Van driver convicted of killing RAF officer as he rode home on A40 escapes jail

when I encounter dangerous driving if possible i make like I want to remonstrate with the driver and when the prick pulls over I simply make like I am about to punch him and whilst he is focused on my fist i am removing the ignition key. By the time he has noticed I have his key I am down the road with it looking for a drain or a ditch to throw it in unless of course they accept my generous offer of a reasonable 'fine' to have it awarded back to them. It is suprising how often these people pull over and even more suprising how many drivers give me a lot of room on the road if any driver wishes to use his vehichle as a weapon I wish to dissarm the fucker

If the cycle path along the A40 is anything like the cycle paths around here (Telford), ie. strewn with broken glass and with ridiculous junctions and routes, I can understand why this rider was not using it. Maybe this death will be another reminder for the councils and government to think harder and plan better for the safety of all road users.

This absolutely beggars belief!

If you can't see - you stop! Who the hell drives blind? And what court says it's okay to drive blind? STOP! Or take measures so that you CAN see. I'd bet everything I have that if he was tied naked to the bonnet without the benefit of a cocoon of metal around him, he'd damn well stop then if he was plunging into the blind unknown at 40+ mph!

And what the f@#k is 'causing death by careless driving'? Oops - I'm awfully sorry, I seem to have killed you. How careless of me!

That comment about the cycle-path really winds me up too - he's not saying 'poor innocent me - I just didn't expect him to be there'. What he's making is a snide remark to imply fault with the cyclist - ie, he shouldn't have been there. Aside from the fact that cyclists have a right to use the roads, anyone who rides knows that cycle paths are simply unusable - they end without warning or pitch you straight into a kerb at a junction.

What, exactly, has to happen before a cyclists life is worth a driver's license? Let alone a custodial sentence.

I wonder if sometimes the Judiciary doesn't consider cycling on the highway to be some kind of extreme sport. Cyclists are practically asking for it, therefore the poor souls who wipe them out deserve some sympathy.

As I have said before, why do we have this offence of careless driving. You are either in complete control of your vehicle (by this I mean driving at the appropriate speed for the conditions and looking where you are going) or you are a dangerous driver.

I hope the family gets a good civil lawyer and sues the pants off this remorseful driver. It seems the law doesn't want to protect cyclist, so let's bankrupt dangerous drivers.

"I was struggling to see the brake lights of the car in front of me, so I decided I needed to slow down,”

"At that point I was in the middle lane and the sun got worse, so I put a cap on but it didnt help much.

"The sun was as low that day as I have ever known.

"The only way I could get the sun out of my eyes was to put the sun visor fully down, but I would have been blinded by that, so I put it on an angle.

"I could see people flashing me for going too slow so I decided to go into the inside lane and remember looking in my mirror for motorcycles.

"All of a sudden I felt a bump.

much much longer ban and retest.
couldn't cope with conditions or didn't want to? - changed lanes - was that because cars in front braking to allow cars out to pass cyclist and opted to undertake them

speculation yes - likely yes

Longer ban and retest would be my wish too.

Just read about the Twitter racist.

Is a few vitriolic tweets on the internet somehow worse than the careless loss of a life? Perhaps the same will apply to the type of abuse cyclists get first-hand every day. If so then it's time to shop for a helmetcam...

I have to wonder what the families of road death victims like the office above and the 20 cyclists killed so far this year think of it all.

It is quite shocking,
especially in light of the person who got 8 weeks in Jail for racist twittering. Not condonding what he did in any way but I think the sentences
are totally about face, Yes what he did was shocking and deservered to be punished but 8 weeks in jail for twittering compared to 100hrs community service for killing somebody.

I would take no pleasure in banging up anyone - it wrecks families and costs the state an absolute fortune, for a start - but you have to ask whether we are sending the right signals by imposing a mere 12 months driving ban.

We need to get across to people in general that motor vehicles are lethal weapons in the hands of people who mishandle them. If someone walked around with a loaded shotgun and inadvertently set it off killing someone, we they would no doubt suffer more serious sanction, so what is so different about a car?

The ban should be much longer and should be followed by a full formal re-test at its end if you want ever to have a licence again.

I must admit I'm a bit torn here

On one hand this sends no signal to drivers to take their driving responsibilities seriously - every slap on the wrist is another group of drivers sure they can drive any old way - and I'm not neglecting the poor grieving family either

On the other hand *if* the driver is genuinely torn up about this - I'm not sure that demanding a custodial sentence can be called "justice" rather than "revenge" - I know I never drink at all when driving - even one shandy would mean that if I had an accident I'd never forgive myself (slightly O/T example I know)

As I say - torn

it is very sad.

Crazy. Wonder if the judge rides in the back of a car, or the front. Can't see him on a bike.

words fail me

As Ive said time and time again - if you want to pop someone off just follow these steps:

1 Make sure you are in the UK
2 Make sure they ride a bike
3 Get in your car
4 Run them over
5 Say the sun was in your eyes or there was a bike lane so you weren't expecting a cyclist and are deeply sorry.
6 Do a bit of community service
7 JOB DONE.

I'm so proud of the justice system in the uk aren't you?.

"I weren’t even looking for a cyclist...I thought there’s no way there would be a cyclist on the road when there’s a cycle lane ...."

This shows that the driver doesn't know the highway code, he doesn't pay proper attention. He also didn't adjust his driving to cope with visibility problems.

How then can the judge say he was "quite satisfied that this offence arose out of your momentary inattention"?
This was clearly not momentary inattention it was this driver's normal driving behaviour.

The sentence is pathetic and should be appealed!

it's an absolute joke. and makes a mockery of the justice system.. his remorse does nothing for the family left without a Dad.

"I weren’t even looking for a cyclist..."

After admitting that he can be on the road again in 12 months, great piece of work by the judiciary!

Also to admit that he wouldn't expect a cyclist to be on the road when there is a cycle lane is worrying and shows a lack of knowledge as the highway code clearly states:

"Use of cycle lanes is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer."

Yet another slap on the wrist for a killer with a lame excuse.

If you can't see where you're going, slow down and stop, it says in the HC.

I despair.

How driving when you can't see in front of you at speed is not 'dangerious driving', rather than 'careless' I don't understand.

The driver's comment about the lane is interesting though, it should be looked at, I'd suggest its the useless junctions arrangements that detered Mr Barret from using it (see http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Beaconsfield&hl=en&ll=51.552927,-0.45022...). With the campaigns for more segregation - and the current tendancy to build not-a-motorway-but-nearly roads we need to get this stuff right...

another case of a cyclists life being worthless in the eyes of the law...when will it ever change?

why does the word ' bollocks' keep coming into mind.

Pathetic, yes. If however the judge ordered him to do 100 hours community service aimed at cycling safety, talking to young drivers etc. That may be a step in the right direction. Unfortunately he will just be cleaning graffiti from the streets.

Utter joke

Pathetic.