Cyclists killed in Wales last Sunday 09/01/06

jman0

For those who missed it:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/4592412.stm

Seems a group of 12 cyclists got plough'd into by a car that lost control.
Pretty outrageous and news-worthy i should think but i dunno if RTE are bothered enough to report it. Maybe since it happened in Wales....couldn't happen here huh?

Morgan

It's reported in today's Independent.

cyclopath2001

Morgan wrote:

It's reported in today's Independent.

British police spokesperson moved with indecent haste to exonerate the driver.

jman0

cyclopath2001 wrote:

British police spokesperson moved with indecent haste to exonerate the driver.

I agree, the article states that the driver was going 50mph and while that may be below the posted speed limit, it doesn't mean it's a safe speed to travel in dubious road conditions. Notice the cyclists weren't reported to be swerving or loosing contol, how fast were they traveling?

Come to think of it, i haven't read any interviews with the survivors.

Heinrich

jman0 wrote:

For those who missed it:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/4592412.stm

Seems a group of 12 cyclists got plough'd into by a car that lost control.
Pretty outrageous and news-worthy i should think but i dunno if RTE are bothered enough to report it. Maybe since it happened in Wales....couldn't happen here huh?

It happened in the Phoenix Park many years ago. The park was supposed to be closed to traffic for a race there...

Alkers

jman0 wrote:

I agree, the article states that the driver was going 50mph and while that may be below the posted speed limit, it doesn't mean it's a safe speed to travel in dubious road conditions. Notice the cyclists weren't reported to be swerving or loosing contol, how fast were they traveling?

Come to think of it, i haven't read any interviews with the survivors.

In all fairness, from what I've read I seriously doubt that any harm or wrongdoing was done by the motorist, who iirc is suffering from severe shock and prob. rightly but unfortunately so.

jman0

Simona1986 wrote:

In all fairness, from what I've read I seriously doubt that any harm or wrongdoing was done by the motorist, who iirc is suffering from severe shock and prob. rightly but unfortunately so.

I suppose that might be expected but i also expect them to be charged wth 4 counts of manslaughter.

Alkers

I don't think so in this case as teh police spokesperson said the road had frozen over and that the driver simply lost control on an icy bend, were't even speeding or anything.

cyclopath2001

Simona1986 wrote:

I don't think so in this case as teh police spokesperson said the road had frozen over and that the driver simply lost control on an icy bend, were't even speeding or anything.

He lost control of his vehicle because he failed to drive at a speed appropriate to the road conditions at that time.

Alkers

Well whatever suits you individualy, from what I've heard the driver was driving perfecly within reason and the accident was an absolute mistake. Don't get me wrong, I'm a cyclist myself and my hearst goes out the afore mentioned cyclists.

cyclopath2001

Simona1986 wrote:

Well whatever suits you individualy, from what I've heard the driver was driving perfecly within reason and the accident was an absolute mistake. Don't get me wrong, I'm a cyclist myself and my hearst goes out the afore mentioned cyclists.

I think that motorists should be held accountable for the consequences of their actions & that the courts, not the police, should judge the level of culpability.

Just because the speed limit was 50mph, does not make it reasonable to travel at that speed & all drivers have a responsibility to take account of road and weather conditions. It is clear that this motorist failed, for reasons yet to be determined, to excercise a sufficientlevel of care that would have avoided the accident. The results speak for themselves.

Capt'n Midnight

In France there would be a mandatory prosecution, then again they don't use and adversarial legal system like we do.

FergusF

cyclopath2001 wrote:

I think that motorists should be held accountable for the consequences of their actions & that the courts, not the police, should judge the level of culpability.

Just because the speed limit was 50mph, does not make it reasonable to travel at that speed & all drivers have a responsibility to take account of road and weather conditions. It is clear that this motorist failed, for reasons yet to be determined, to excercise a sufficientlevel of care that would have avoided the accident. The results speak for themselves.

I agree with cyclopath - all road users need to take conditions into account and drive at an appropriate speed. The speed limit is the maximum allowed, it doesn't mean that is a safe speed to drive at under all conditions.

It sounds like the driver was going too fast for the road conditions and should take responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

Ice, leaves, mud, gravel, snow, diesel spills, etc all reduce traction and drivers (as well as bikers and cyclists) should adjust their speed accordingly. As a car driver, cyclist and occasonal biker I am all too aware of this. In the driver's defence, I think for drivers of modern cars it is too easy to ignore road conditions; you are so well isolated by the car itself - power steering, ABS, traction control that is difficult to judge what speed is safe.

NewDubliner

FergusF wrote:

I think for drivers of modern cars it is too easy to ignore road conditions; you are so well isolated by the car itself - power steering, ABS, traction control that is difficult to judge what speed is safe.

The industry has certainly done a good job making motorists feel smug and safe. But, I thought cars had thermometers to warn the driver of potential icy conditions, no to mention RDS radios to relay road safety bulletins?

daymobrew

NewDubliner wrote:

But, I thought cars had thermometers to warn the driver of potential icy conditions

Not all cars. My 2001 Golf doesn't.
My bike does - the end of my nose goes red and numb