Learner driver gets two years, does this seem harsh to you?

[Pesty]

It wasnt that long ago a woman who had had an argument with her husband ran him over and killed him. She got off free.

[Chrisgr31]

I would assume (possibly incorrectly) that her husband had told her about the brake and accelerator but in her panic it was all forgotten.

Not sure why her husband didnt grab the handbrake.

Its this sort of thing that makes me glad I am not a judge, as can see both sides of the argument over punishment.

[Bebee]

This is on another thread but I ask this:

If this old lady, who is seemingly pleased as punch to pose for the news papers, killed the little girl, would it have even gone to court?

I think two years for a sincerely remorseful learner driver is OTT.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2077028/Ji...

[king arthur]

Sounds to me like the husband ought to get two years also.

[slow_poke]

Essential Driver Training - now mandatory in Ireland, to be completed before you can take your test. 12 hours of practical lessons, recorded in a logbook. Seperate from the theory test.

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Learner-Drivers/Driver-Tr...

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Shocking
I dont think the sentence is over the top, She'll be out in 6 months

Criminal stupidity.
Did her husband or her think at, any point, 'this a stupid idea?.. I don't know what Im doing?'
The most incredible thing about that story is the statement from the little girls parents.. incredible.

[Dalto123]

hornetrider said:

Chicharito said:

Dalto123 said:

I haven't read the link

EFA.

OI! I skim read it!

[Bebee]

Buff Mchugelarge said:

Shocking
I dont think the sentence is over the top, She'll be out in 6 months

Criminal stupidity.
Did her husband or her think at, any point, 'this a stupid idea?.. I don't know what Im doing?'
The most incredible thing about that story is the statement from the little girls parents.. incredible.

So why not execute her, you know, 'eye for an eye' it's OTT IMO.

[Stu R]

Not at all, I think the husband is equally as guilty.

[Bebee]

Stu R said:

Not at all, I think the husband is equally as guilty.

+1 but my thoughts are, is a jail term going to solve anything, even if the judge gave a heavy one to make an example of her, will it make any difference, the story will be forgot by next week, hardly high profile.

[davepoth]

Bebee said:

+1 but my thoughts are, is a jail term going to solve anything, even if the judge gave a heavy one to make an example of her, will it make any difference, the story will be forgot by next week, hardly high profile.

DfT will be watching though, and it sends a powerful message to them to make proper instruction compulsory.

[Hooli]

I also can't see why the husband didn't get an equal sentence.

[Zaxxon]

I thought that the licensed driver was a sort of 'captain' of the car so responsible in part for any accidents.

[SpeedMattersNot]

As said, it leads to an appreciation that at least the first few lessons need to be taken with a professional teacher/driving instructor.

The car is very much a weapon the law seems to not understand. For another example...why are people allowed to change their own wheel on a car, but arn't allowed to re-wire a plug in their own house? It's hillarious! We're not allowed to play with hot water from a gas boiler and rely on "professionals" to ensure our insurance is covered, but anyone can jack a car up and replace a brake caliper with pads and discs and track rod ends haha! Love it! As long as they're seriously harming other people and not just themselves, that is fine. Play ball

[Hooli]

SpeedMattersNot said:

As said, it leads to an appreciation that at least the first few lessons need to be taken with a professional teacher/driving instructor.

Not at all. Just with someone who has the intelligence to check you know which pedal does what before starting the engine.

[SpeedMattersNot]

Hooli said:

SpeedMattersNot said:

As said, it leads to an appreciation that at least the first few lessons need to be taken with a professional teacher/driving instructor.

Not at all. Just with someone who has the intelligence to check you know which pedal does what before starting the engine.

I don't agree...the idea that just because someone has a few years driving experience, is enough to teach someone else to drive is laughable!

Driving instructors have to pass tests, that enable them to determin whether or not someone is safe to venture onto the roads or not - and they'll have duel controls if their initial judgement has failed. Only this year we had someone who was self-teaching, who died from their own daughters inability!

[Bebee]

SpeedMattersNot said:

Hooli said:

SpeedMattersNot said:

As said, it leads to an appreciation that at least the first few lessons need to be taken with a professional teacher/driving instructor.

Not at all. Just with someone who has the intelligence to check you know which pedal does what before starting the engine.

I don't agree...the idea that just because someone has a few years driving experience, is enough to teach someone else to drive is laughable!

Driving instructors have to pass tests, that enable them to determin whether or not someone is safe to venture onto the roads or not - and they'll have duel controls if their initial judgement has failed. Only this year we had someone who was self-teaching, who died from their own daughters inability!

I agree with that, I can see a point not to soon when only trained instructors with dual pedals will be allow to teach a learner how to drive an electric car. Not your dad or brother or sister or mate etc

[Hooli]

SpeedMattersNot said:

Hooli said:

SpeedMattersNot said:

As said, it leads to an appreciation that at least the first few lessons need to be taken with a professional teacher/driving instructor.

Not at all. Just with someone who has the intelligence to check you know which pedal does what before starting the engine.

I don't agree...the idea that just because someone has a few years driving experience, is enough to teach someone else to drive is laughable!

Driving instructors have to pass tests, that enable them to determin whether or not someone is safe to venture onto the roads or not - and they'll have duel controls if their initial judgement has failed. Only this year we had someone who was self-teaching, who died from their own daughters inability!

I don't agree that only those who've passed the exams are fit to teach others to drive. I'm sure lots of people who've not done the course could do it as well, they just have no proof as such.
Plus with the shockingly crap driving I often see by driving school cars (often with a single occupant) I doubt most instructors have much of a clue anyway.

[SpeedMattersNot]

Hooli said:

SpeedMattersNot said:

Hooli said:

SpeedMattersNot said:

As said, it leads to an appreciation that at least the first few lessons need to be taken with a professional teacher/driving instructor.

Not at all. Just with someone who has the intelligence to check you know which pedal does what before starting the engine.

I don't agree...the idea that just because someone has a few years driving experience, is enough to teach someone else to drive is laughable!

Driving instructors have to pass tests, that enable them to determin whether or not someone is safe to venture onto the roads or not - and they'll have duel controls if their initial judgement has failed. Only this year we had someone who was self-teaching, who died from their own daughters inability!

I don't agree that only those who've passed the exams are fit to teach others to drive. I'm sure lots of people who've not done the course could do it as well, they just have no proof as such.
Plus with the shockingly crap driving I often see by driving school cars (often with a single occupant) I doubt most instructors have much of a clue anyway.

Neither do I. As said, my dad taught me and my 2 brothers how to drive just fine...

But you need to draw the line at some point. The typical person who takes their son/daughter out for driving lessons isn't capable of driving themselves - and it has to be (this forum should agree) that those who have taken further driving education should be better drivers. Not in all cases...but we need certain standards.

The chances of a professional driving instructor, being able to teach it's learner which pedal is what...has to be greater than those who arn't professional driving instructors, without duel controls. Agree?

[Hooli]

Agreed, I just don't feel there is a law needed to enforce that. If they just enforced the laws to make the average driver competent then anyone teaching someone else to drive would have an idea what to do.