On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:09:57 +0200, Geo wrote:
>
> "TOG@Toil" <[email protected]> wrote
>
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7270751.stm
>>
>> I can understand what she did was daft, but then the cyclist went
>> through a red light, as so many seem wont to do. Six of one and half
>> a dozen of the other, surely?
>
> We had this discussion regarding texting while driving some time ago here; I
> am very much against that sort of behaviour (and that incident shows
> why-you're ) but I still think the verdict is a harsh. The rider went
> through a red light and wasn't even wearing a helmet, that's really tempting
> fate, unless you're in a Range Rover (where you tempt other people's fates).
> Fair enough, she is responsible for the death of a person, but the way the
> incident is presented, the accident happened mainly because of his rather
> than her stupidity. It'd be a different story if she were speeding at the
> same time.
>
> I still think that texting while driving is wrong and worthy of punishment.
She was speeding, from the article "The 25-year-old from Hythe, Hampshire,
was driving at 45mph in a 30mph zone." I too don't like the tone in which
the item is presented but for entirely the opposite reasons you give, the
cyclist going through a red light part could very well have been arriving
at a light as it was changing, cyclists take longer to build up speed,
to clear junctions and can often get caught in dangerous situations due to
the timing of lights. As well as motorbikes, I ride bicycles and I am
never more aware of my vulnerability in traffic than on a pushbike, enough
to dissuade me from riding due to pushy aggressive moronic car drivers.
His stupidity (if any) pales into insignificance compared with hers.
