Car, lorry, the technology is the same. I'd guess that we will see driverless lorries in numbers before cars.

It's really about time there was a complete overhaul of the Car Driving Test. Look at the stages one has to go through to ride a Motorcycle nowadays for instance. Apart from the introduction of the Theory Exam the Car Test has remained basically the same for years. How about having a period of time in a limited power vehicle for example. Also at the moment you can pass the test driving round Newbury for an hour or so then you can go straight out onto the Motorway with no further instruction !! I personally think it's about time it was incorporated into the test.

Basically, even after all the changes a few years back, all you need to do is memorise a few signs and drive around for a bit without crashing and that's it! Free to stick a loud zorst and a few 'Maxpower' stickers on you're mums old car and drive round like a twonk whilst checking your face book status.

People who live in Deepest Norfolk might disagree as they'd have to take a day trip just to get to their nearest Motorway. These people who live out in the sticks have enough trouble driving their tractors with their six fingers as it is... don't foist another impossible task on them...

Motorways are safer than town and rural roads.

Indeed - it happens locally .....


 tractor_2.jpg ( 480.57K ) Number of downloads: 11

A lorry driver has been jailed for 10 years for killing a mother and three children.

http://news.sky.com/story/a34-crash-lorry-...-phone-10639721

In spite of the consequences, and probably most of us were to some extent upset by this accident, it's hard not to feel a certain sympathy for the driver. If I understand correctly he was changing his music? It's just an horrendously sad event.

No it isn't hard. - he was on his phone.

Out in less than 5 years while the husband gets what amounts to a life sentence. Poor man.

He was criminally responsible for killing 4 people. He doesn't deserve anyone's sympathy. 10 years is far too little especially as another poster says he'll be out in 5 years. A life sentence would have sent a strong message to anyone else tempted to use their phone while driving, but I don't suppose that was available.

Except that tens of thousands of people every day commit the same crime. The difference is just one of chance. If you or anyone else has NEVER touched your phone whilst driving, changed a CD, checked an address in a diary then you have every right to feel outraged, but if you are one of the tens of thousands that every day are guilty of the same crime, then just thank your lucky stars that you never wiped out a family.

Oh, that's OK then!
Oh and no I haven;t done any of the things you mentioned. Not while driving at speed on a "dangerous" busy dual carriageway.
I think it's more than chance of luck that I haven't "wiped out a family".
Honestly newres, you do come out in support of the weirdest things / people!
Sympathy for the driver????

Obviously it's always been totally safe where you've done those things.

Incidentally, I'm not saying he didn't deserve 10 years. I also think the vehicle he was driving makes the crime worse. I'm simply saying that I'll bet there aren't many reading this that haven't used their mobiles whilst driving. Every day of the week I see people on their phones.

So, by that reasoning you could take a hunting rifle up to the top of the church tower and fire at random and it would only really matter if you hit someone? Dangerous logic at best.

However, that said, let's end the point scoring posts on this subject. Have a little sympathy for the bereaved.

Not me chap. YOU may do it which as far as im concerned makes you a danger to everyone else. People should instantly lose their licence if caught. I dont see any difference between this and drink driving. A drink driver may be looking but their actions and responses will be impaired. Not looking at all is MORE dangerous. Just hope you get caught if you do it or indeed anyone else.

Agreed.

I've a degree of sympathy for what you said. It's endemic; I've just walked along the Bath Road, one truck and three cars with drivers using phones! The Lorry Driver who deserves everything he gets doubtless thought it was safe. If ot really does depend on the situation, who expects stationery/slow traffic on a fast rural road.

No, that is YOUR logic. Would he deserve 10 years if he did NOT hit someone and was caught? He is only getting 10 years because he did kill people. My point is that the offence is the same.