2017-02-06 - Rider Down, CS2 near Aldgate East

Guys, can I suggest that the 'discussion' about Clarke's isn't a subject appropriate for this thread? @Velocio

Very sad to hear of the death.

@Velocio

any chance of moving the comments to a thread specific to Clarke's attitudes?

Action on Velocio's part isn't really required if people just edit their comments for now and someone starts a new thread elsewhere.

Terrible.

R.I.P. Rider. Thoughts to all who knew and loved you.

To have to write this again, too soon.

R.I.P.

RIP rider.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/flightstobrazil?utm_id=106&utm_term=9bpjwjM9x

Another sad and needless waste of a young life. So very sad. RIP

Rest in Peace.

Thoughts with family and friends, RIP

Police appeal for witness; http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/police-hunt-key-witness-after-32yearold-cyclist-killed-in-whitechapel-horror-crash-a3535521.html

Worth reproducing the picture:

A motorist accused of killing a young architect as she cycled to work
has denied causing death by careless driving. Barry Northcott, 41, is
said to have collided with Karla Roman on Whitechurch Lane in
Whitechapel High Street.

http://courtnewsuk.co.uk/driver-denies-architect-death/

Northcott stands trial in August.

Mr Sandhu said Northcott's "deliberate decision" to enter the cycle
stop box, which is there to provide safety, "deprived one cyclist of
that".

The court heard how he later told the police he often disregarded the
rules about the cycle stop box to "stop himself being swamped by
cyclists".

The trial continues at the same court on Tuesday.

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/16416303.bromley-coach-driver-did-not-know-he-had-hit-cyclist/

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/karla-roman-coach-driver-accused-of-killing-young-architect-as-cycled-to-work-in-east-london-was-a3910561.html

Guilty:

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/16592268.coach-driver-guilty-of-killing-cyclist-karla-roman-in-whitechapel-crash/

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/family-plea-to-drivers-to-respect-road-rules-after-cyclist-killed-by-coach-a3919331.html

The driver of the coach has been jailed for 15 months and banned from driving for 5 years and 30 weeks:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/coach-driver-who-killed-young-architect-karla-roman-as-she-cycled-to-work-jailed-a3942281.html

This is a relatively high sentence for a charge of causing death by careless driving. It would seem that the stronger charge of causing death by dangerous driving would have been more appropriate. The driver admitted to repeatedly and deliberately ignoring the law and driving into cyclists' stop boxes. That meets the CPS criteria for dangerous driving.

There is always the risk that UK juries won't convict someone for this type of dangerous driving if it is a style of driving they themselves do. A smart barrister can often bamboozle them into acquitting seriously dangerous drivers like Barry Northcott.

Judge:

"It may be frustrating to see cyclists pulling in front at junctions
but the box is there to protect vulnerable cyclists. Motorists simply
have to accept that, and it is not open to them to decide when and
where they may ignore that rule."