Safe Speed Forums

Link to Daily Record page
A PEDESTRIAN who caused a 70mph crash by strolling into a road to ask directions has been jailed for reckless walking.

Drunk Marcus Whitelaw watched as a car swerved to avoid him, hit a kerb and flipped.

He then asked the shocked driver: "Sorry, did I cause that? Which way is Inverness?" The 27-year-old, of Bailey Place, Lossiemouth, became one of the first people ever to be jailed for bad walking when he was locked up for two months yesterday.

The prosecutor said: "She saw something ahead. She manoeuvred into the offside lane to avoid whatever it was, then realised it wasa person.

"The accused stepped from the nearside to the offside lane waving his arms above his head.

"He appeared to be signalling them to stop. Miss Connon applied the brakes and steered away from the pedestrian"She mounted the central reservation.The vehicle struck the kerb and was lifted from the road.

"It overturned on to its roof. It ultimately came to rest on its wheels again.

_________________
Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

while they're at it shouldn't they also lock up the driver for being completely incompetent?

Unfortunately, there's nothing illegal about being utterly incompetent..

_________________
"Politicians are the same the world over... We build bridges where there aren't any rivers." - Nikita Kruschev

It was probobly a 4x4 or badly designed people mover. You would be suprised how easy they are to roll!

_________________
Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

So had the driver even considered that it might be a good idea to reduce her speed at the point she realised there was something in front of her?


Chances are she more than likely stamped on the anchors when she realised how quickly she was coming up on the (obviously) suicidal pedestrian.....not really a good move when trying to steer at the same time, even if you do have ABS.

_________________
What makes you think I'm drunk officer, have I got a fat bird with me?

pretty easy to roll most things if you hit the kerb with any lateral velocity...

However it is nice to see someone OTHER than the motorist being blamed by the law for an accident...

_________________
Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

as easy as this?

holy cow

My word.

In some European countries the driver is automatically to blame for accidents involving a pedestrian.

I predict it will end up here eventually - Ambulance chasing lawyers will love it!

What do you want the driver to do? Drunks aren't exactly renowned for their predictablity and add to that, if someone steps into the middle of the road waving their arms, how do you know they are asking for help in a genuine emergency or could it be a carjacking attempt?

_________________
Anyone who tells you that nothing is impossible has never bathed in a saucer of water.

hahaha that was too funny

_________________
My friends call me RuFFy

ahuh, because a motorway's a really good place for a carjacking as opposed to, say, a set of traffic lights where you can safely walk up to a stopped car.


well here's a clue - you see someone actually on a motorway you don't try to drive past them at 70mph.

When my cousin was just twelve, she tried to cross the A591 at Troutbeck Bridge, and ran into the side of a van. NSL applied at the time, but because of the situation, the driver was only doing 40 mph.

She had concussion, lost a few teeth, and had a couple of broken bones.
NOW, there is a 40 mph limit, AND a PELICAN crossing. There is also a busy school, where at start and finish times is well choked up with school run traffic.
HOWEVER, the standard of driving displayed, AND the actions of some of the children on foot is appalling!!
I feel that as traffic has increased over the last few decades, standards have not risen enough to cope with the increase in vehicles encountered.
Also, we have had no real snow here for years, and when it does fall, the chaos which ensues is excruciating to witness!

For crossing traffic, slowing speeds makes life more difficult, as vehicles clump together and start to convoy, instead of leaving gaps which pedestrians (and some cars) can get through.

More thoughts anyone?

_________________
Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!