Another Annetts case to emerge?

JohnB said:

Paul Troughton, from Southampton, was driving along the A33 a short
distance behind the van when the accident happened. He said that the
schoolboy was not wearing a cycle helmet.

But neglected to say whether the boy was cycling safely or whether the van
driver was driving carefully.

The fact that he was not wearing a helmet is not signifcant.

Simonb said:

JohnB said:

Paul Troughton, from Southampton, was driving along the A33 a short
distance behind the van when the accident happened. He said that the
schoolboy was not wearing a cycle helmet.

But neglected to say whether the boy was cycling safely or whether the van
driver was driving carefully.

Par for the course :-(

Quoted message said:

The fact that he was not wearing a helmet is not signifcant.

John B

JohnB said:

In this weeks' Basingstoke Gazette;

Brief summary:

"AN 11-year-old schoolboy cyclist from Basingstoke was yesterday in a
"critical but stable" condition in hospital after he was involved in a
collision with a van on the A33 at Chineham.

The youngster - who comes from the Chineham area but whose name has not
been released by police - sustained multiple injuries, including head
injuries, in the incident at Thornhill Way traffic lights at 4.30pm on Tuesday.

Sergeant Paul Plews, of Hampshire Roads Policing Unit, said: "The van
was travelling along the A33 and it appears that a child has ridden out
on a bike. The van braked hard, but an impact occurred."

Almost identical, but fatal, incident reported here:

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/wiltshire/archive/2004/06/19/swindon_news2ZM.html

No mention of the H-word, but again the young victim was riding *across*
the road. Ironically there is an underpass for use by cyclists and peds
about 20 yards away from the accident site.

Zog The Undeniable said:

Almost identical, but fatal, incident reported here:

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/wiltshire/archive/2004/06/19/swindon_news2ZM.html

No mention of the H-word, but again the young victim was riding *across*
the road. Ironically there is an underpass for use by cyclists and peds
about 20 yards away from the accident site.

Not sure what is ironic about that. Assuming it's your standard issue
UK underpass[1], it's hardly suprising that the boy avoided using it -
along with everyone else.

[1] Primary design criteria being uninterrupted motor traffic flow
even if that means sending peds on long, long unpleasant and unsafe
detours.

Not Responding said:

Not sure what is ironic about that. Assuming it's your standard issue
UK underpass[1], it's hardly suprising that the boy avoided using it -
along with everyone else.

[1] Primary design criteria being uninterrupted motor traffic flow
even if that means sending peds on long, long unpleasant and unsafe
detours.

It goes under a busy roundabout with traffic lights and 6 exits, two of
which are dual carriageways, and links up with useful cycle routes (a
rarity, I know) on both sides. I use it myself at busy periods. Never
seen any broken glass/tramps/yobs in there.