Sadly I was involved in a fatal accident.I would like to point out that the police investigations of such incidents are very thorough and include a comprehensive review of youir mobile phone records.
Using your mobile phone whilst driving is just not worth the risk. However would you forgive yourself if it contributed in anyway whatsoever to a fatality?
Dangerous driving due to things such as have been mentioned is bad and should be stopped, of course, if at all possible. However what i do notice is that I have days where my driving is better than on other days. Sometimes mood can have dramatic effects on driving, I would even say at times possibly to a greater effect than a few mgs over the limit alcohol wise. Thats not to say i'm justifying drink drive, I am most certainly not.
I think that we all at some points make mistakes and cause consternation to other drivers of that i'm sure, we are all fallible. I say that its important to recognise this especially when we see something done wrong and get all stressed out swearing. fist shaking and shouting and stuff in our seats and through this maybe our own driving could be effected.
I try as hard as i can to be philosophical about mistakes i see on the road thinking that it maybe the only one they have made in a long time and they could be sitting in their seats cringing and apologising at their own mistake. I know i've done that. If I remain calm and chilled then that has got to be good for my own driving, and i know that i most definately am not the worlds best driver no, not by any means
Earlier this morning I walked to my local shop to get supplies for lunch, and someone drove past me lighting up a cigarette.. eyes down and another car was coming towards them.. lots of screeching tyres and beeping cars followed.. I know it's just not mobile phone users.. but they are the ones that frighten me more...
I think we are far to soft on driving offenders. A car is a good way to get from A to B but is also an efficient killing machine as we all know. Sorry to read that some of you have lost loved ones in this way.
I don't think that a £1000 fine is good enough. I'd be happier with a ban for life. That may seem a bit draconian but it might be the only way to deal with these people. Anyone who imperils others whether it's cos they're drunk, drugged, racing, texting or whatever doesn't deserve a driving license in my book.
There are times when people die, it can be just a lack of judgment. In those cases the driver should not be overly punished.
On the other hand, driving to fast, drunk, using a phone or something like that, it is not the death that is so bad. It is the fact that the driver was so reckless. It is the reckless behavior that should be punished. Punish the behaviour, reduce the number of times/people doing it and thus reduce accidents on rodes.
Travis
I met a guy once (not in the SH sense!) who had killed someone while driving drunk.
His family and almost all his friends had completely disowned him - he was really 'cast out' from his usual society.
I often wondered how I would continue to deal with someone close who killed someone that way: would I maintain the relationship and be forgiving or nonjudgemental or be so disgusted that I couldn't?
I think the penalties for dangerous driving are way to soft. Killing someone through reckless or dangerous driving in my opinion should be treated as manslaughter!.
Giving someone points, fines and a ban is quite simply not a strong enough punishment.
I also agree that once convicted the driver should be banned for life! however I understand that this is just not totally enforcable as the traffic cops are becoming far and few between.
I know someone who killed a young lad on a push bike. The lad didn't have any lights on or reflectors. It wasn't the drivers fault, yet it completly destroyed his life and he never drove again, he could not forgive himself even tho he had in effect don't nothing wrong it was an accident nothing more. Very sad for all involved.
There seems to be an awful lot of pious thinking in this thread.
The fact of the matter is that every person behind the wheel is a human and as such has human qualities and traits. Everyone of us in this thread (who drive) and every driver out there, at some point, will lose concentration, do stupid things and break the law whilst driving.
If you really think you're a safe driver (most people aren't as safe as they think) then may I suggest that you go , sign up for a course and realise just how bad your driving is.
And just for balance, yes I am an advanced driver, and yes I still make silly mistakes but due to the 2 week full time course I undertook for ambulance work I make less mistakes than the average motorist.
If, as this thread shows, people are so irate about it then don't just vent, do something about it. The more advanced motorist on the road the less accidents occur. In case anyone suggests that it's other people doing the stupid things, well all I can say is that you are obviously not an advanced driver. In advanced driving the whole point is safety and driving in such a way as to avoid the numpties on the road.
It is bad and partly while i feel the need not to drive
I have a family friend who was driving his car in south africa (he was working out there) and had his girlfriend in the car because of another driver they crashed and the girlfriend died
This was bad enough and the guilt he feels is tremendous,
The wife (who lived in england) didnt know about the girlfriend and found out about it after the crash this resulted in divorce
So its not just the actual crashes/deaths that can ruin lives its the fallouts that occur after it
I used to ride a motorbike, and have never learnt to drive a car. I know this might sound silly, but I felt more vunerable in a car.. wheras I had more control over my bike. I also ALWAYS wore the full amour kit when I went out.. and it served me well.
I got knocked off my bike by a drunk driver, but got straight back on my bike.. but had to go to casualty later as I didn't realise how injured I was. I was almost knocked flying by a bus, and a taxi driver on another occasion sending a text.
I now walk everywhere..that I can... as I am too scared to learn to drive now. Some drivers in Oxford and London where I go every week frighten me silly.. I will not tar everyone with the same brush, as there are some good drivers out there, but its the few that ruin things for everyone else.
I wish I could drive, would make things a lot easier..
I drive about 35,000 miles a year with work, I have all the contraptions, sat nav, bluetooth phone, blackberry etc.
All are distractions and I try not to use any when driving, especially the phone 'cos even on a good hands free set its very distracting.
My mates company have banned anyone from using a phone in the company car, hard to police, but I guess if the car was in an accident the driver cant say i was on a work call as an excuse.
Yes you do see all sorts on the roads and i still see wagon drivers on the phone. 44tonnes hurts when it hits you!
:? 
got caught and recieved a £60 fine and 3 penalty points on her license!. It does happen.
A friend of ours is a crash investigator and always says the fatalities are always the worse and especially when the driver has not been concentrating and has caused the accident. 
! Am ok driving though just give them plenty or room! My mum has never learnt to drive and she is so glad as she often says there are enough nutters on the road :shock: pmsl
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