Texting & Driving

[MAD BUTCHER]

The news that a young woman killed a cyclist because she was TEXTING while driving surely merits a lengthy prison sentence. Personally I would ban all mobile phones from vehicles - even the "hands free" ones take up all the drivers attention. There is no excuse to be holding a phone while driving - but to actually be concentrating on making a text message just makes you wonder about the idiot, moronic, arragant young women.

[jno]

good grief.. Some people don't have the brains they were born with. This one is clearly in the shallow end of the gene pool.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/722163 0.stm

[campbellking]

There is no defence for what she did, but I would also point out that the cyclist involved went through a red light at the junction, which may be why she didn't get a bigger sentence..

[tigerlily11]

I have to go and pick up my son some evenings during the week. There are at least two cyclists that drive through heavy traffic on a large roundabout which has one duel carriageway off it with large lorries coming and going on to and off the round about. Both cyclists ride round this roundabout with no lights on their bikes and dark clothing on. Twice I have been cut up on that round about by these people and I have to slam my breaks on to avoid hitting them.
I am still amazed that they both are still alive.
We also have redways for cyclists which are well kept, but still they insist on useing the road in heavy traffic, wobbling all over the road making the traffic come to a stand still or causing cars to swerve.
No the woman should not have been texting and I agree that mobiles in cars are really bad news, but I think its time that cyclists should be made responsibe for how they behave on the road.
Jumping a red light is going to get you hit what ever your in or on.

[bensmum]

This accident happened locally and I know that junction well. There is a 30 mph speed limit but many people have been caught exceeding it (I believe the driver in question here has already been caught twice speeding along this road). However to go through a red light there is inviting an accident almost and some blame must lie with the cyclist.
That said to be speeding and texting was the utmost stupidity and maybe if she had been driving more slowly she would not have killed him

[rojash]

"The news ... surely merits a lengthy prison sentence."
As far as I am aware, there is no way that you can imprison a news item...

[mightymouse]

Ban her for life!

[helpmetoo]

what would be so difficult about a law that states, 'all mobile phones must be carried outside of the passenger cabin when the vehicle is running '(in the boot),
if you are not going to use it then that will be no hardship!

[helpmetoo]

anoyher point,
obviously the type of person who makes calls or sends texts when driving are the thickest members of society and so compound their lack of attention to driving because they struggle to speak or spell at the best of times!

it amazes me that they have any friends or acqaintances who would be remotely pleased to converse with these numpties

[brionon]

If ya wanna kill someone-don't use a gun or a knife ! Use a Car, but expect a ,rather painful, slap on yer wrist .