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HGV Driver Jailed for 7 Years

(12 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from Claggy Cog

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  1. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    On the face of it a slightly more proportionate sentence (for once being found guilty of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving) - jailed for 7 years and licence revoked for life.

    The driver had drunk a gallon on Guinness the night before, was still over the limit, and was on his phone (he claims hands-free) and pulling away from lights ran straight over a 39 year old female cyclist who died shortly afterwards.

    It's only when you read that he'd been jailed twice previously for driving offences, and had a string of driving convictions, including 3 for drink driving, and 20 for driving while disqualified that you wonder why he still had a licence.

    And yes, given the driving while disqualified convictions of the past, if he'd had his licence revoked earlier he would likely have still driven, but he would not have been able to get a job as an HGV driver.

    Full Story

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. SRD
    Moderator

    This from the Guardian as well: Experts call for ban on HGVs in Britain's cities to protect cyclists

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. cb
    Member

    ...and don't click on the Worst Rated comments (on the Dailymail article). At least they're worst rated; you can never tell which way things will go with the DM.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    From Guardian story

    "
    "Trucks with high cabs are designed for motorway driving and should not be allowed inside city limits," said Dr Andrei Morgan from LSHTM's department of epidemiology and public health, who led the research. "Cyclists can do as much as they like in terms of making themselves visible: they can wear neon and cover themselves in lights, but truck drivers can't see them because they are too high up, the angles are wrong. Advanced stop lines are helpful but they don't solve the issue."

    The research found that 53% of cyclists killed by trucks were crushed by trucks turning left across them, illustrating the danger of cycling up the left-hand side of a heavy vehicle. European studies have found the same (PDF).
    "

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    From Twitter

    "
    BCCletts Dave Holladay

    Employer who let driver with 20 yrs of driving offences & drink issue do this should be in jail (HSAW Section 3)

    "

    http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23899191-family-of-dead-cyclist-speak-out-as-lorry-driver-with-the-most-god-awful-hangover-is-jailed-for-seven-years.do

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. ruggtomcat
    Member

    wow the thrid picture is obviosly from the crash, look at where the bike is. [eek] I think the comments you refered to have been removed.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Utterly appalling. That's just terrible that it was ever allowed to happen that the man was still allowed to be a "professional" driver after a lifetime of committing offences and that the "sentence" is so disproportionately light.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. Claggy Cog
    Member

    There must be no record kept of such disqualifications (other in court records) and even the fact that this man had served time on two occasions for driving whilst disqualified. You serve time really because you are not insured not for the actual disqualification it would seem. DVLA should be informed of such life events and it should be put on a person's licence or at least flag up when criminal idiots like him re-apply for a new one, and not just kept in court files. I don't believe the driver is only 51 he looks more like 61+, he looks rough. He must be alcohol dependent to have that many drink drive offences and should not have been allowed on the road, ever. Poor, poor woman and her family, absolutely tragic.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. splitshift
    Member

    How this man had a job is beyond me,no real surprise that it is a tipper. They dont have the best reputation in the industry. That particular type of vehicle doesnt have such a high, large cab. Its a DAF, CF actually designed for more urban applications, but as a tipper its got raised suspension for quarry, building site work. It is quite a new vehicle and if you look at the third photo you can see what are called idiot mirrors fixed to the nearside front. One overlooks the front of the truck,especialy the nearside front corner, one overlooks the nearside door, especially the wheel to front corner, the other two are a conventional rear view along the nearside, the final is a blind spot mirror, wide, fish eye type that covers almost the entire near side of the vehicle. No excuses, he is guilty as sin, should throw away the key. Thank goodness I work for a responsible co, no way he would get an interview never mind a job. If he is 51 then only last year a doctor passed him as medically fit to hold an LGV entitellment,how could he be fit with such an obvious alcohol problem.How his employers insurance company allowed him to drive is another question,insurance costs comercial fleets a fortune,generally no more than 6 points are permitted. Endorsments generally require an explanation and are frowned upon because of the higher risks ,all pretty obvious stuff really. Feel so sad for the girl and her family.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. Kirst
    Member

    I don't understand why the HSE don't deal with road deaths like this. Surely they should be investigating any death caused by an employee in the course of their work?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. Claggy Cog
    Member

    Good point Kirst. I think his employers should be investigated too, as to how and why they gave him a job, and their recruitment policy needs to be looked at closely. Yes, Splitshift, it is so true that tipper companies do not have a good reputation. I give lorries of this kind a very wide berth, and in particular one firm in Edinburgh, whose drivers are maniacs, one of whom was involved in a fatal accident in Newington a couple of years ago. Not heard any more about the outcome of that one...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. Claggy Cog
    Member

    I thought this might be of interest, there are some things that I certainly did not know. Perhaps he never produced his licence to have endorsements or points added, and moved address, and the courts are so busy in London that he probably slipped through the net. Also he may have just applied for new driving licences, who knows but him, how he managed to get away with it.

    http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/EndorsementsAndDisqualifications/DG_4022550

    Posted 13 years ago #

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