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news
Justice (Lonpicman, Wikimedia Commons)24-week suspended sentence for driver who admitted killing Ray Dare by careless driving
A motorist has been handed a 24-week suspended sentence and a one-year driving ban for causing the death of cyclist Ray Dare by careless driving. The 91-year-old lost his life while taking part in a time trial in Buckinghamshire last year.
Dare was riding on the A41 near Aylesbury on July 19 2017 when he was hit from behind by a van driven by Alan Mills.
Dare held eight national Veterans Time Trials Association records, including riding 50 miles in 2h52m01s at the age of 88. He had been attempting to complete a 10-mile time trial in under 29 minutes and 43 seconds to set a new age group record at the time of the collision.
His friend John Beer said: "Ray died doing what he loved. He was hit on a straight flat open piece of road, he had two miles to go. We should all remember him for the truly amazing cyclist and husband and father he was."
The BBC reports that Mills admitted causing Dare’s death by careless or inconsiderate driving and was given a 24-week jail sentence, suspended for 24 months. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and will have to take an extended retest.
Last year we reported how a petition had been launched seeking to ban cyclists from Buckinghamshire's dual carriageways in the wake of Dare’s death.
It attracted 642 signatories, but in his response, Mark Shaw, Buckinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transportation, pointed out that the highway was not being considered a contributing factor in the police investigation.
He concluded: “I am not aware of any national policies currently in place which prevent cyclists as individuals or cycling as part of a time trial from using the dual carriageway network.
“Any national policy to restrict cyclists from these roads would require a change of legislation and an amendment made to the Road Traffic Act. In Buckinghamshire I have no current plans to restrict cyclists from using the A41 or to reduce the speed limit.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- hawkinspeter 5 sec ago
I was thinking of taking up water-skiing, but I couldn't find a lake with a hill.
- mdavidford 10 min 36 sec ago
You've definitely gone too far now. I'm not having this steak and kidney pie-shaming (or port and stilton-shaming for that matter).
- chrisonabike 20 min 58 sec ago
If you'll allow stretching the definition of "bicycle" (or maybe not?) I have you covered for "hot cycles" (literally). (Also here)
- chrisonabike 27 min 33 sec ago
Awaiting the next feckless driver asking the judge to delay the start of the sentence because "they owe a few more cyclists a proper goodbye"....
- Hirsute 1 hour 45 min ago
All in the article - road tax.
- chrisonabike 2 hours 59 min ago
Ah, but: in UK, if a motorist drives into you (or simply parks in a cycle lane, forcing you out into the path of another motorist) then the council...
- hawkinspeter 4 hours 1 min ago
You're right. I just use the main Long Ashton Rd to get between the A370 and Ashton Court/B3128. Looking at a map, Festival Way doesn't go far...
- hand0j1n 18 hours 19 min ago
Hopefully the new device is a big success, but wahoo do have a lot work to do in terms of convincing that their quality control has improved. ...
- chrisonabike 17 hours 9 min ago
Agree that the moaning comes from a place of priveledge and ultimately "if only there weren't so many other people driving"....
- Simon E 18 hours 54 min ago
Have added some clarification....
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27 comments
Wait until the Police catch the Twunt who hit the horse and see what sentence they get. I'm betting they'll get a custodial for sure...
Sentence seems to be a bit of an insult to the gentleman's family. 24 month suspended for killing someone, yet Tommy Robinson gets 13 months for a breach of the peace. Somethings wrong somewhere, in law or by the court handing this out.
Nope - 24 weeks for killing someone
I am sure, should the chap in question here breach the terms of his suspended sentence, he too would be going straight to jail.
In the examply of Mr Robinson, the law is working just fine. If you are serving a suspended sentence, breaching the terms of that suspension will see you immediately banged up.
Not fit for fucking purpose.
Firstly this idiot need's a proper sentence to send a message out to other drivers. More importantly the organisers of this event should take a long hard look at themselves. As a local road cyclist and driver I have not and would not cycle on the A41 at any time of the day. I drive to work down this road and have never seen a cyclist use the road for good reason because of the speed of the traffic 70 - 90 MPH. Also the timing of these events needs to be questioned because doing them during the evening when people are returning home from work is foolish. I dont care what the law says because stupid drivers are everywhere and you have to use your brain to keep safe out there on your bike.
R I P Ray!
Most weekday TT are held from 7pm, after the majoirty of workers have gone home. Ours is at 7 pm and most in the area are 7pm starts. We have simple requirments, no working rear light,no ride, helmet and dont ride head down
This is all so depressing on so many levels. BTBS is on the money. Burt’s comments are a reality check - it’s not as though no-one’s tried before.
On a different but similar recent thread, one Road.cc reader from the US made the salient point that us all throwing our arms in the air on this site will achieve nothing. So WE should do something.
Let’s make a start. From Helen Measures to this case, shall we make a forum topic where we gather this information and points we’d like made? Then, agree on the wording (tough nut to crack there) and which cases to highlight: Not a witch hunt, but a plea for the judiciary to start actually applying the laws already in place that we’re constantly told protect all road users.
And then WE start the petition, as Road.cc readers. Might come to nothing, but at least we’re trying.
As I pointed out previously there is a lenient sentence thread on the CUK forum dating back to 2011, there are many threads regarding the most heinous of incidents were drivers got off scot-free like the Helen measures one, the cyclists near Rhyll that were killed, Michael Mason and so on.
I don't believe that CUK/CTC nor the other cycle orgs have got together to make an actual legal challenge on the way thingsa re done, just taken some words and thrown them at pollies, not an actual take the government to the highest court in the land type thing which is what I would wish to see and backed by Sustrans, BC, all other groups including international cycling orgs, bike industry as well as this affects them too.
In the meanwhile protect yourself the best way you can. I have started to ride centrally down all roads, its the only way ive found to limit the so called 'careless' close pass. It holds the traffic back, this makes them think about when to pass as opposed for just going for it. I've been doing this for a few months now and in my small sample of one experience it has been very successful. You still get the dickhead pass, but that type of driver would do it no matter where you ride. The vast majority wait and overtake on the other side of the road.
get a job as a police officer?
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/16278838.Woman_jailed_after_crashin...
even then only a year though, still more than any case involving a cyclist
nah, one not a cyclist and two put away for not having insurance.
this type of case is more relevant, don’t think it went to trial despite it being a quiet dual carriageway with fantastic sight lines, of course you can’t see anything else when you are on a two lane highway, why should you?
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/driver-arrested-after-woman-time-...
Unfortunately anyone who's been on this site for more than a couple of years will have resigned themselves to the sad fact that collectively we appear unable to form a petition of any weight, far too many don't support it/can't be bothered/don't think we can achieve legislative change.
Until the day arrives that ALL CYCLISTS come together and DEMAND government intervention we must all go on accepting the status quo and that quite simply is your life is worth very little.
It'll take government intervention to sort this crap out. Someone in government needs to sit down and insist that judges start giving some serious sentences. They can start by making sure that judges realise that driving isn't a right, it's a fucking privilege.
That's right. Kill someone in a car, no matter what the reason, and you lose your licence for ten years. Fuck it - get caught drinking and driving, and you lose your licence forever.
Make people realise that if they don't take driving seriously, they can't drive. Ever again.
More than that. Cyclists need to be politically organized. A minimum program of what most of us need with no diversions into blaming ourselves (TypeX-is-not-a-cyclist, We-Must-Wear-Y, etc). An absolute minimum common denominator program which seeks to reduce automobile traffic dominance of the landscape and expand and reinforce the rights of cyclists.
I personally do not care whether my potential vote goes to any of the specific established parties as long as they're sound on cycling issues. If they're not then they don't get my vote no matter what their other policies are. I would even vote for a twat like Farage.
When i am on my bike my life is worth nothing.
This is precisely what CUK and all the other cycling organisations should be doing, making a legal challenge in the way these incidents are being treated from the police through the CPS and the judges themselves. There is distinct bias/discrimination, it's virtually impossible to kill someone 'carelessly' and be at fault. the mere fact your actions killed or maimed/seriously injured another human being means by definiton your actions were dangerous/reckless and with little or no thought.
we are literally lambs to the slaughter and no-one in power gives a fuck yet is quite willing to subjegate people on bikes to even more stricter laws/policing on the back of a case where the cyclist was fucking stitched up like a kipper!
If a legal challenge where to be made against the government as I've said before I would put in a hefty wedge to support it.
It's a sad fact that there have been legal challenges to the gross bias in the legal system regarding cyclists, but they have failed. CUK's Cyclists' Defence Fund has tried but our legal system is so out of balance that it is impossible for a cyclist to get justice. The law is supposed to uphold the rights of the weak against those with all the power, but it fails every time when it comes to cyclists' rights on the road.
C'mon, there must be a lawyer reading this who could pick up on it and work out where the challenges come from. The law is not black and white and this is NOT acceptable. Stand up and make a fucing name for yourself, you'll make millions...
Fucking disgrace of a shithouse country!
If you were to start a petition, I'm sure it will reach the required number of signatures to get heard by government (although they'll probably just wash their hands, saying it's a court that handed down the sentence)
OK. So what do we do? Start a govt petition thing that has to be debated if enough people sign it?
Not a bad idea, and with the current government study about cycling safety, it might get some traction. Anyone care to draw up a form of words?
This has long got past the stage of being a joke, but this is one of the sickest yet. Two years suspended and a year's ban for killing someone? Words fail me.
If only I had some confidence in the government's study of cycling safety to address this, but I'm certain it won't.
I'm about to add fuel to your displeasure Mr Burt. It wasn't even 24 months suspended, it was 24 measly weeks. I know, I know .......
Thanks for correcting my misreading.
Displeasure meter was already at 99%, but now it's broken completely. 24 weeks! Displeasure doesn't begin to cover it. Utter outrage is more like it.
More like slap in the face week for victims and their families.
This leniency sends out entirely the wrong message to anyone priviledged enough to hold a driving licence. That they can pretty much drive with impunity and very little accountability for their actions regardless of the hurt and damage caused to others.
Must be slap on the wrist week in the UK courts.