Debate this

[S2red]

Drive with frosted windscreen, knock down pedestrialns get afine and ban

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_...

Do a ludicrous speed get jailed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotl...


Not defending either in any way but know which of two I'd Jail

[OlberJ]

Looking at it like that then, both scenarios give less chance of seeing someone walking out in front of you.

But are you asking which is worse and more fitting of jail time exactly?

[S2red]

Just wondering why justice system deems that driving in a manner that causes you not to see a pedestrain and knock them down is not worthy of a custodial sentence but speeding admittedly at ludicrous speed where no one was injured is

Edited by S2red on Thursday 29th October 10:46

[Benten]

Better lawyers?

[S2red]

[OlberJ]

S2red said:

Just wondering why justice system deems that driving in a manner that causes you not to see a pedestrain and knock them down is not worthy of a custodial sentence but speeding admittedly at ludicrous speed where no one was injured is

Like i said, both situations mean you won't see a pedestrian till the last minute, if at all.

Doing 30, there's an 80% chance they'll live (allegedly), whether u see them or not, doing 166 on a bike....you're both fked.

But on the other hand, you don't get many pedestrians walking about the motorway.

[paul450]

the 166mph was not on the motorway mate, it was on the a702

[OlberJ]

That'll teach me to read more than the headlines.

Am just playing devils advocate anyways, they're both subjective, but yes i'd rather have to think and react quick than have to actually use "the force" to see what's on the road.

[John Cooper]

Did anyone see the news where a witness to the knocking down said the car 'crept round the corner and knocked the woman over' ?

Again, the media blowing st out of proportion.

The guy speeding is hard facts, he WAS doing the speeds.

The speeder shouldnt have been jailed but i certainly dont think the other guy should have either, Nor should he have drove with a frosty window but we ALL have done it wether it be frost or steamy windows.

[flyboyben]

There have been a number of cases in recent years of people being caught in excess of 150mph. Vehicles included an M3 CSL, a 911 and also a number of bikes. All the drivers faced jail sentences and lengthy bans. These cases were all over the news at the time because they generated headlines about being the fastest speeds recorded on British roads. So in my opinion, if you are going to drive at those sorts of speeds on public roads, you know what the consequences are if you get caught. Keep it for the track!

[breagh]

What is the stretch of the A702 like where the guy on the GSX-R1000 was doing 166mph? Junctions? Visibility?

[Nefarious]

The law is (or at least should be) based on intent, not consequence, so the fact that the first driver actually hit someone and the second didn't should have little bearing on the sentance.
I do think the first crime is worse, because it shows a level of decision-making far below that necessary for driving on the public road - if you're stupid enough to drive when you can't see what's ahead you deserve having your licence taken away. If you're willing to do that, what else are you prepared to do just because you're late for work? No brakes - oh, it's just round the corner, it'll be fine.

I've got a bit more sympathy with the second guy (not least because I've done some pretty big speeds down that strech of road). For those who don't know the road, because the A702 is the main route to Edinburgh from the south, it gets constantly clogged with lorries and other slow traffic. There are two decent overtaking opportunities along 35 miles of road, of which the Dolphinton Staight is one. It's flat, straight, well-sighted, has nothing bar fields either side and is nearly 2 miles long. Whatever you don't pass on there, you're going to be stuck behind for 1/2 hour.

166 is pretty fast, and fair play, you've got to expect to lose your licence if you get caught, but it seems to me to be a very worrying trend that these very fast speeders are now getting more severe custodial sentances than burglars, violent street robbers and others for whom you could (IMO) make a far stronger case for removal from society.

[marshal_alan]

feel really sorry for the speeding biker, yes he broke the law and then some but if he was on a quiet bit of road with no chance of any pedestrians coming onto the road surely the only life he was risking was his own and that was his own call. to jail the guy is a outrage, it is not as if he robbed an old granny, or flogged heroin to kids. jome to think of it if he had been a junky he would have got a lighter scentence. as usual it is the speeding motorists that get the headlines and a bloke's life is ruined.

perhaps if the judge got off his backside and stopped drinking scotch while reading the daily mail and instead put on a set of leathers and opened up the throttle of a bike or car he might understand that this bloke is not a proper criminal but a guy that took the buzz of speed too far

[jshell]

Even on that 2 mile long Dolphinton straight 166mph is OTT IMHO.

[S2red]

Best contradictory comment I saw was from police, I believe, that there was not a camera there as it could not be justified on safety grounds but over 20 drivers had been caught exceeding 100mph

Probably swamped with bored camera cars at present as a result of this case

[John Cooper]

Not lookin for an argument, But does everyone feel the speeders jail time is justified?

I've seen lesser sentences for people driving without lisence, insurance and are tryin to get away from the follwoing police. Unreal.

Opinions?

[Stewart-83]

I read MCN and there are often interesting cases in it. Driver goes to jail or receives HUGE bans for speeding.

Biker gets knocked off bike (nearly killed) by texting driver or something and driver gets piddly fine.


It's the inconsistencies that they need to sort out.

[fluffnik]

S2red said:

Best contradictory comment I saw was from police, I believe, that there was not a camera there as it could not be justified on safety grounds but over 20 drivers had been caught exceeding 100mph

No contradiction.

Lots of people do 100+ safely on that stretch.

[fluffnik]

John Cooper said:

Not lookin for an argument, But does everyone feel the speeders jail time is justified?

No. Jailing him is a disgrace.

[John Cooper]

fluffnik said:

John Cooper said:

Not lookin for an argument, But does everyone feel the speeders jail time is justified?

No. Jailing him is a disgrace.

I agree.

I was hoping to find someone who thinks it was correct so i could understand what a jail sentence will do....Mental.

Filling prisons with normal people when they complain the jail is too full and they might need to realise nutters back into the open world. fking winds me right up.