5 years for death by dangerous driving

[matthewslack]

Driver who killed cycling policewoman Lynwen Thomas jailed

Simon Lee Draper was using his mobile phone when he struck Sgt Lynwen Thomas with his Transit van.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Nealh]

Sadly not long enough for killing some one, though 5 years is the max sentence for the offence. However I feel if it had been an ordinary member of the public he wouldn't have been given 5 years.

I doubt the family will feel 5 years is long enough but the fact he has felt the full force of the law will have to suffice.

 

[flash]

The lorry driver that killed my friend was only sentenced to 2 years.
Link

 

[guerney]

The lorry driver that killed my friend was only sentenced to 2 years.
Link

I'm very sorry to hear of the death of your friend.

 

[guerney]

Driver who killed cycling policewoman Lynwen Thomas jailed

Simon Lee Draper was using his mobile phone when he struck Sgt Lynwen Thomas with his Transit van.

www.bbc.co.uk

Jailed for just five years, banned from driving for only six years

The Exposure Flare is one of the brightest rear lights available, but even it's brightness is a mere 75 lumens. Despite my recent efforts spurred by this killing, my new 1800 lumen rear light could also be missed in daylight, if the lorry driver was looking at maps, otherwise engaged with his phone, or sleepy/other. I grit my teeth cycling, when I hear a heavy vehicle behind me.

I'm seriously starting to wonder if I would be safer from distracted drivers, if I carried a device on my bike, which made a 140db movie submarine sonar sound, every three seconds. Or this switching on and off automatically, at defined durations and intervals. The GuerneyDriverWakeyWakey™ is invented.

Siren Sound Generator Electronic Kit

Produces 4 different sounds: police siren, fire brigade, emergency vehicle and gun. Sound pitch is adjustable. On/off switch and PCB speaker included...

quasarelectronics.co.uk

Perhaps I should turn a 12V 140db horn on and off cyclically instead, using something like this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CYCLIC-SWITCH-ADJUSTABLE-REPEATER-INTERVAL/dp/B091P3TD88

 

[StuartsProjects]

Jailed for just five years, banned from driving for only six years

So the 'plan' is only to ban him from driving for one year after release.

There surely has to be a case for driving bans to be very much longer in such cases, like a lifetime ban maybe.

 

[guerney]

So the 'plan' is only to ban him from driving for one year after release.

There surely has to be a case for driving bans to be very much longer in such cases, like a lifetime ban maybe.

I expect he'll get time off the ban for good behaviour.

 

[flecc]

I doubt the family will feel 5 years is long enough but the fact he has felt the full force of the law will have to suffice.

So the 'plan' is only to ban him from driving for one year after release.

This isn't the case for both quotes above, the driver will only be imprisoned for 2.5 years at the most so will have years of driving ban following.

Except for truly exceptional crimes where judges prescribe a minimum sentence, or when prisoners commit offences while in prison, all prison sentences of over two years are automatically halved. This has been the case for decades. It's also common for there to be even earlier releases on occasions, according to need and suitability. The rest of any sentence is in the community on licence, so if offending again they can be returned to prison.

There have also been large reductions for sentences less than 2 years, but they vary according to whether the sentence was before or since 2015.

In fact a high proportion of prison sentences are suspended so never served at all.
.

 

[Nealh]

His driving ban I believe as with most bans starts after the sentence or the release of the offender, I didn't see it reported but often they have to take an extended re test to get the licence back.

 

[Nealh]

The findings below in the link are those of the City of Westminister for Cycle accidents in London , how they fair to the rest of the country may be differnent but one would think not much though.
Crashes involving bikes mostly driver’s fault | The Times

Crashes involving bikes mostly driver’s fault - article in The Times - Singletrack World Magazine