Campervan that hit bikers a couple of weeks back

[Street Gerbil]

What the fuck makes so many of you think this was a deliberate act, with a total lack of remorse?

Her remorse or lack thereof has nothing to do with deliberateness of her action.
However, even involuntary vehicular manslaughter is still a felony in most parts of the world.

[Blue Velvet]

Her remorse or lack thereof has nothing to do with deliberateness of her action.
However, even involuntary vehicular manslaughter is still a felony in most parts of the world.

+1

10 char

[imdying]

Forgive my cynicism, but I don't buy into the remorse business. I find it a lot more plausible that the lady is just happy that she escaped from what would have likely been a huge reparation, a couple of decades worth of community service, and disqualification for life in Austria, scot free.

The evilness in your heart will eventually consume you, and that's sad

Well personally I think she should pay reparation for the rest of her life, no matter where she lives.
$30k per year, NZ$, to the families.

I wouldn't need the constant reminder if I were them, there would be too many of those anyway.

FWIW, my money's on the nature of the vehicle being unsuitable for untrained drivers. Punishing this person further would serve little purpose (the next plane load of tourists won't even know about it). So that won't stop another one doing the same thing, in front of me . Requiring a higher standard of licensing, or forbidding them from difficult roads, might do

Agreed... they're a truck.

[jonbuoy]

So should they send this old boy to the chair?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/3534320.stm

Woman killed in chainsaw accident
A woman who was killed when her husband fell off a ladder onto her while using an electric chainsaw has been named.

Police said Pauline Pudney, 57, died instantly from serious injuries at a house in Eltham, south-east London, at about 1630 BST on Monday.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and Scotland Yard described it as a "tragic accident".

The woman's 56-year-old husband is being treated for shock in hospital, a police spokeswoman said.

A post-mortem examination on Wednesday identified the cause of death as severe trauma to the neck.

In a statement, police said: "It was a really tragic accident. He [Mr Pudney] is obviously in a great deal of shock.

"A man aged 56 had been pruning a tree when he fell back off the ladder and the chainsaw he had been using seriously injured his wife.

"She was not decapitated. The woman was killed instantly."

[Street Gerbil]

So should they send this old boy to the chair?

You know, vehicular offenses are distinguished from other types for a reason.
Falling off the ladder with a chainsaw falls into the category of freak accidents, driving a vehicle well beyond one's ability to operate safely does not.

[jrandom]

The evilness in your heart will eventually consume you, and that's sad

...

I wouldn't need the constant reminder if I were them, there would be too many of those anyway.

*peers at imdying, prods him with a stick*

Alian bodysnatchers have obviously been at work; our resident sociopath appears to have grown an empathy gland.

For what it's worth, I agree - the crash was almost certainly the tragic result of an unskilled driver being let out onto the road in a heavy vehicle for which she should not have had an operating licence.

[James Deuce]

Her remorse or lack thereof has nothing to do with deliberateness of her action.
However, even involuntary vehicular manslaughter is still a felony in most parts of the world.

Yes but not in NZ. If you want it changed, you know what to do.

[Mikkel]

So should they send this old boy to the chair?

"She was not decapitated. The woman was killed instantly."

Crikey! Chainsaws are a nasty way to go!

You know, vehicular offenses are distinguished from other types for a reason.
Falling off the ladder with a chainsaw falls into the category of freak accidents, driving a vehicle well beyond one's ability to operate safely does not.

Oh, no freak accidents when we're talking motoring. You just keep on telling yourself that... I guess you could argue that if you have a crash under any circumstances imaginable then you're driving a vehicle a vehicle well beyond your ability to operate safely.
However, I don't buy into that bullshit! Competent drivers can loose control as well - whether they are pushing the envelope or not.

But no doubt, there should be a revision of the rules pertaining to camper van rentals.

[scumdog]

"driving a vehicle well beyond one's ability to operate safely does not."

In that case a shit-load of KBers should sell their bikes and hand in their licences!!!

Sheeesh!

[MSTRS:Me]

But no doubt, there should be a revision of the rules pertaining to camper van rentals.

Why just campers? It is legal for anyone on a (full?) car licence to drive a vehicle up to a tare weight of 4500kg - campers are just one of a number of 'truck' based platforms that fall into this weight range.

[Grahameeboy]

In that case a shit-load of KBers should sell their bikes and hand in their licences!!!

Sheeesh!

Love it....... plus of course some don't even have a licence to hand in eh....this tourist had travelled 1000k's or so already without accident so clearly she was capable of handling the camper van.

[denill]

But I still stand by my assertion that there is too much carelessness and inattentiveness on NZ roads.

And you have never stuffed up Blue Velvet??

[KATWYN]

you people that are crucifying this woman need to read this

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/071219/3/3crz.html?f=mv

[Blue Velvet]

And you have never stuffed up Blue Velvet??

I haven't ever caused anyone else to have a road accident, if that's what you're asking.

Don't attack me for stating that, in general, there are careless and inattentive drivers on the roads. I didn't say the tourist was. I questioned what caused her to veer into the shingle in the first place. That wasn't accusatory on my part.

And don't attack me for pointing out that 'accidents' are an all too accepted excuse. People need to take more responsibility for their actions. Many people don't admit their mistakes. So they walk away from situations without learning anything from them. Again, I never said the tourist is guilty of this. How could I possibly know?

During the course of this week I've witnessed so many near miss head-on's etc. caused by people not paying attention or taking dumb risks, to name a couple.

I personally don't care about the tourist's fine etc. As I've previously noted, I don't wish ill on her. I'm sure she feels shit already. I know I would.

[Ixion]

Love it....... plus of course some don't even have a licence to hand in eh....this tourist had travelled 1000k's or so already without accident so clearly she was capable of handling the camper van.

Clearly, she was not, because she ended up putting the vehicle on its side on the wrong side of the road. Crashed on the wrong side of the road is, barring acts of gods or vehicle failure, incompetence. So, for Mr Jim2's benefit, is putting ones bike into the ditch on a corner. If anyone thinks that crashing is a mark of competence, I wish them to keep well away from anywhere I am , please.

And you have never stuffed up Blue Velvet

I do not know about Ms Velevet. But for myself, I have (like most people) stuffed up. When I have I have considered that as an indication that I was not competent under the particular conditions. And taken steps to address that incompetence.

In the case of the Austrienne, it is necessary to distinguish between incompetence and culpability. She was not culpable, she was told that ,as an experienced car driver, she would have no trouble controlling the vehicle she hired. She had no reason to question that. But, manifestly , it was wrong.

Punishing her would achieve little purpose. But , the law has said that if you kill a motorcyclist by incompetent driving, and pay his family $8000, then that's all good and fine. No problems. Which to me is an unacceptable state of affairs.

Ixion's only in a snit because bikers were killed. If it had been a mini-bus full of school kids they hit (God forbid) there wouldn't be anything like the rant about "injustice" on KB that's been raging around this one.

And would you seriously contend that her sentence would not have been much greater had she taken out a bus load of kids? Or, indeed, anyone other than some motorcyclists? Why are you so surprised and aggrieved that bikers, on a biker forum, should be in a "snit" when someone kills bikers?

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.