly bad case of distraction and I hope the judge deals with him appropriately.

 

[Gwylan]

Design such a system:

When driving a car, there must be a connection between car and phone otherwise engine won't start.

Phone will not make any voice calls, all text messaging functions will be stopped, while car is in motion. Only maps will be displayed.

Even my bike won't start without access to my phone.

Or you cycle quite slowly

 

[Cerdic]

Design such a system:

When driving a car, there must be a connection between car and phone otherwise engine won't start.

Phone will not make any voice calls, all text messaging functions will be stopped, while car is in motion. Only maps will be displayed.

Wouldn‘t that effectively ban people from driving unless they have a smartphone?

I thought the problem was caused by people HAVING phones, not people NOT having phones?

 

[BoldonLad]

Wouldn‘t that effectively ban people from driving unless they have a smartphone?

I thought the problem was caused by people HAVING phones, not people NOT having phones?

I may be wrong, but, I think the problem is people using phones, when driving.