Campervan that hit bikers a couple of weeks back

[Grahameeboy]

Yes indeed let's go there.... $8000 too little you say? Well then let's start working out how much would be appropriate. I see that others have suggested perhaps $30 000 / year. Why not work out exactly how much a life is worth then..
Hmm, I guess we must take into consideration lots of things right? Perhaps a good start would be how much that person has added to society... well, then, we start with their tax contribution. (backs up yet anyone?) Of course, beneficiaries cost us as a society so of course it would follow that their life would be worth less right? Hmm, guess that means that children would be worth less too.. unless you could work out statistically their future worth to society - their chance of becoming a bonus or a burden to society. Slippery slope that one because of course some people rise above their circumstances... but I'm sure we could come up with some formula based on their socio-economic status and future earnings potential...
Bonus points could be awarded for volunteer work, negative for excessive use of public money (public hospital visits, time spent in prison etc)...
What? Some of you getting a little uncomfortable where this is headed? Gosh, I would have thought this was a natural progression. Argue about the sum of money and surely it follows that there is a 'perfect' figure. How else does one work it out?

The value of life is not a tangible amount. You can only put a value on the dependents loss ie loss of earnings both lost and future loss off.

I suspect the figures mentioned covered losses like funeral expenses and in this Country compensation for dependents as far as I know is not awarded.

This is where the Road Traffic Laws in say the UK work because a Widow who's husband was say 25 when he was killed can claim lost earning upto trial / settlement and future lost earning at say a multiple of 25 years to reflect early payment etc

[Dilligaf]

The value of life is not a tangible amount. You can only put a value on the dependents loss ie loss of earnings both lost and future loss off.

I suspect the figures mentioned covered losses like funeral expenses and in this Country compensation for dependents as far as I know is not awarded.

This is where the Road Traffic Laws in say the UK work because a Widow who's husband was say 25 when he was killed can claim lost earning upto trial / settlement and future lost earning at say a multiple of 25 years to reflect early payment etc

Grahame, with respect my message was that it is a very slippery slope when you put a monetary figure on a life because at the end of the day, who is the arbiter of that value? You either claim one amount and everyone is equal and that's it, or you pay nothing.
Claiming that the lady in question has a good job thus she should pay more is also a dangerous game to play because it begs the question that is life worth less to one who has little??

[Grahameeboy]

Grahame, with respect my message was that it is a very slippery slope when you put a monetary figure on a life because at the end of the day, who is the arbiter of that value? You either claim one amount and everyone is equal and that's it, or you pay nothing.
Claiming that the lady in question has a good job thus she should pay more is also a dangerous game to play because it begs the question that is life worth less to one who has little??

And I agreed with you..was just adding some dialogue...and I also agree with what you have just said.

[Katman]

I do not understand thae attitude of you and Mr Katman, that bikers are always in the wrong, and other road users have no responsibility or accountability at all. It seems a perverse masochism.

And as you haven't been back to answer my previous post I'll now challenge you to point out where I have ever voiced that opinion.

Put up or shut up.

[MSTRS:Me]

And as you haven't been back to answer my previous post I'll now challenge you to point out where I have ever voiced that opinion.

Put up or shut up.

You don't need to say the actual words for the message to be obvious...if you are worried that others have picked up the wrong idea about what you mean, perhaps you should look at what/how you post.

As to the value of a life...tis impossible to be fair/realistic/accurate, but this country uses something called the Statistical Value Of Life, it comes from the Govt's own Ministry of Transport and is 3.5M$NZ

[Katman]

You don't need to say the actual words for the message to be obvious...if you are worried that others have picked up the wrong idea about what you mean, perhaps you should look at what/how you post.

You point out where I've even implied what Ixion has stated as being my opinion. I'll spell my opinion out for you - the majority of motorcycle accidents are the fault of the motorcyclist and a large number of those accidents which are not the fault of the motorcyclist could have been avoided by better situational awareness and management by the motorcyclist. I have never said (or implied) that every accident is the fault of the motorcyclist. You do know the difference between 'fault' and 'partial responsibility' don't you?

[Swoop]

I suspect that Austria doesn't have a large population of Labour voters on the dole in places like South Auckland bringing the national average down either.

"Specifically manufactured electorates"? Those with a predominance for a certain electoral sway...?

*peers at imdying, prods him with a stick*

Alian bodysnatchers have obviously been at work; our resident sociopath...

That would explain quite a lot...
Quite a lot indeed.

an Indian tourist in a rental who drove there from Ch-ch was busted for high speeds, overtaking in face of oncoming traffic and on yellow lines

So he was simply driving to the conditions that he had experienced and which were thought of as "normal" by him.
If he were driving in D'Auckland, nobody would have looked at him twice...

[dmouse]

is this what we call justice

quote from the press.

A 16-year-old north Canterbury youth has been disqualified from driving for two years after admitting carelessly using a vehicle causing the death of Christchurch City councillor Graham Condon and injury to one of her four young passengers.


The girl, who was 15 at the time of the September accident, was remanded today by Rangiora Youth Court Judge John Strettell until June 5.

This is to complete a plan of action agreed during a farmily group conference between the young offender, her family, the police and the victims - Condon's wife Kathy and family.

The terms of the plan are confidential.

this makes me sick the system sucks more than the dicks that make the rules give them a licence to kill at 15 no real learning or experiance and killers by 16

[Monsterbishi]

is this what we call justice

quote from the press.

.
.
.

This is to complete a plan of action agreed during a farmily group conference between the young offender, her family, the police and the victims - Condon's wife Kathy and family.

The terms of the plan are confidential.

Big difference here, is that the sentence/plan of action, was something agreed upon by the victims family - so something that, in their eyes was a punishment that bought restitution to them.

[dmouse]

then the cost of life is very cheap just the cost of a handshake a couple of tears and few words in a back room, no wonder we have so many idiots on the roads we breed them and give them this wonderful culture where they can go forth and maim kill and just about do what ever they want ah to be a kiwi