Yet another driver let off in scenario we all recognise

andrewc3142

From the details reported it seems another depressing case of a cyclist's life not counting for very much:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/porsche-driver-killed-cyclist-77-5836873

In particular:

“The defendant said she considered she had enough time to go past and turn. She admitted to making a grave error in judgement.”

So she saw the cyclist, but went ahead anyway to overtake shortly before turning left.

Sounds familiar?

Here's another write-up from the Daily Mail. Reads like a PR release from the driver, making clear it was just an accident (oops, sorry I ran you over in my haste to turn in to the Porsche dealer), positively gushing about her wealth, achievements, celebrity contacts, plenty of smiling pictures. Although the woman she killed does get a brief mention.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2411155/Friend-Simon-Cowell-killed-great-grandmother-PORSCHE-cycled-visit-husbands-grave-spared-jail-charity-work.html

Two year ban and a fine she can, by all accounts, pay from her small change. You couldn't make it up.

slowbike

and 200hr community service ...

Should she be imprisoned? Was it really an "error of judgement" or was she impatient with the (presumably) slow cyclist and just had to get past.
If the former then what is imprisonment going to achieve? It's punishment - but then so is community service (perhaps 200 hrs isn't enough!).
Banned for 2 years too - anyone know if you have to take a test to get it back after that time? It'll hit her more than just the fine too - insurance will go up significantly.

None of that will bring back the cyclist ...

the thing that irks me more is that it's essentially a non-news item ... there's too much SMIDSY going on and no reason for drivers to think more carefully.

andrewc3142

Agree entirely on the SMIDSY incidents, one of which (a driver not looking or stopping or slowing down at a mini-roundabout I was already on) caught me a couple of years ago and landed me in hospital.

However, I do feel that if the consequences of hitting a cyclist were more serious then this would have effect on the level of judgement applied by the driver in these kinds of circumstances, and likely result in fewer accidents.

look496

But she does a lot of work for charity, so that makes it all OK then?

Wirral_paul

look496 wrote:

But she does a lot of work for charity, so that makes it all OK then?

Absolutely - she did sponsored bike rides dont you know............ that makes it all fair and equal :roll:

Mike Healey

Having read the comments, I thought for a moment that I wasn't reading the DM.

Jharrah82

Maybe she will get on a bike as a method of transport now that she can't drive. It is possible that a couple of close calls of her own will open her eyes to the dangers cyclists face while around vehicles.

smoggysteve

We really need to get rid of one word that causes a lot of problems, - Careless.

If you are careless with a 2 ton hunk of metal capable of traveling at well over 100mph you are dangerous. You are a danger to everyone around you be it a bike, car or pedestrian. The law needs to remove this get out clause which carries a lower sentence.