Man Cleared After Knocking Down Lollipop Lady

[Tilly2]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-35060435


Can someone explain to me how it is that this man has been cleared of this offence. I truly do not understand.

[frugalfred]

That was the verdict of 12 people on the jury.

[Tilly2]

I understand that part, Fred.

[frugalfred]

Obviously the jury considered his evidence re being blinded by the sun and believed him. Therefore he was cleared of the charges.

[vulcan42]

I don't understand either, if you're blinded by the sun you slow down or stop, not knock somebody down.(rule 237)

[Baldric]

///"I was totally blinded by the sun. I just heard a bump. I was in total shock.///

It's possible that could be the truth.

[ummmm]

Yep...they believed he was blinded by the sun and wasn't actually driving dangerously.

The winter sun can be awful.

[Old_Geezer]

One could be momentarily blinded and be in the processes of slowing I suppose. They were very lucky to have that explanation accepted though.

[ummmm]

Vulcan - he obviously didn't see her.

[frugalfred]

It does take a few seconds to grab the sun visor and pull it down when suddenly blinded by the sun.

[Tilly2]

He lives in the area, he knew there was a school crossing patrol lady there. He knew there were traffic lights!

[vulcan42]

ummm, obviously he didn't see her, if he was blinded by the sun he didn't see anything, so he should have slowing and stopping.

[ummmm]

Tilly...do you not think they might have checked that stretch of road, about the same time as the accident, when the sun was out? Or do you simply think they took his word for it?

[Peter Pedant]

they didnt prove the charge

[frugalfred]

You're right, vulcan - but one doesn't have to be intelligent to hold a driving licence, unfortunately.

[ummmm]

The article doesn't say whether he slowed down or not.

[Mamyalynne]

He may well have slowed but too late and it doesn't look like the type of road you can simply stop on.

Obviously the jury believed him.

When I was last blinded by the sun I broke my right wrist in two places and smashed my right kneecap into pieces - I've never been right since.

Fortunately I took no one with me in my accident.

[Tilly2]

Of course they did, ummmm. I drive down that road every day, at around the same time. It is very difficult, sometimes, because the direction is directly west into the setting sun. I know that.......and so does he.

[Mamyalynne]

^ left kneecap

[Davemano]

Blinded by the sun at ten minutes to four in late December and nobody able to say otherwise.

[ummmm]

Do you actually know how often he drives down that road?