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[Markjay]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7222690.stm

[Markjay]

Is this an error in the report? Surely the motorist was driving through a red light, not the cyclist? Otherwise I can’t see why she should be jailed… of the two, I would have thought that jumping a red light is the more serious offence? Definitely the lady should be punished for texting while driving, but doesn’t the greater blame fall on the cyclist? This is worrying, because I see cyclist jumping red lights every day, and on several occasions got caught-out and almost knocked them down… I am aware that red light offences are hardly ever enforced on cyclists, but surely as far as the law is concerned they are vehicles and it is illegal for them to jump a red light? Not sure I fully understand this one…  :-?

[Martin_1962]

After reading this - she should get points and a fine for dangerous driving, but it is NOT her fault the cyclist used her for his suicide.

[Golfbuddy]

I think the issue here is that she was using her mobile phone, to text, at the time the cyclist went through the red light.

Surely everyone knows by now that, if you have an accident whilst using a mobile phone, you are going to get hammered. Texting has got to be more dangerous than talking as, by definition, you have to take your eyes off the road.

The motorist here has some mitigating circumstances in her favour, insomuch as the cyclist ignored a red traffic signal but she commited the absolute offence of using her mobile phone whilst driving.

I guess it's similar to killing someone when speeding. No matter how reckless the behaviour of the injured party, if you are exceeding the speed limit you will be held partly to blame. It is up to the court to decide how big a part you are to blame.

Maybe, a prison sentence will persuade people that this is serious and that, when driving, you must concentrate on driving.

[mantahatch]

Hi Chaps
As a local, this has been done to death in the local papers, I believe the upshot was she was texting on her phone and basically had no idea what colour the lights where.
It is viewed that if the cyclist has fallen from his bike before hand, she still would not have seen him possibly lying in the road.

From what I have read she should be locked up and banned from driving for life.
Around south Hampshire the amount people still holding a phone while driving is amazing.
She would seem to be the typical arrogant young woman who thought "it won't happen to me". well it did, perhaps she will learn but I doubt it.
Southampton is full of the 20-35 year old arrogant people who all think they can drive faster and better than anyone else.
Just this morning I have passed a car on it's roof on a straight dual carraigeway with a 30mph limit on it.

Rant over.

Mike

[albitz]

the cyclists lobby group are in the process of convincing the authorities that any accident between a cyclist and a powered vehicle should automatically be assumed to be the fault of the powered vehicle(seriously)!....it looks like they are succeeding

[Martin_1962]

the cyclists lobby group are in the process of convincing the authorities that any accident between a cyclist and a powered vehicle should automatically be assumed to be the fault of the powered vehicle(seriously)!....it looks like they are succeeding

This is totally wrong!

[albitz]

i read a report on it in mcn a while ago but i must admit i cant vouch for the accuracy of their story

[Martin_1962]

Hi Chaps
As a local, this has been done to death in the local papers, I believe the upshot was she was texting on her phone and basically had no idea what colour the lights where.
It is viewed that if the cyclist has fallen from his bike before hand, she still would not have seen him possibly lying in the road.

A large amount of points and a fine, she is an idiot for texting and driving, this is the crime not cyclist running over - that is a consequence.

[Markjay]

I don't disagree, but... again, both parties are to blame but surely the greater offence here is jumping the red light? Taking what you said further, if you were say speeding through a junction and crashed into another motorist that jumped a red light, your blame will be greater than his....? The only thing here is that news reportiing can be very misleading, they may be additinal factors here such as her being arrogant / not showing remorse / having previous convictions etc, but either way i am really worried that the fact that the cyclist went through a red light appears not to be taken as a serious matter by the court.

[albitz]

but would she have been jailed just for the texting offence?...having said all this i think that texting while driving is lunacy and should be dealt with very harshly.

[Martin_1962]

I think the issue here is that she was using her mobile phone, to text, at the time the cyclist went through the red light.

Surely everyone knows by now that, if you have an accident whilst using a mobile phone, you are going to get hammered. Texting has got to be more dangerous than talking as, by definition, you have to take your eyes off the road.

The motorist here has some mitigating circumstances in her favour, insomuch as the cyclist ignored a red traffic signal but she commited the absolute offence of using her mobile phone whilst driving.

I guess it's similar to killing someone when speeding. No matter how reckless the behaviour of the injured party, if you are exceeding the speed limit you will be held partly to blame. It is up to the court to decide how big a part you are to blame.

Maybe, a prison sentence will persuade people that this is serious and that, when driving, you must concentrate on driving.

I see plenty of bad road usage which could easily have fatalities.

Cyclists at night with no lights. When I lived with my parents I never saw the next door neighbours daughter until I was along side her, she had no lights, no reflectors, my motorbike lights were poor. If I was two foot to the left that could have been a fatality.

I found out who it was the next day!!

Most recent MORON was a chav crossing the road who thought it was funny to stop oncoming traffic, if the car in front of me hadn't emergency stopped - he would have been run over, and I would been happy to be a witness to that!!!!

[mantahatch]

Hi Chaps
As a local, this has been done to death in the local papers, I believe the upshot was she was texting on her phone and basically had no idea what colour the lights where.
It is viewed that if the cyclist has fallen from his bike before hand, she still would not have seen him possibly lying in the road.

A large amount of points and a fine, she is an idiot for texting and driving, this is the crime not cyclist running over - that is a consequence.

I can see your point, but potentially look at this way, your elderly grandmother waits to cross the road, the little man turns green she proceeds to cross the road and falls over, the lights then turn green for the cars, is it acceptable to run your grandmother over ?

I agree the crime is texting and driving, but does it mean the consequences are irrelevant.

I don't no.

Mike

[Martin_1962]

but would she have been jailed just for the texting offence?...having said all this i think that texting while driving is lunacy and should be dealt with very harshly.

There is no argument there

[Markjay]

I think the issue here is that she was using her mobile phone, to text, at the time the cyclist went through the red light.

Surely everyone knows by now that, if you have an accident whilst using a mobile phone, you are going to get hammered. Texting has got to be more dangerous than talking as, by definition, you have to take your eyes off the road.

The motorist here has some mitigating circumstances in her favour, insomuch as the cyclist ignored a red traffic signal but she commited the absolute offence of using her mobile phone whilst driving.

I guess it's similar to killing someone when speeding. No matter how reckless the behaviour of the injured party, if you are exceeding the speed limit you will be held partly to blame. It is up to the court to decide how big a part you are to blame.

Maybe, a prison sentence will persuade people that this is serious and that, when driving, you must concentrate on driving.

I see plenty of bad road usage which could easily have fatalities.

Cyclists at night with no lights. When I lived with my parents I never saw the next door neighbours daughter until I was along side her, she had no lights, no reflectors, my motorbike lights were poor. If I was two foot to the left that could have been a fatality.

I found out who it was the next day!!

Most recent MORON was a chav crossing the road who thought it was funny to stop oncoming traffic, if the car in front of me hadn't emergency stopped - he would have been run over, and I would been happy to be a witness to that!!!!

Had a close shave with one of those... I turned into a one-way road at night and this cysclist was coming straight at me.... in the opposite direction... no lights obviously. How I missed him is a mystery.