| Re: Experienced Cyclist Killed in Colorado
"Badger_South" <Badger@South.net> wrote in message
news:i822b0lg80anuj7blie57iucdan51k330t@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 24 May 2004 06:05:17 +1000, "DRS" <drs@remove.this.ihug.com.au>
> wrote:
>
> >You want stupidity? A women driver here who killed a cyclist when she
was
> >composing a text message on her mobile phone got away with a suspended
> >sentence! Anyone else would have gone to prison and good riddance but
she
> >didn't because she was young and pretty.
> >
>
>http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...ml?from=storyr
hs
> >
>
> What can bikers do about this kind of thing? Stiffer penalties may not
> change behavior...
>
> -B
>
Most states are getting pretty dramatic in their treatment of drunk drivers.
I've read that studies in Europe have shown drivers using cell phones are
three times more impaired than the average drunk driver (that's my summary
statement of what I've heard exists in the research out there ... don't hold
me to it). Many European countries have outlawed cell phone use while
driving. I think people driving while talking on cell phones should be
treated the same as drunk drivers.
I suspect that there will be some cases in the courts before too much longer
where drivers and cell phone companies will be held liable and where studies
such as these will be used to get some large awards from juries. Then the
laws will follow slowly.
Bob C.
P.S. I took this thread in another direction, but lets all have the family
of this poor victim in our thoughts and prayers.
|