It is not "dangerous" to drive into a cyclist

[Thoglette]

..but if you kill car occupants it's manslaughter.
Drug-driver Raymond Lomas jailed for 17 years over deadly Sydney crash

The difference between this and the journalist in the McLaren is that a) the Plod hadn't been chasing her b) no ice c) no criminal history (should affect sentencing only)

[AdelaidePeter]

Here's another one, this time the victim killed was a child in another car. Driver was at fault, but not guilty of dangerous driving: https://twitter.com/SeanFewster/status/ ... 9240783872

EDIT: wait, maybe he was guilty and it's a soft sentence. I'll comment more when the case is formally reported.

[biker jk]

Here's another one, this time the victim killed was a child in another car. Driver was at fault, but not guilty of dangerous driving: https://twitter.com/SeanFewster/status/ ... 9240783872

EDIT: wait, maybe he was guilty and it's a soft sentence. I'll comment more when the case is formally reported.

How is driving on the wrong side of the road not dangerous?

Hopefully he's not granted citizenship.

[AdelaidePeter]

Here's another one, this time the victim killed was a child in another car. Driver was at fault, but not guilty of dangerous driving: https://twitter.com/SeanFewster/status/ ... 9240783872

EDIT: wait, maybe he was guilty and it's a soft sentence. I'll comment more when the case is formally reported.

OK, a bit more detail from https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/truecrim ... 8a6a38a1cf : prosecutors dropped the charge of causing death by dangerous driving in a plea deal, in exchange for a guilty plea to driving without due care, causing death. So either the penalty for "driving without due care, causing death" is too light, or the burden of proof for "causing death by dangerous driving" is too high; take your pick.

I realise this is not a cyclist case, but just a general reminder of how weak our laws are on fatally dangerous driving.

[biker jk]

Here's another one, this time the victim killed was a child in another car. Driver was at fault, but not guilty of dangerous driving: https://twitter.com/SeanFewster/status/ ... 9240783872

EDIT: wait, maybe he was guilty and it's a soft sentence. I'll comment more when the case is formally reported.

OK, a bit more detail from https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/truecrim ... 8a6a38a1cf : prosecutors dropped the charge of causing death by dangerous driving in a plea deal, in exchange for a guilty plea to driving without due care, causing death. So either the penalty for "driving without due care, causing death" is too light, or the burden of proof for "causing death by dangerous driving" is too high; take your pick.

I realise this is not a cyclist case, but just a general reminder of how weak our laws are on fatally dangerous driving.

Well here's an example of a driver found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and the sentence was just 12 months.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australi ... spartandhp

[cogs19]

Here's another one, this time the victim killed was a child in another car. Driver was at fault, but not guilty of dangerous driving: https://twitter.com/SeanFewster/status/ ... 9240783872

EDIT: wait, maybe he was guilty and it's a soft sentence. I'll comment more when the case is formally reported.

OK, a bit more detail from https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/truecrim ... 8a6a38a1cf : prosecutors dropped the charge of causing death by dangerous driving in a plea deal, in exchange for a guilty plea to driving without due care, causing death. So either the penalty for "driving without due care, causing death" is too light, or the burden of proof for "causing death by dangerous driving" is too high; take your pick.

I realise this is not a cyclist case, but just a general reminder of how weak our laws are on fatally dangerous driving.

Well here's an example of a driver found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and the sentence was just 12 months.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australi ... spartandhp

The judge took into account his remorse, hence the lenient sentence. Of course, attempting to flee the country two days after killing someone is a clear indication of heartfelt remorse.

[warthog1]

^^That is grossly inadequate and appalling.

The bloke has packed his house up, shipped his belongings and attempted to flee.
He needn't have bothered.
If that is the penalty he gets after attempting to flee "justice", he'd have probably got a payout or citation otherwise.

[human909]

Like everybody else I am appalled by our lenient sentencing and seeming to trivialise deaths of road users, especially vulnerable road users.

However any change to the status quo must incorporate FAR FAR more than changes to sentencing. Even in reckless and idiotic cases, society gains little locking people away for reckless mistakes. The gains are to be had by PREVENTING them. So 95% of the work needs to happen before it gets to that point.