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It's the gravity of the punishment, regardless of how remorseful the offender was, extraordinary light for a loss of life.

These drivers are always remorseful. Has there ever been a case when a driver has hit a person, it has gone to court and they have not been remorseful? This is just a standard phrase used in mitigation.

errr, I can see this bike, it is not clear. Even if you take away the visible bits (wheels / bars etc) then it can still be seen.

Should be 'unclear bike'...

I was going to buy some burgers at Tescos but the wife said neigh.

Why are people in a tizzy over horse meat in their burgers?

What do you expect if you buy some cheap ground up pink slime?

Is a suprise that any meat was found in these horrible products.

Wrong hand for a wedding ring. That's a hoodlum slapper.

I am sure someone from Poland will correct you...

This end of the world thing is the reason I have not done any Christmas shopping yet. Would hate for the world to come to and end and my final thought being 'I have just wasted 12 minutes and #3.75 on Christmas shopping'.

i thought it was tree trunk

but

Tempting.......

If I see a kid in the road generally I put my foot up and aim for the head so they bounce out of my way. That must be the guy you think I am well your wrong I'm just the lazy guy who don't want to stop for nothing if I see a granny I'll go around her why should I stop I'm in a rush in the middle of a road with cars I don't want to get hit by one neither would I want to hit anyone but what I meant in the previous post is quite simple red man or green man a road is a flaming road you get all soughtss flying through red lights, some bicycles known as (the rider) police cars in persuit and even maybe people who missed amber so what I'm saying is hold the kids hand man it's a road just to be safe than sorry, by the way dude the troll is your wife

Gino, I would really love to explain why you are so wrong about this, but I don't think you will listen.

To keep things brief (I don't think you understand sentences due to the way you have written your post), I think you are an antagonistic cunt.

Was on my way for a training ride and waiting at a red light on Sunday next to Regents Park on a quiet road. As I sat there waiting for the lights to change an old guy in a posh car drives straight past me as if I wasn't there and whacked my elbow with his wing mirror! Couldn't fucking believe it!

I went round to the driver's side and he wound his window down. Calmly I said "You just hit me" and he replied "Well you're in the middle of the road". Told him to stop as my arm was hurt but he drove off. Called the cops on 101 and have to go in to make a statement.

Horrible posh old guy and an absolute scumbag.

So he saw you 'in the middle of the road'. Regardless of your position in the road (primary position for your own safety), the driver quite clearly saw you, by his own admission, and still struck you with his car.

I hope you got his registration plate. Were there any witnesses? And why call 101? He has hit you with his car and failed to stop. Although this was not a major crime you have been hurt, if you call 999 sometimes the police control circulate his reg number so that he can be picked up and 'talked to'...

How is your arm?

Ugh...

I'm fairly certain he did not mean to kill anyone. I'm also fairly certain he does not feel like a "winner" for having killed someone.

And it is terrible that someone died. More terrible than the person responsible feeling bad, of course. But the big issue is not punishment. The big issue is prevention. If you want to get your pitchforks out, join the Daily Mail comments section.

Hi Horatio,

Sorry that my words were crass. I should have said that there was one big loser and one guy that didn't lose much.

I am sure that the guy doesn't feel like a winner, but he has not lost anything - ie. he probably still has a job, is in contact with friends and family. The cyclist and his family / friends do not have this luxury.

Sorry, this whole 'drivers killing cyclists and getting away with it' thing is really getting to me.

Don't read this then

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20725496

The judge, Mr Justice Saunders, told the jury: "This is a case where there are no winners. Everyone is a loser."

Errr, there clearly was a winner, and it was not the cyclist. The guy had windows tinted to only let 17% light through, this is liiegal, he didn't look before opening the door, again this is an offence.

WTF were the jury thinking?

It'll make it's own liquid, you should be fine...

Thanks TS.

I fancy cooking this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/slow_cooker_chipotle_23720

It seems that you need to put the pork in the slow cooker without any liquid. Will this be OK or will it damage the slow cooker / ruin the pork?

Not from the blog but quite interesting about a speed awareness course

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/dec/14/drivers-moral-progress-cyclists-speed-awareness

From the article:

'I spent Monday morning at a speed awareness course, whither I had been dispatched for failing to notice a speed camera on the other side of a dual carriageway. It was an interesting opportunity for the examination of the emotional mechanisms underlying moral conduct.'

The offence was not failing to notice the camera, it was actually driving too fast.

Aside from that it is an interesting article.

Just on the off-chance, does anybody recognise this cab driver? Just reported him but was so shocked I forgot his registration number. Police would like to talk to him about a serious public order offence 13th December on Charlotte Street, W1.

Don't recognise him, but the picture will probably end up on the memes thread!

What happened? Any witnesses?

At first I was ???????????????

But then I was 'I understand'.....

This is very very newsworthy, and organisations like the ones you have mentioned will be able to push it in the right direction.

I think that this is very newsworthy because of the sentence, which is quite harsh compared to other similar / worse events. Hopefully any press coverage may educate some of the driving population.....

Well done that judge!

For one thing, how could the offender be of good character if he had a BMW?.. Also, priests do not have rooms to rent out unless they are doing something well dodgy themselves.

I hope you have recovered from your experience twitch and that your toes have mended...

Apparently C of E Priests might have had other business interests before joining the clergy so this is not an issue.

My toes have kind of mended - I was running regularly, doing half marathons in 1 hour 40 min, and occasional triathlons, I can now run (slowly) after 7 months, athough I still have a bit of pain. The worst thing is keeping my foot still - when I drive (eg. to go to see my wife / son in Wales) after 30 mins my toe is really aching - who would have thought that cycling 1 hour to work would be so easy, but driving (or even sitting still at work) would be so hard.....

You really shouldn't

Twitch, could you possibly contact the LCC or similar organisation who might be able to help make this a news story? It is useful for things like this to get some media attention as it makes people more aware that driving like an aggressive idiot is not acceptable.

Well there was a journalist from the London Evening Standard and also an agency journalist (apparently works for the Daily Mail) taking notes. I talked to the Standard journalist, but was still in a state of shock, I phoned him when I got back home, he said he was busy and he would call me back, am still waiting for the call.......

If this is national-newsworthy then I will happily speak with LCC / CTC / BC....

I am just happy that there is one less bad driver / killer on the roads.

You really shouldn't

I was kind of feeling guilty as he will probably lose his job and find it hard to get another, and I am all for rehabilitation of offenders, but know that in real life he is on a short term sentence so will not get training / counselling. If he does not get this then when he gets out he could be just another person that will live on benefits / maybe offend again.

When I got to court I spoke with the usher and was told to go to the waiting room and wait to be called. I went there and he was in the same room along with his character witness (a Priest). He did not recognise me, I was wearing a suit, not my cycling kit, so I sat with my back to him. I listened to him talking to the other guy, he was saying that he knew he would be banned from driving so was trying to sell his car (BMW Z4) but was having problems due to the dents (from my bike !!!), he also mentioned that his solicitor thought he would be OK as the cyclist was a psycopath!!!! I was quite suprised that they told me to wait in the same room (albeit very large) as him....

When the Priest got up to provide the character reference he said that the driver was normally a very calm and reserved person. When the judge asked what the relationship was, I was expecting the Priest to say 'this is Saint Derek, he does such a lot of work for the Church and charity', but actually it transpired that the driver just rented a flat from the Priest. The judge's comment was just 'Oh'.... It is kind of like me taking someone from the Halifax as a witness, they would think I am a model citizen as I always pay my mortgage.....

So yes, thinking back I should not have felt guilty, and should really have spoken up when the defence lawyer said that he was sorry for his actions. In the waiting room he clearly was not......

Just found out today that a driver who assaulted me finally changed his plea to 'guilty' at Crown Court. He will need to return in December for sentencing. He was charged with dangerous driving and assault causing actual bodily harm - he ran my foot over and broke 2 toes.

Details are: He was in a car behind me in a bus lane, sounding his horn. I was in primary position and did not move over to let him get past. He then knocked me off my bike (told the police it was a gentle tap with his bumper to give me a warning), got out and started to push me around. I shouted and swore at him, which he told the police made him feel intimidated, so he got back in the car. A crowd of people had gathered around, one of whom tried to get in the car (the witness said he did this as he was scared that the man was going to run me over, so wanted to pull the handbrake to stop him), this made the driver scared, so he panicked and drove off quickly. He said that didn't drive at me, although he didn't make a concious effort to get out of the way of my bike that I threw at his car, and ran my foot over after I stepped backwards to get out of his way. He couldn't recall driving over my foot and, because of the crowd, didn't want to stop either.

I found that the police were excellent, everyone from the PC that initially attended to the detective that took over the case.

I am glad that I did not have to go to court and give evidence, although I think that having 9 witnesses all agreeing with me (he did not have any witnesses) helped change his mind.

I am hoping that when he gets sentenced he will, at the very least, get banned from driving for a long time. One of my toes has not healed properly, and I will probably have to get it operated on so that it can function normally again.

The incident happened in May, it has been a long process but I am glad that it is (nearly) over.

The sentencing was today, I went to Southwark Crown Court as I was owed some time off work and was interested to know what sentence the driver got.

The driver had already pleaded guilty, so the CPS lawyer went through the evidence and witness statements briefly, the defence lawyer then put forward the mitigating circumstances. The driver was of good character, was employed and had no previous convictions aside from 3 points for speeding (35mph in a 30mph zone). He also went to the police at the earliest opportunity, was cooperative and is very sorry for his actions. He never intended to hurt me, and as such they would accept a driving ban and a suspended sentence / community service.

The judge was great - he said that the driver didn't hand himself in at the earliest opportunity, he only went to the police as they put a calling card through his letterbox, he didn't stop at the time of the incident. He also said that he did not believe there was no intention to hurt me - the driver was in a sports car weighing over a tonne, I was on a bike weighing a few pounds, the driver must have been fully aware that driving at me would be likely to cause harm.

Because the incident was a sustained and repeated attack with a weapon, and there was an intention to hurt me, there was no choice but to give a custodial sentence.

The driver has been sentenced to 8 months in prison and banned from driving for 3 years.

At the end the judge said 'send him down', which I thought was a really cheesy line from a film, actually this means that he will be in prison tonight!!

I am really shocked, I expected him to get either points on his licence or a 12 month ban and a fine as a maximum. I kind of felt guilty, but talking to friends earlier they convinced me that I should not, after all I was the victim.

There was a reporter from the Evening Standard :) and also the Daily Mail ther taking noted, so I may become famous.

At long last justice has been done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-20643725

Lorry drivers caught watching DVDs !!!

WTF.

There once was a man from Mars,
Whose balls were made out of brass,
In winder weather,
They clanged together,
And sparks shot out of his arse.

My Grandma's favorite rhyme was:

Old mother Riley had a cow
she tried to milk it but didn't know how
she pulled its tail instead of her tit
ans old mother Riley got covered in....... sweet violets!!!

My Grandma and Grandad (on my Dad’s side) were childhood sweethearts, were boyfriend and girlfriend at school, got married early and had a family. They spent their whole lives together, it was obvious to anyone who met them that they really loved each other. My favorite holidays were when I stayed with them during the school holidays as my parents were working.

I remember when they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary – they were so proud to receive a card from the Queen, for them (as big fans of the Royal family) it seemed like the best thing in the world. My Mum and Dad still have the card!

When my Grandad died I was a real mess, so upset and crying lots. I remember his funeral – lots of people asking if I was OK as I was crying so much. Not long afterwards my Grandma told me that her ‘work here was done’ – she had seen her children and grandchildren grow up and become successful, and had became a Great Grandma. She died very soon afterwards. When my Grandma died I did not cry, I was happy that she could see her childhood sweetheart again.

I can honestly say that I think about them every day.

Today I heard 'Take them up the value staircase'.

From what I can make out this means to show the customer a product that is cheap but not particularly good, then show them something a lot more expensive that will do the job that they want it to....