Witness appeal after cyclist killed in Surrey hit and run

HarrogateSpa wrote:

I wonder if this is going to be all over the front page of the BBC news website for weeks on end, a la Alliston, or confined to local Surrey news.

I know which way I'd be betting...

Recarobob wrote:

As a local resident that rides on these roads frequently it's normally the pick up and van drivers that cause the most problems. The roads are busy and narrow and these drivers seem to be quite happy to overtake on bends with no line of sight, or when there are other vehicles approaching, just to save a few seconds. My heart goes out to the poor family and I hope that if/when the driver is caught the courts actually punish them properly.

This.

With a potential drink/drug driving charge and leaving the scene I can see no reason for the courts not to impose maximum sentence.

Unless the driver comes up with the usual sob story about needing to drive his housebound aunt to Bingo or somesuch.

PRSboy wrote:

Recarobob wrote:

As a local resident that rides on these roads frequently it's normally the pick up and van drivers that cause the most problems. The roads are busy and narrow and these drivers seem to be quite happy to overtake on bends with no line of sight, or when there are other vehicles approaching, just to save a few seconds. My heart goes out to the poor family and I hope that if/when the driver is caught the courts actually punish them properly.

This.

With a potential drink/drug driving charge and leaving the scene I can see no reason for the courts not to impose maximum sentence.

Unless the driver comes up with the usual sob story about needing to drive his housebound aunt to Bingo or somesuch.

Or unless he has the good fortune to find himself appearing before some bigoted C-word like Catherine Hobey-Hamsher.

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

PRSboy wrote:

Recarobob wrote:

As a local resident that rides on these roads frequently it's normally the pick up and van drivers that cause the most problems. The roads are busy and narrow and these drivers seem to be quite happy to overtake on bends with no line of sight, or when there are other vehicles approaching, just to save a few seconds. My heart goes out to the poor family and I hope that if/when the driver is caught the courts actually punish them properly.

This.

With a potential drink/drug driving charge and leaving the scene I can see no reason for the courts not to impose maximum sentence.

Unless the driver comes up with the usual sob story about needing to drive his housebound aunt to Bingo or somesuch.

Or unless he has the good fortune to find himself appearing before some bigoted C-word like Catherine Hobey-Hamsher.

Ah, google is our friend 

https://road.cc/content/news/210161-cycling-uk-asks-“people-don’t-cyclists”-magistrate-withdraw-cases-involving

brooksby wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

PRSboy wrote:

Recarobob wrote:

As a local resident that rides on these roads frequently it's normally the pick up and van drivers that cause the most problems. The roads are busy and narrow and these drivers seem to be quite happy to overtake on bends with no line of sight, or when there are other vehicles approaching, just to save a few seconds. My heart goes out to the poor family and I hope that if/when the driver is caught the courts actually punish them properly.

This.

With a potential drink/drug driving charge and leaving the scene I can see no reason for the courts not to impose maximum sentence.

Unless the driver comes up with the usual sob story about needing to drive his housebound aunt to Bingo or somesuch.

Or unless he has the good fortune to find himself appearing before some bigoted C-word like Catherine Hobey-Hamsher.

Ah, google is our friend 

https://road.cc/content/news/210161-cycling-uk-asks-“people-don’t-cyclists”-magistrate-withdraw-cases-involving

Ah, I actually made an official complaint about that.   As in: wrote to HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

Anyone care to guess what the result was? 

cycle.london wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

PRSboy wrote:

Recarobob wrote:

As a local resident that rides on these roads frequently it's normally the pick up and van drivers that cause the most problems. The roads are busy and narrow and these drivers seem to be quite happy to overtake on bends with no line of sight, or when there are other vehicles approaching, just to save a few seconds. My heart goes out to the poor family and I hope that if/when the driver is caught the courts actually punish them properly.

This.

With a potential drink/drug driving charge and leaving the scene I can see no reason for the courts not to impose maximum sentence.

Unless the driver comes up with the usual sob story about needing to drive his housebound aunt to Bingo or somesuch.

Or unless he has the good fortune to find himself appearing before some bigoted C-word like Catherine Hobey-Hamsher.

Ah, google is our friend 

https://road.cc/content/news/210161-cycling-uk-asks-“people-don’t-cyclists”-magistrate-withdraw-cases-involving

Ah, I actually made an official complaint about that.   As in: wrote to HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

Anyone care to guess what the result was? 

I'm torn between 'no response at all' and 'generic bland letter acknowledging your concern but making it clear nothing will be done'.

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

cycle.london wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

PRSboy wrote:

Recarobob wrote:

As a local resident that rides on these roads frequently it's normally the pick up and van drivers that cause the most problems. The roads are busy and narrow and these drivers seem to be quite happy to overtake on bends with no line of sight, or when there are other vehicles approaching, just to save a few seconds. My heart goes out to the poor family and I hope that if/when the driver is caught the courts actually punish them properly.

This.

With a potential drink/drug driving charge and leaving the scene I can see no reason for the courts not to impose maximum sentence.

Unless the driver comes up with the usual sob story about needing to drive his housebound aunt to Bingo or somesuch.

Or unless he has the good fortune to find himself appearing before some bigoted C-word like Catherine Hobey-Hamsher.

Ah, google is our friend 

https://road.cc/content/news/210161-cycling-uk-asks-“people-don’t-cyclists”-magistrate-withdraw-cases-involving

Ah, I actually made an official complaint about that.   As in: wrote to HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

Anyone care to guess what the result was? 

 

I'm torn between 'no response at all' and 'generic bland letter acknowledging your concern but making it clear nothing will be done'.

The latter.   I appealed against that.  It was then passed on to someone higher up the food chain, who - suuuuurrrrrpriiiiisee !!!!!! - upheld the decision of her underling. 

cycle.london wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

PRSboy wrote:

Recarobob wrote:

As a local resident that rides on these roads frequently it's normally the pick up and van drivers that cause the most problems. The roads are busy and narrow and these drivers seem to be quite happy to overtake on bends with no line of sight, or when there are other vehicles approaching, just to save a few seconds. My heart goes out to the poor family and I hope that if/when the driver is caught the courts actually punish them properly.

This.

With a potential drink/drug driving charge and leaving the scene I can see no reason for the courts not to impose maximum sentence.

Unless the driver comes up with the usual sob story about needing to drive his housebound aunt to Bingo or somesuch.

Or unless he has the good fortune to find himself appearing before some bigoted C-word like Catherine Hobey-Hamsher.

Ah, google is our friend 

https://road.cc/content/news/210161-cycling-uk-asks-“people-don’t-cyclists”-magistrate-withdraw-cases-involving

Ah, I actually made an official complaint about that.   As in: wrote to HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

Anyone care to guess what the result was? 

Since you're still alive, you are obviously not enough of a thorn in their side.

Could do better!

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

Shit like this is probably the main reason why I don't go on weekend solo runs into the countryside.  

I can't speak for what it's like in Surrey,but in East Anglia the countryside roads on the whole are fine to ride solo on, the most dangerous bits by far are where you re-enter civilisation so to speak, in the towns/medium sized villages, where the traffic even if not that congested just goes full on crazy must get in front of you.

Awavey wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

Shit like this is probably the main reason why I don't go on weekend solo runs into the countryside.  

I can't speak for what it's like in Surrey,but in East Anglia the countryside roads on the whole are fine to ride solo on, the most dangerous bits by far are where you re-enter civilisation so to speak, in the towns/medium sized villages, where the traffic even if not that congested just goes full on crazy must get in front of you.

Official stats show that most KSIs happen on rural roads. I can't remember whether they show that rural roads are worse for cyclists or better. Time cycled v injuries, probably makes country lanes worse, "safety in numbers".