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Press Release
4 August 2006
Latest injustice in Rhyl Cyclist Deaths Tragedy
Killer vehicle offences only - fine £60 per tyre or
£45 per life
The four families bereaved by the Rhyl crash in January have
suffered further today, when the culpable driver was fined only
£180 and allowed to continue driving. As the national charity
for road crash victims, RoadPeace knows this is an extreme case
with so many cyclist deaths involved, but the shabby treatment by
the justice authorities of deaths on the road is frightfully
familiar.
Brigitte Chaudhry founded RoadPeace after her son was killed by
a red light violator, who was then only charged with careless
driving as the police stated: 'everyone goes through red lights'.
Mrs. Chaudhry said: 'Our hearts go out to the families today who
must feel that their loss has been dismissed by society. We can
assure them that many people will be dismayed by this trivial
charge and penalty'.
The latest injustice included the paltry punishment
imposed by the Llandudno Magistrates Court today. Admitting guilt,
the driver received an automatic reduction, therefore was fined
only £180 - £60 per tyre or £45 per life stolen.
Despite having three penalty points already for speeding, he was
only given six points today instead of three points per tyre, which
the magistrates had the power to impose and which could have led to
a 6-month disqualification. The magistrates chose not to use the
sanctions at their disposal, and so he can continue driving.
Previous failures included the inappropriate immediate
response by the police - a knee-jerk assumption that it was not
a speeding offence. The ACPO Road Death Investigation Manual,
launched five years ago by North Wales Chief Comstable Richard
Brunstrom, recommends that police should treat all fatal crash
sites as potential homicide scenes.
And the minimal charges laid against the driver were
limited to vehicle offences and did not address the standard of
driving. The Highway Code specifically states "You should always
reduce your speed when the road layout or condition presents
hazards such as bends, sharing the road with
pedestrians and cyclists..,or when weather
conditions make it safer to do so". The Rhyl crash fits all
three of these conditions, yet inappropriate speed did not appear
to be considered.
Amy Aeron-Thomas, RoadPeace Director, advised: 'Remember when
next time reading that speeding is only involved in 30% of fatal
crashes that this is an under-estimate as crashes like the Rhyl
tragedy are not included under speeding'.
Contacts: Amy Aeron-Thomas 07905 847 917, Brigitte Chaudhry 0208
964 1800
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