Cyclists

[yellowsliotar]

So you 'don't know' if he drove through the red light on purpose but you believe he definitely ignored it? Is that not the same thing?

Do you even know what you're saying?

I know very well what I’m saying.
If he didn’t stop at the red light, he ignored it.
He pleaded guilty to not stopping a red light.

 

[Chara021]

Ah come on, how many times have you seen cars speed up to amber lights and blantely fly through just turned red lights?!

This wasn't an accident, the driver pleaded guilty.

" He (the driver) did not stop in a red light, had no awareness of the road and surroundings, did not try to turn or evade his (Andre’s) direction, and did not do an emergency stop.

"Before crossing André waited for the green man. This driver’s actions killed my son."

He pleaded guilty of dangerous driving causing an accident.

Let me repeat that. Causing an Accident. Not deliberately knocking down a child by the callous ignoring of a red light.

 

[Crusty Ring]

I know that roundabout where that young lad was killed very well, the new pedestrian crossing where he was knocked down is far too close to the roundabout imo, I remember thinking it at the time when it was put in and few weeks later this happend.

It is a very busy junction and difficult to get through with alot of concentration needed and before you know it coming off the roundabout you have this crossing.

Of course the driver is 100% at fault here but I believe if this crossing was a bit further down the road this lad could still be alive.

 

[Chara021]

I know very well what I’m saying.

Doesn't sound like it tbh. On one hand you say you have no idea if he deliberately knocked down the child or not and then you say but he definitely ignored the red light.

Point being you don't know anything about what that man did or didn't do in relation to his actions that caused the accident. People are human. I was a passenger in a car twice when the person driving drove straight through a red light. Total accident. It happens. It's bad but it happens. Not deliberate.

Just because someone drives without due care and attention doesn't mean it was a purposeful act to kill someone. It means they were driving without due care and attention causing a fatal accident. Theres a difference you know.

Fair enough if you think the man should have been banned off the road , you are entitled to your opinion. Clearly the judge didn't think so.

 

[Chara021]

I know that roundabout where that young lad was killed very well, the new pedestrian crossing where he was knocked down is far too close to the roundabout imo, I remember thinking it at the time when it was put in and few weeks later this happend.

It is a very busy junction and difficult to get through with alot of concentration needed and before you know it coming off the road about you have this crossing.

Of course the driver is 100% at fault here but I believe if this crossing was a bit further down the road this las could still be alive.

Spot on.

 

[Meridian]

I know that roundabout where that young lad was killed very well, the new pedestrian crossing where he was knocked down is far too close to the roundabout imo, I remember thinking it at the time when it was put in and few weeks later this happend.

It is a very busy junction and difficult to get through with alot of concentration needed and before you know it coming off the road about you have this crossing.

Of course the driver is 100% at fault here but I believe if this crossing was a bit further down the road this las could still be alive.

You are absolutely right, that crossing is indeed too close to that roundabout.

For all we know, the driver may have been driving his " massive SUV " and coming from the relief road, may have turned left and due to the size of the yolk he is driving, he may not have even seen the kid due to the height of the bonnet from ground level.

There are quite a few variables here that have to be considered rather than the usual shite from the " hang him high " brigade

 

[yellowsliotar]

Doesn't sound like it tbh.

In your opinion which you are entitled to.
However in the greater scheme of things, it means nothing to me.
Red lights are used to stop traffic, he ignored one and killed a child. No ifs buts or maybe. Two years for taking a child’s life is a terrible sentence.
He should have got a lot more. I can’t fathom how people here think a child’s life is only worth two years in jail.

 

[Chara021]

You are absolutely right, that crossing is indeed too close to that roundabout.

For all we know, the driver may have been driving his " massive SUV " and coming from the relief road, may have turned left and due to the size of the yolk he is driving, he may not have even seen the kid due to the height of the bonnet from ground level.

There are quite a few variables here that have to be considered rather than the usual shite from the " hang him high " brigade

Although I would say it was more likely he didn't see the red light due to not paying attention.

Also if it's a new pedestrian crossing and very close to the roundabout turn off it may have been a simple case of not realising/ forgetting it was there and was on top of it in the blink of an eye.

37km is still fast enough for a busy junction. He definitely didn't drive carefully ? He will have to live with that. Tragic for everyone.

 

[provenflower]

 

[Chara021]

In your opinion which you are entitled to.
However in the greater scheme of things, it means nothing to me.
Red lights are used to stop traffic, he ignored one and killed a child. No ifs buts or maybe. Two years for taking a child’s life is a terrible sentence.
He should have got a lot more. I can’t fathom how people here think a child’s life is only worth two years in jail.

I'm trying to put myself in the shoes of those parents and think how I would feel if it was my child.

It's very difficult to say. But my feeling would probably be 2 years or 5 years or 10 years and a lifetime ban from driving wouldn't bring my child back. For my own sanity I'd have to make peace with the fact it was a tragic accident.

Using the roads is perilous. Having the right of way doesn't automatically mean you get the right of way. And there is a myriad of factors involved why accidents happen. As in this case.

Drivers/ cyclists/ pedestrians are notorious for making mistakes.

The man was responsible and was given his sentence. If you consider it should have been more, well that's your feeling and so be it.

My own feeling would be, that a tougher sentence wouldn't make one jot of difference except to completely ruin that man and that of his family.

If it was my child and because I'm a driver and understand the perils of the roads, it would bring no comfort to bestow a longer harsher jail term on that man.