cyclist deaths & the law

custardy · 30 June 2012 at 8:44PM

seen a couple recently

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2012/06/29/van-driver-cleared-of-causing-death-of-cyclist-elizabeth-brown-72703-31288958/

http://road.cc/content/news/60396-coach-driver-cleared-causing-death-cumbrian-cycling-brothers

seems its an easy way to kill someone, with no consequence

or little

http://road.cc/content/news/17145-driver-avoids-prison-term-killing-cyclist

Sgt_Pepper_2 · 30 June 2012 at 9:03PM

Doesn't just apply to cyclists,

marlot · 1 July 2012 at 7:08AM

We could cut road deaths much further if we really wanted to.

It always seems crazy that I have to do annual top-up training as an engineer and accountant - or I can be fined/struck off by my professional bodies.

But I can pass my driving test at 17, and never have a further day of training ever, not even when I reach 70. And my driving is much more likely to kill someone than my engineering or accounting.

I see people daily who are oblivious to the risks they are causing to themselves and others. Driving too close, not paying attention, using a mobile while driving, etc. I can only think that they either don't know what they're doing, or don't care.

I strongly believe that every driver should have some top-up training (not a test) every 2-3 years.

Instead we have a system that ignores the issues, and lets the bad habits get worse and worse. But then when the worst happens, we (maybe) throw the book at a driver who made the error - eg. up to 14 years in jail for causing death by dangerous drivinng.

Strider590 · 1 July 2012 at 8:17AM

custardy wrote: »

seen a couple recently

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2012/06/29/van-driver-cleared-of-causing-death-of-cyclist-elizabeth-brown-72703-31288958/

http://road.cc/content/news/60396-coach-driver-cleared-causing-death-cumbrian-cycling-brothers

seems its an easy way to kill someone, with no consequence

or little

http://road.cc/content/news/17145-driver-avoids-prison-term-killing-cyclist

This is why a lot of cyclists are now turning to helmet camera's..... Drivers get away with this because there's never any evidence, but in cases where they've been caught on camera, the prosecution has almost always been swift and harsh.

custardy · 1 July 2012 at 8:54AM

marlot wrote: »

We could cut road deaths much further if we really wanted to.

It always seems crazy that I have to do annual top-up training as an engineer and accountant - or I can be fined/struck off by my professional bodies.

But I can pass my driving test at 17, and never have a further day of training ever, not even when I reach 70. And my driving is much more likely to kill someone than my engineering or accounting.

I see people daily who are oblivious to the risks they are causing to themselves and others. Driving too close, not paying attention, using a mobile while driving, etc. I can only think that they either don't know what they're doing, or don't care.

I strongly believe that every driver should have some top-up training (not a test) every 2-3 years.

Instead we have a system that ignores the issues, and lets the bad habits get worse and worse. But then when the worst happens, we (maybe) throw the book at a driver who made the error - eg. up to 14 years in jail for causing death by dangerous drivinng.

have to agree. I've been driving for over 20 years now
plus I have the 'old' licence with the extra driving classifications by default.
probably every 10 years would be a practical soft introduction to retesting.

Paradigm · 1 July 2012 at 10:04AM

marlot wrote: »

I strongly believe that every driver should have some top-up training (not a test) every 2-3 years.

I like this idea, a compulsory hour or so with an approved instructor every few years makes sense to me.

Lets not forget though, cyclists can take to the road with no formal training whatsoever which seems ludicrous given that they are the most vulnerable.
Maybe some kind of safe riding course is needed?

geri1965_2 · 1 July 2012 at 10:48AM

I'd like to see motorists tested regularly, as it appears to me that some of them are not safe to be on the roads.

I would also like to see more cycle training, I did the cycling proficiency test at school but there were only about half a dozen of us on it.

custardy · 1 July 2012 at 10:50AM

Paradigm wrote: »

I like this idea, a compulsory hour or so with an approved instructor every few years makes sense to me.

Lets not forget though, cyclists can take to the road with no formal training whatsoever which seems ludicrous given that they are the most vulnerable.
Maybe some kind of safe riding course is needed?

In the majority(from my experience) of deaths/injuries
the cyclist being 'trained' would have little bearing
look at those links
experienced cyclists
the last 2 deaths in Edinburgh(theres been 4 in the last year)
experienced/enthusiast cyclists(no charges in any of the four to my knowledge)
In reality the a change in attitude from a massive percentage of drivers would have a far greater benefit.
My last near death encounter was down to a taxi driver squeezing me off the road. an attempt to 'save' himself a few(at most) seconds.
6 months later I'm paying out £00's in treatments,still not back on the bike,paying £00s in fuel and have the possibility of permanent nerve damage.

Paradigm · 1 July 2012 at 11:04AM

custardy wrote: »

In the majority(from my experience) of deaths/injuries
the cyclist being 'trained' would have little bearing
look at those links
experienced cyclists
the last 2 deaths in Edinburgh(theres been 4 in the last year)
experienced/enthusiast cyclists(no charges in any of the four to my knowledge)
In reality the a change in attitude from a massive percentage of drivers would have a far greater benefit.
My last near death encounter was down to a taxi driver squeezing me off the road. an attempt to 'save' himself a few(at most) seconds.
6 months later I'm paying out £00's in treatments,still not back on the bike,paying £00s in fuel and have the possibility of permanent nerve damage.

I recognise what you are saying but some kind of formal training for cyclists can only be good surely?

Ok, no amount of training will account for every situation/idiot but if it makes a cyclist more aware of the dangers then it helps minimise risk.

custardy · 1 July 2012 at 11:06AM

Paradigm wrote: »

I recognise what you are saying but some kind of formal training for cyclists can only be good surely?

Ok, no amount of training will account for every situation/idiot but if it makes a cyclist more aware of the dangers then it helps minimise risk.

but how do you police that?
you then need to register every bike in the UK?
every rider?
from what age?

Paradigm · 1 July 2012 at 11:18AM

custardy wrote: »

but how do you police that?
you then need to register every bike in the UK?
every rider?
from what age?

I haven't said it has to be compulsory.

It could be a free Government sponsered scheme with some incentives chucked in to encourage cyclists to take part... I dunno, maybe 12 months free accident cover if you attend.

To be honest it's not something I've sat & planned for months but it's just not logical to have no training for the most vulnerable road users.

cyclist deaths & the law

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cyclist deaths & the law

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