Make an example

This guy fell asleep at the wheel of his lorry and ploughed in to the back of a car killing 4 people. He made no effort to brake at all- he was flat out. He's only being tried with 4 counts of death by dangerous driving (which he pleads not-guilty) but should we make an example of him? A prison sentence won't bring them back to life; but will it serve as a reminder to the remaining lorry drivers?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/o...re/7127710.stm

Well, it could be a good idea. I've seen alot of people in large lorries driving very fast, often overtaking all other traffic. Its very scary and make alot of people feel intimidated, I think. Yesterday, I was behind a big lorry and it moved over (no signalling) and I thought "ok, i'll go past". went to go alongside for the overtake (it was a two lane road) and then he decided to come back over (again, no signal). If i had a faster bike, i would have gone for it, and probably ended up squashed in the process.

I've waved lorries off from behind me before, as they have been driving too cloe for my comfort at speeds of 60 mph. I can stop quick at 60 mph, mr lorry driver cant.

I'm not saying all truck drivers are bad though, most are actualy erally good, and try and move over in traffic even when other people in cars dont, and the lorry is a damn sight bigger!

Matt

I hate it when they drift across lanes, I often see then going in to the hard shoulder. I know it can be difficult to stay awake sometimes but to pull over is not difficult. Especially not when that is your job and you should have a professional attitude about it.

Wasn't there a lawyer recently who went the wrong way down a motorway & killed a biker....she then got let off for being a nice person or something.

You take away someone's life, you should face a prison sentence.

Well he's being prosecuted for causing Death by Dangerous Driving, not just dangerous driving and that is far more serious. Prison is certain for him (if found guilty). The maximum sentence for DBDD is 14 years and he's on 4 counts....... The max penalty for DD is 6 months.

She was a doctor, pretty dodgy case that one! It was on the basis that it would serve no benefit to anyone to put her away in prison.

Originally Posted by Kinvig

Wasn't there a lawyer recently who went the wrong way down a motorway & killed a biker....she then got let off for being a nice person or something.

You take away someone's life, you should face a prison sentence.

Yea, i rmember that. We should go and find her and...soemthing

Matt

Originally Posted by arenalife

Well he's being prosecuted for causing Death by Dangerous Driving, not just dangerous driving and that is far more serious. Prison is certain for him (if found guilty). The maximum sentence for DBDD is 14 years and he's on 4 counts....... The max penalty for DD is 6 months.

oops- corrected.

Seems pretty clear cut to me, he caused 4 deaths by driving when asleep- dangerously.

Just to throw something else into the hat here ... I do NOT condone in any way what this driver has done ... however sometimes I think that some of these haulage companies actually put unfair burdens on their drivers in expecting them to make ridiculous journeys just to meet equally ridiculous collection/delivery deadlines.

That doesn't excuse the drivers, but if some of those haulage companies didn't put so much pressure on their drivers then the drivers wouldn't feel forced into driving when they shouldn't.

I don't think prison is gonna solve it. The guy has killed 4 people yes, but he didnt know what he was doing. Yes yes i know he shoulda pulled over. But prison sentence is a bit harsh IMO. I think take his licence away from him for good, community service for so many hours or whatever they call it.

I dont know how the guy feels but i have fallen asleep on the bike on the motorway, it was on way back from the AR, i blame Northwind and 21Quest for keeping me up talking till 4 in the morning right outside Pingbase lol. I dont really. But its not a nice feeling waking up and remembering where you are. I pulled straight over to the hardshoulder.