5 yrs jail for woman on mobile who killed cyclist

hagace

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-33347363

condolences to the family

dj58

Another tragic and uneccessary death caused by this woman who wasn't prepared to pull over and stop to use her phone, I see this behaviour, handheld mobile, every time I go out for a ride. Good to see the judge gave her a stiff sentence and a 10yr ban and extended re-test, though personally I think anyone convicted of killing someone by dangerous driving like this should be banned for life.

rpherts

Two previous speeding convictions. Some people just NEVER learn.

Anonymous

I do not want to comment on length of prison sentence, but it should be a lifetime ban from driving IMO.
I would also add a life sentence to that if ever caught driving a car again.

Driving is seen as some sort of right, but it should be a privilege that you earn IMO.

sloppyschleckonds

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19639764#p19639764]rpherts[/url] wrote:

Two previous speeding convictions. Some people just NEVER learn.

Was speeding a factor in this death?

awavey

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19639870#p19639870]Carbonator[/url] wrote:

I do not want to comment on length of prison sentence, but it should be a lifetime ban from driving IMO.
I would also add a life sentence to that if ever caught driving a car again.
.

Im not saying thats necessarily a bad idea, but how do you then enforce it,weve already seen one driver who was "banned" still happily get behind the wheel of a truck and then kill a cyclist, and the AA claim there could be anything upto 800,000 unlicensed drivers on the roads.

so you ban them for life, but with zero chance really if they dont do anything stupid of being caught,and theyll just add to the stats of unlicensed drivers, it wont be an effective deterrent

Diamant49

[quote="

so you ban them for life, but with zero chance really if they dont do anything stupid of being caught,and theyll just add to the stats of unlicensed drivers, it wont be an effective deterrent[/quote]

On that logic we would have no laws, like speed limits for example - everyone breaks them at some time, with little chance of being caught. Doesn't mean they are worthless though, and you could can get caught.

What is needed is both stricter sentencing AND stricter enforcement. Currently society tolerates an insane level of death and destruction through poor driving - but I suspect does not want a crack down on it, as it would curtail everyone's "right" to break speed limits, have 1 extra drink, answer the phone etc - the attitude is 'its always the other person thats the bad driver, not me!'

top_bhoy

After reading about a spate of cycling related deaths on the roads, it was once suggested to me that only once a very senior politician or newspaper editors child or immediate family is killed while cycling will there be any real impetus to law enforcement and a real move to eradicating poor driving from the roads.

On reflection, I'm completely in agreement with that train of thought.

desweller

Licence-reading car ignition lock?

ben@31

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19640424#p19640424]DesWeller[/url] wrote:

Licence-reading car ignition lock?

The costs of implementing this. Both for car manufacturers and DVLA would be huge.