A BMW driver who hit a cyclist and two pedestrians, then lodged his car into a double decker bus, while astride a low wall, has been disqualified from driving for six months.
The driver, Shibob Li, 49, originally blamed the cyclist for causing him to panic and lost control of his vehicle outside Kingston railway station, as we reported last year.
But Li pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court last month.
Li, the manager of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in Fife Road, drove his BMW out of Fife Road Kingston and attempted to drive the wrong way into Clarence Street, according to the Kingston Guardian.
Paramedics treated two women – one of whom the cyclist – and a man at the scene. One of the women was airlifted to hospital with severe leg injuries. One of the injured was a refugee from war in Syria.
A traffic officer said the driver had hit a cyclist at the pedestrian crossing outside Cappadocia restaurant.
He went on to hit the two pedestrians as his car careered down the street.
Magistrates fined Li £300 on top of his driving ban.
Li said at the time of the incident: “Of course I regret. But it is not just my fault.
“[The cyclist] started shouting and caused my panic. I was panicked and lost control of the car.
“I think people cycling, they need to pay due attention. There are too many bicycle people on the road.
“They do not really watch the other people. Sometimes they just come quickly.”
60 thoughts on “BMW driver who blamed cyclist for crash after hitting rider, 2 pedestrians, and a bus fined £300 and disqualified for six months”
what a bell end.
6 months not
what a bell end.
6 months not enough!
We never did do the t-shirt
We never did do the t-shirt 😀
Again the courts show just
Again the courts show just how biased they are towards drivers. With that amount of carnage he only gets 6 months ban and £300 fine. These judges are complete clowns!
The 2nd story down here
The 2nd story down here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S1eQvXOLvRw_WxutbjxTMed4JHrnQkF1iDeuCiIDrWM/edit?pli=1 is relevant.
Li said at the time of the
Li said at the time of the incident: “Of course I regret. But it is not just my fault.
“[The cyclist] started shouting and caused my panic. I was panicked and lost control of the car.
“I think people cycling, they need to pay due attention. There are too many bicycle people on the road.
“They do not really watch the other people. Sometimes they just come quickly.”
Why is it not just his fault?
He attempted to drive the wrong way into Clarence Street. Would you not expect a cyclist or motor vehicle to to shout or sound their horn if you were doing something wrong.
Six month ban? Another justice fail.
Come on, this clown should not be on the roads in a motor vehicle again, end of. ~X(
tourdelound wrote:Li said at
I’m a bicycle person, I certainly sometimes come quickly.
I like “bicycle people”
I like “bicycle people” though. We are people, not cyclists.
Getting really P***ed off at
Getting really P***ed off at these stupid sentences.
They should have a minimum 12 month ban before they can apply to take a driving test again, and shouldn’t be allowed their license back until they have completed and passed the test with NO exceptions.
Do you think this might be a
Do you think this might be a solution?
http://road.cc/content/forum/107753-punishment-and-reform-how-make-drivers-behave
….but I think I can get
….but I think I can get some cream to rub on for that
We are the bicycle people,
We are the bicycle people, love it.
Not sure what the brand of
Not sure what the brand of car he drove had anything to do with the story, other than yet another stereotype.
The guy would have been guilty whatever car he drove.
Come on road.cc you are better than that.
If I saw a car coming towards
If I saw a car coming towards me the wrong way down a one way street I think I’d start shouting and waving my arms. If they could miss a no entry sign who says they wouldn’t miss me.
I think it’s about time they started crushing a few cars as well as handing out a driving ban. I’m sure that would sharpen a few peoples acts up.
Road CC, would you care to
Road CC, would you care to comment on why you’ve made such a big deal in the headline and picture over the guy being at the wheel of a BMW? For one thing he doesn’t seem to even fit the brash, overconfident, risk-taking “BMW driver” stereotype that it looks like you are attempting to employ.
Is it just click bait, or do you believe the type of car he was driving has a real bearing on the story? No doubt it helps us to recall your reporting on the incident when it happened last year, but that’s only because you made it such a large part of the original story too, so my question stands.
I don’t drive a BMW (or any car for that matter). I’m just concerned that you’re perhaps needlessly pandering to prejudice by making it such a prominent part of the story.
Six months ban and £300
Six months ban and £300 costs? At least he didn’t kill anyone I suppose. Close though – I suspect he will do so next time, as he clearly hasn’t learnt anything from this blaming the “bicycle person” as the culprit here.
HE TRIED TO DRIVE THE WRONG WAY DOWN A ONE WAY STREET.
X(
Tiny question: why is the
Tiny question: why is the make of car he was driving even slightly relevant?
I’m really confused why the
I’m really confused why the make of the car is so significant in this story??? Clearly a travesty of sentencing but really nothing what so ever to do with the vehicle manufacturer. I seriously doubt BMW have installed a hit cyclists & pedestrians gear in their newest models
Wow, do you hate BMW so much
Wow, do you hate BMW so much that you had to repeat that name so many times?
Disqualified for 6 months –
Disqualified for 6 months – should have been jailed for that long.
I’m surprised no one’s
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned it already, but why is the make of… 🙂
Love that t-shirt!
I’m shocked by this! I mean,
I’m shocked by this! I mean, what model was the BMW? No mention of the colour either.
Drives the wrong way on the
Drives the wrong way on the road then has a go at the cyclist for having the audacity to shout and wave instead of just being hit quietly with no fuss.
Panicked? Is he a horse? If that truly panics him I’d suggest the road is no place for him. And, let’s be honest…we all really know what BMW drivers are like 8>
Strange that you fail to
Strange that you fail to mention the make of bike the cyclist he hit was riding, or the brand of shoes the pedestrians were wearing, or the type of bus. How do you expect your readers to stereotype the victims of this driver’s actions without this important information?
Kind regards,
BMW driver and cyclist.
sadly something bad will have
sadly something bad will have to happen to a loved one of a judge/politician before they start thinking about making the license something you earn rather than something you have a right to.
Everyone knows that many BMW
Everyone knows that many BMW drivers have traditionally driven as if they ‘own the road’.*
But this fellow seems to be a bit short of standard BMW driver aggression. Can one of the Beemer fans on here pop round and sort him out with some road rage training? Can’t have standards slipping like this!
http://theweek.com/article/index/248281/its-not-your-imagination-bmw-drivers-are-the-biggest-jerks
But don’t get complacent, as steaming up behind are Audi drivers, the “new cocks of the road”.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=974950
[size=6]* note: I did not say “all”[/size]
I’ve often wondered, usually
I’ve often wondered, usually in the moments following an act of spectacular automotive bellendery, do BMWs just attract utter cocks to drive them? Or do people turn in to utter cocks after they start driving them?
Very poor reporting.
I’d
Very poor reporting.
I’d expect road.cc to be fighting lazy stereotypes, not peddling them.
pdw wrote:Very poor
.
I agree, poor reporting, but there is a serendipitous advantage to stereotyping BMW drivers in this way.
BMWs attract a lot of drivers who want to drive fast, but don’t want to die if they overcook it. For midsize luxury cars, this phenonenon particularly affects the BMW 3 Series and, to a lesser extent, the Audi A4.
The safer a driver feels, the more risks they will take. It’s all about risk compensation. This isn’t exclusive to BMW drivers – older readers may recall that, when seat belts became compulsory in the UK, pedestrian KSIs shot up.
If the press inadvertently make some drivers less likely to choose cars that protect occupants from injury at higher speeds, then other road users will be less likely to be injured or killed.
You would get the same
You would get the same penalty for doing 100mph on a deserted motorway.
This nugget drives the wrong way down a one way street, causing severe injury and damage and gets the same…..
THERE ARE TOO MANY CANT DRIVE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD.
Compulsory tests every 5 years please.
I cycle every day. I also own
I cycle every day. I also own a BMW.
Who knew that the two things weren’t mutually exclusive, eh?
“I cycle every day. I also
“I cycle every day. I also own a BMW.
Who knew that the two things weren’t mutually exclusive, eh?”
Ah! But do you ride like you drive? 😉
jmaccelari wrote:”I cycle
Out of the Wilier, the Colnago and the BMW, I’ll let you guess which one has the child seat.
The injuries caused were very
The injuries caused were very serious – the driver didn’t regret what he did – it would appear that he routinely drove the wrong way as a shortcut to his shop – so it wasn’t a one off case of careless driving – it was a premeditated act that had potential for serious harm to others – I’m sure it wouldn’t have taken too much effort to have found a couple of witnesses to his regular disregard for others safety – 6month ban – should be walking for life – arrogant beyond belief and incapable of controlling his “ultimate driving machine” when push comes to shove
antigee wrote:The injuries
But, but, but… I’m sure the courts saw that he’d done this lots of times before, so it must have been safe going down the wrong way there, right? Mitigating circumstances, wasn’t it?
I’d say the magistrates in question should be lobotomised, but apparently that already happened. The London CPS was useless as always.
“BMW driver” did you say? I
“BMW driver” did you say? I haven’t read the story or consulted the facts (obviously) but he was undoubtedly guilty and should be in prison for a *very* long time.
When exactly did the Daily Mail takeover road.cc?
It appears to me that this
It appears to me that this driving the wrong way down the road was habitual. It appears he did it outside his practice, so there’s no way he can claim ignorance. So it appears this Mr Li has no regard fof the law. And with a £300 fine and short suspension, I’m not surprised.
Yet more despair at our legal
Yet more despair at our legal system which accepts crap from drivers such as Li, why? They are all in it together, corrupt like many of our elites. Care not a fig for lesser mortals.
Fuck me this is a
Fuck me this is a ridiculously light sentence handed down by yet another incompetent idiot judge. One year in jail plus a 5 year driving ban would have been more appropriate and the incompetent useless CPS should have pursued a dangerous driving prosecution NOT careless driving. Shocking.
A bmw, someone please think
A bmw, someone please think of tbe children!
Going slightly off-topic, but
Going slightly off-topic, but as this driver caused serious injuries, would the National Health Service be able to reclaim from him the cost of his victim’s treatment?
I have posed this question in our club magazine in the past under similar circumstances, and even though our membership includes at least two qualified solicitors, there have been no responses.
Surely publicizing the fact that MANY thousands of pounds can/could be recovered would eventually trickle down to potential injury causers? Or am I living in cloud cuckoo land?
K Stand Ken wrote:Going
Years ago, I went over the bonnet of a car that pulled out of a side road. I was on a motorbike. I received a bill from the hospital, which I had to pay, and then this expense formed part of my claim against the driver. Does anyone know whether this is still still how the NHS covers their costs?
Neil753 wrote:K Stand Ken
I haven’t heard anything from the hospital I was taken to last year in similar circs. I assume Police gave the ambo/hospital the driver’s details.
This case does highlight the
This case does highlight the very real risk of a secondary accident if the driver feels threatened by the cyclist and, just as importantly, the possibility of a driver receiving a lighter sentence if their immediate post accident actions might be interpreted as a result of intimidation by the cyclist.
I have no idea what happened in this case, because I wasn’t there, but if it is true that the cyclist “shouted” at the driver, allegedly causing him to “panic”, any defence team worth their salt would inevitably use this as a means to lessen any sentence.
Shouting a warning, prior to an accident, is fine, but showing (albeit understandable) aggression immediately following an accident merely reduces the chance of a seriously punitive sentence.
I think they called him a BMW
I think they called him a BMW driver because they didn’t want to call him a chinese driver. Either way, he’s an idiot.
A driver threatened by a
A driver threatened by a cyclist? really? really?, you must be able to do better than that.
Any major failure of driving
Any major failure of driving ability should require a re-test even harder than the normal test.
**** NEWSFLASH ****
This will
**** NEWSFLASH ****
This will blow your mind.
BMW make cars.
AND
bikes?
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/bmw-to-sell-m-series-bicycle-25481/
I like it ‘cos its a bike. But I hate it cos its a BMW!
I live in Seattle and drive a
I live in Seattle and drive a BMW. Here, BMW drivers have a similar reputation to their kin in the UK (though I try to avoid the stereotype and will only nerf hipsters on their way back from the café).
BMW have a really strong brand and has a distinct target audience. While the mention of the vehicle brand is a little incidental to the story of an idiot driving the wrong way and blaming the people he hit for being there in the first place, it’s interesting that BMW drivers have a similar reputation on two continents, and it’s worth spending a moment wondering what it is about BMW that causes that perception.
Gordy748 wrote:it’s worth
Confirmation bias?
Same thing that leads many people to believe that the majority of cyclists ignore traffic rules, when studies typically find the opposite to be true.
pdw wrote:Gordy748 wrote:it’s
Its true that I had no idea till very recently that BMWs had a bad reputation, and once I heard it I suddenly found myself noticing whenever a bad driver happened to be in one. I doubt I’d have come up with the theory from my own experience if I’d never heard it from others.
Stereotypes definitely have a self-reinforcing element.
I’m one of the “bicycle
I’m one of the “bicycle people” who cycle past this persons shop every day. I’ll have to put the date he returns to the road in my diary and keep an eye out for him. I think it’s very disappointing that there was no requirement for re-training or re-testing.
The junction where the accident happened is a mess. Fife road is a side road which joins Clarence Street, a three lane urban “motorway”. Just “upstream” of the Fife/Clarence junction is very large and well used pedestrian/bicycle people crossing. There is another pedestrian/bicycle person crossing over the front of Fife road. This is linked to the main crossing so if you want to head West on foot or Bicycle you have to wait twice. The main crossing is on a 2 minute wait and Fife road is very quiet so it is very tempting to cross Clarence street at a diagonal across the top of Fife road and avoid waiting twice. I imagine the driver was trying to pull away when he got a green light as the main crossing also got a green man and encountered a cyclist “doing a diagonal” and pulled his wheel to the right driving through the mass of pedestrians and effectively going the wrong way up Clarance street.
This junction could do with a serious re-work to reflect how people really use it. – It would make drivers, pedestrians and bicycle people’s lives much easier.
Audi are the new BMW in my
Audi are the new BMW in my opinion.
Colin Peyresourde wrote:Audi
Around my way if you’re run close by a car (or see one blazing across a pedestrian crossing or through lights) it’s liable to be a Skoda Octavia. With a badge on the back proclaiming their local authority licence number.
@Neil753
I suspect the
@Neil753
I suspect the cyclist shouted and waved their arm to alert the driver that the cyclist was there. Ringing a bell would not surfice. How would you alert the driver of your presence?
And when a driver beeps the horn how many cyclists can say they are not spooked? But no one suggests drivers should not beep the horn. We all have alert people of our presence.
Liscences valid for 5 years then a retest.
earth wrote:@Neil753
I
Valid points.
But I was wondering whether the cyclist was shouting after the accident had occured, which is perhaps understandable, as an involuntary action. What we need to do, however, if we have the presence of mind at the time, is to not display any reactive aggression towards the driver.
I don’t know, because I wasn’t there, but unless this apparently slightly built chap was some martial arts ninja, it’s just possible that a fit cyclist, “keen to have a word” with the miscreant driver, might have been sufficient for him to indeed panic, shoot off, and hit all those other people.
Certainly that’s exactly what happened in a high profile case last year, in New York, where a courier cyclist banged the roof of a taxi, the driver panicked, mounted the kerb, and severed a poor woman’s leg. Whether or not that was the case, the driver, with the help of legal representation from his taxi organisation, has successfully avoided being charged with any offence, because his “flight” was deemed to have been as a result of the allegedly aggressive actions of the cyclist.
If we want to see some high profile prosecutions, with penalties stiff enough to act as a serious deterent, we must try to avoid giving motorists’ legal counsel any opportunity to plead mitigation. And we must certainly understand that our aggression may indeed lead to secondary incidents, as the motorist tries to put distance between parties at some speed.
When I was a soldier, we used to mentally train ourselves to engage in a “measured response to situations”, which is something the British Army is very good at. And in a similar way, all of us, as cyclists, have the ability to reduce potential conflict by mentally rehearsing our measured response if we were unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident whilst out on our bikes.
Just sayin’.
Speaking as a cyclist and a
Speaking as a cyclist and a BMW driver, can I say
a) I drive very carefully – mostly because I am a cyclist!
b) there are lots of people in lots of brands of car who are appalling. Yes we can all come up with a list in which Audi and Ford Transit drivers are bottom of the pops, but it isn’t very helpful.
c) this bloke shouldn’t be allowed back on the road
d) the magistrate was attrocious
e) the driver’s insurance is going to be sky high. What a shame.
@Neil753
The guy was driving
@Neil753
The guy was driving the wrong way down a one-way street (a street he must have been very familiar with), why make excuses for him?
And the cyclist was treated by paramedics, so presumably was not in a great state to ‘threaten’ someone who in any case was safely inside a car.
Also the article above says “Paramedics treated two women – one of whom the cyclist”, ignoring the weird syntax it seems to imply the cyclist was a woman. Though, I have to admit that elsewhere I’ve read reports saying that it was a man and also another one saying it was a woman, so who knows?
If someone, breaking the law in the process, whacks you with a weapon and injures you, you may well shout. Its entirely unfair to expect cyclists behave like Gandhian saints (pardon the mixed religions) in order to get justice.
The reason why BMW drivers
The reason why BMW drivers have a bad rep is because the marketing BMW do “Ultimate Driving Machine” is based on a research report they have used to design an “ethos” to do with driving experience and status into their vehicles. That tends to attract people seeking status via their car and perceived driving ability. (it’s worth mentioning that BMWs can be sold to anybody not just really good drivers).
Anyhoo if you design and market a whole marque in order to appeal to people that want a status boost and an exciting drive then you will (among others) attract more than your fair share of aggressive drivers.
Have to say, the attitudes of
Have to say, the attitudes of many contributors to this site are far worse than most BMW drivers I come across.
There are a lot of self-righteous cocks on here.
I wonder if the headline read
I wonder if the headline read “KIA” driver who blamed cyclist for crash after hitting rider, 2 pedestrians, and a bus fined £300 and disqualified for six months”.
Folk might react differently.
Seems the driver deserved the outcome but need some education. Unrepentant and arrogant to the end. Think a bigger fine might make them think a little more.