More Judicial Madness !!

There were no motorbikes involved in the incident.

You think that being fined and 6 point on his licence for defective tyres, which weren't a contributory factor, is getting away with it? I suspect many peeps would feel hard done by if it were them.

[northwind]

"Diane Williams, prosecuting, told the court a police investigation had revealed Harris's defective tyres were not the cause of the crash. "

...and everything else is irrelevant. I know it's fun to jump on the soapbox but it's not like there's not enough genuine reasons to do it, why do it when a tragic accident gets treated as such?

I agree with what Sid Squid said on this point.

If it couldn't be proven that the driver was speeding or over the drink-drive limit then what could you charge him with?

If he skidded on ice then that is hardly the drivers fault...even at low speeds.

This is a tragedy in which 4 people were killed and therefore a finger must be pointed. The fine and points may not be much but it is probably the most given the evidence in the case.

One thought I've had is that the cyclists were out on the road in what were icy conditions. They would have been more aware of the road conditions than the car driver. Were they not even a slight bit irresponsible or culpable?

But as The Squidster says, there's no point trying to look to place blame where, in all probability, there is none in this case.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by Peter Henry

I say Sid, that was a pleasure to read sir. Very nice and so reasoned a view.

Thank you Peter, I'm just trying to be as balanced and reasoned as possible.

Four people are dead - the families wish to think of someone as being at fault, that's not surprising - but at a distance I hope we ought to be able to think on it without resort to emotion at the expense of reason. But, whatever we may aim to do, it's an emotive situation, of course.
With the details as far as they are known to us, and attempting to be as dispassionate as possible, I can't come to any conclusion other than it was a horrible accident, a vile set of circumstances that coincided to leave four corpses in the road, but it was just that - an accident, I can't see why the driver ought be blamed. It certainly seems they did nothing to cause the collision.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Jabba-the-Hutt

They would have been more aware of the road conditions than the car driver. Were they not even a slight bit irresponsible or culpable?

It was black ice. As others have said and I agree with so how easy therefore is it easy to spot. Even though a cyclist is travels more slowly. A fit cyclist on the right bike is going to be able to push along at 25 - 30mph.

I think what I'm trying to say here that if the car driver wasnt speeding and didnt spot the ice. A cyclist going even though going at a lower speed may well have not spotted it either.

I cant see anywhere in the article that refers to speed being a factor in the accident.

Also when I've been over black ice before I've found it normally to be localised i.e. in one place and as well all know in winter road conditions change very quickly. You could argue that when both the car driver and the cyclists set out. The road conditions at the time of departure changed between departure and the time of the accident ?

Originally Posted by Jabba-the-Hutt

But as The Squidster says, there's no point trying to look to place blame where, in all probability, there is none in this case.

Having thought about things some more. I agree with this. I think both the car driver and the cyclists tragically are victims of cirumstance and a few seconds either way the collision with the cyclists would have been avoided.

There but for the grace of god etc.. I think I let personal circumstances relating to my friends death a little while ago cloud my judgement.

It was an accident a tragic one yes but an accident none the less. We are slowly becoming a society that has to have someone to blame for everything. This seems to be pushed by those firms offering no win no fee claims for accidents.

We are quick enough to complain about the nanny state but this IMHO has been partly brought about by the blame culture and people being unwilling to except responsibility for their own actions.

Fair enough, i just feel that if it was a simalar accident involving a bike then the outcome would have been very different.

I know i have no right to place blame and i didnt mean to.

Sorry if i have upset anyone.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by aliBONG01

Fair enough, i just feel that if it was a simalar accident involving a bike then the outcome would have been very different.

Yep, for one thing it almost certainly wouldn't have killed 4 people.