A driver who claimed that the A-pillar on his car had created a blind spot that meant he did not see a cyclist he killed has been given a community sentence.
Bradley Schofield, from Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty in June last year to causing death by dangerous driving after he turned out of a junction into the path of cyclist Paul Sims in April last year.
Mr Sims, aged 68 and from Wisbech St Mary, was taken to hospital by air ambulance, but died three weeks later from his injuries, reports the Fenland Citizen.
Schofield claimed to police when interviewed that the A-pillar of his car had created a blind spot and that as a result he failed to see Mr Sims and another cyclist he was riding with.
PC Rochelle Eves, the investigating officer, said: “It’s incredibly sad when we have to attend incidents where drivers have made a mistake resulting in tragedy.
“I would urge people to ensure they pay careful attention when driving, and be particularly aware of vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.
“We attend these kinds of incidents far too often and many are completely avoidable.”
In a statement, Mr Sims’ family said: “As a family we feel completely robbed; this has destroyed the heart of our family and life will never be the same.
“The collision may have been an accident, but this accident was brought on by one person in a moment of carelessness, culminating in the death of a much-loved husband, father and grandfather.
“The case has taken nearly two years to conclude, but to us it will never be a closed book. Paul was an exceptionally competitive cyclist, competing all over the country and in Europe.
“We will be organising a sponsored cycle ride, hopefully later this year, in memory of Paul with several charities that helped him and are still supporting our family now. Tomorrow (3) would have been Paul’s 70th birthday.”
Schofield was sentenced today at Peterborough Crown Court to an 18-month community order. And was also told to undertake 250 hours, as well as being banned from driving for 18 months.
58 thoughts on “Community sentence for driver who claimed car’s A-pillar meant he didn’t see cyclist he killed”
‘What cost a life’. Now we
‘What cost a life’. Now we know. Shameful.
A straightforward death by
A straightforward death by careless driving. However, the sentencing is so out of kilter. Should be looking at a minimum 5 year ban and extended re-test.
EDIT: in fact if the driver is admitting to such blatant carelessness, maybe they shouldn’t be driving at all.
My heart goes out to the
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Paul Sims.
If he knew ahead of time that
If he knew ahead of time that the a pillar created a blind spot then he should have been taking as many mitigating measures as he could think of, or else not be driving such a dangerous vehicle. If nothing he could do would mitigate the alleged blind spot then there should probably be a recall of that model before anyone else dies.
The A-pillar defence belongs
The A-pillar defence belongs in the same category as being ‘blinded by the sun’ etc. It shouldn’t be an excuse – if you can’t see the road you’re driving into, slow down and drive appropriately. With this particular case, it’s incredible that he can admit to failing to see not one but two cyclists, and for that to somehow count as mitigation in his favour.
esnifador wrote:
But it is, because our glorious leaders decided that the safety of car occupants was much more important than the lives of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The massive A pillars demanded by legislators make cars safer for the people in them, but they kill vulnerable road users. Just like seat belts, the law of unintended consequences will happen, and this has been known about for many years; the question is why haven’t those same legislators addressed the problem?
Yes, but it’s not a defence,
Yes, but it’s not a defence, just an excuse for poor driving. Reading the newspaper report, the police are saying that the driver should have seen the cyclists and obviously didn’t believe his A-pillar excuse.
“a moment of carelessness” ..
“a moment of carelessness” … Or perhaps the driver had frequent and habitual moments of carelessness and these cyclists were just unlucky to be in the wrong place at the wrong time during this particular “moment”.
Joke sentence for killing someone who happened to be where you chose not to look!
Has the inquest concluded? I
I’ve read the article in the link and sadly there’s another story of a 15 year old cyclist in a serious condition after a collision with a motor car just yesterday.
It seems to me that the
It seems to me that the driver has used the A Pillar (after the crash) to explain his actions rather than excuse them, the guy pleaded guilty to Death by Dangerous Driving (Max 14 years) when he could posibly have had it down to Careless in front of a jury. The fact that he has been given a fairly light sentence is probably taking all this into account. I am surprised that they didn’t get a plea bargain down to a different charge. Normally Dangerous driving has other factors involved (high speed, drink, or several incidents leading up to the crash).
It is high time though that these very poor designs were highlighted to thier users through a heavy publicity campaign and that manufacturers were forced to redesign, that will need to be EU legislation (as the much larger market place and the issuers of type approval etc) I would think and we don’t have a say in that now
EK Spinner wrote:
banned and removed from the road. Making A pillars larger to provide greater safety to the car driver, should not come at the cost to others.
Grahamd wrote:
— GrahamdWeren’t the A pillars beefed up because governments demanded it?
I don’t think they demanded
I don’t think they demanded bigger A Pillars, it was more a consequence of a push for Stronger passanger cells, curtain airbags, better fuel economy (more raked windscreen angle)
Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP
I agree, this is nothing to
I agree, this is nothing to do with the A pillar. The driver was not looking at the road, moved into the r’bout at too great a speed and killed someone.
“It was teh A-pillar that made me do it guv”
Once went to see an ice
Once went to see an ice hockey game at the John Nike Centre in Bracknell, where away fans were seated downstairs and had to deal with the support legs for the balcony being between them and the ice. Not really an issue if you are prepared to move your head to see around them rather than complain about the sight lines.
Same when you are driving. Yes, the A pillar is in the way, but if you are not capable of moving your head a few inches either way to see around it, frankly you shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a car.
Ive got a volvo estate. I
Ive got a volvo estate. I could miss an artic behind the door pillar so I look around it. I move my head. Theres no excuse for this accident. If you cant see properly you change your position so you can.
You could say thicker door pillars are safer because it would be obvious that its concealing a substantial bit of your view.
nicmason wrote:
Totally agree with this. My car has a substantial A-pillar and I quickly learnt I had to move my head to see round it to ensure a road was clear.
EK Spinner wrote:
He was only charged with Death by Careless or Inconsiderate Driving, see the linked police and Fenland Citizen reports – road.cc have made an error in stating he pleaded guilty to DD.
As someone else pointed out
As someone else pointed out in the comments, it was Careless Driving he was charged with and pleaded guilty to based on the newspaper reports.
250 hours Community Order.
250 hours Community Order. That’ll tell him.
Again – two moving objects
Again – two moving objects that remain on a constant converging course with regard to each other will collide. If you do not move your head to look around around the pillar you will hit whatever otherwise remains hidden behind it.
Behind the a-pillar is not a blind spot – just an area into which the driver did not look.
PC Rochelle Eves, the
PC Rochelle Eves, the investigating officer, said: “It’s incredibly sad when we have to attend incidents where drivers have made a mistake resulting in tragedy.
“I would urge people to ensure they pay careful attention when driving, and be particularly aware of vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.
Incredibly sad? Urge people to pay attention? Is that the best he can fecking do?
No condemnation of the utter incompetence and criminal negligence that lead to this death? He says it himself in the next line. “Completely avoidable”.
FFS
When I am supervising my
When I am supervising my learner daughter, I have reiterated to her the importance of moving her head around at junctions, to make sure she’s looked around properly. Its only when you move your perspective around that the brain properly sees things, rather than making it up and filling in gaps.
It seems to me that every
It seems to me that every motorist who kills or seriously injures a cyclist has an excuse. They are NEVER man enough to admit they were to blame. Always a bloody excuse!
It like it not there fault.
It like it not there fault. Blame something else. Door piller. The sun. Cell phone the cyclest not wearing a helmet.
My Ford Focus has poor view
My Ford Focus has poor view to the rear wings, a fact of which (as a cyclist and motorcyclist) I’m highly aware. Some years ago I rented a classic Porsche 911 from the late 70s and was amazed at the really good all-round view from the driver’s seat. Modern cars have improved in terms of occupant protection, but the downside is that visibility can be poor for the driver. A good driver should be aware of this and use extra caution for certain manoeuvres as a result.
OldRidgeback wrote:
Modern 911s are mostly the same. The view out all round from my 2005 911 is outstanding, and in some areas better than our 2011 Civic.
Road.cc claims he pled guilty
Road.cc claims he pleaded guilty to “causing death by dangerous driving”
However, both the link provided and this Police news story https://www.cambs.police.uk/news-and-appeals/bradley-schofield-leverington-collision-sentencing (which the Fenland Citizen appear to have plagarised) suggest he in fact pleaded guilty to “causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.”
The fundamental problem with the law as it currently stands is that “careless” when in control of a motor vehicle IS dangerous.
Many years ago I owned a
Many years ago I owned a Bedford CF van. Like all panel vans I suspect, visibility to the left and rear is severely compromised. Junctions, especially those at an angle could be really difficult to get a proper view. My solution, I added another mirror.
It seems to me that mitigating a thick ‘A’ pillar is somewhat simpler.
1. Move your head to look around the obstruction.
2. Unless you are absolutely sure you have seen what is there to be seen. STOP!
Beyond collecting statistics to help improve legislation around driver training or for vehicle design standards, using the ‘A’ pillar defence as an excuse when you have killed someone due to not making the slightest effort to look properly should be ignored for the purposes of sentencing.
From the potential victim’s side, the old adage about making eye contact with the driver of a vehicle which may potentially come into your path, especially those waiting at junctions is very relevant.
. Should of told the courts
. Should of told the courts it was his windsheild that blocked his view that way he wouldn’t have community sentence. Crazy it like the judges never had children who rode a bike. And they never rode one themselves
A-pillars are the new blinded
A-pillars are the new blinded by the sun. If this had been a pedestrian would the sentence have been the same?
I was thinking about this. If
I was thinking about this. If it had been another car, what would have been the outcome?
I didn’t see the car
I didn’t see the bikes
I didn’t see the pedestrian
I do find the ‘sun was in my
I do find the ‘sun was in my eyes’ reasoning strange. Supposing the driver’s lights suddenly failed at night, would they keep going and hope for the best? Probably not.
Another joke justice sentence
Another joke justice sentence for taking a life.
How will the population as a whole ever change their vehicle behaviours if the worst that would likely happen is an 18month driving ban. Eighteen months of not driving is shameful, it is not justice served for the deceased cyclists family.
The only way this will change is when the law agrees that owing a driving licence is not a ‘right’ but a privilege.
Looking at the junction
Looking at the junction mentioned in the article you can see that (in 2009 at least) anyone turning right out of cuts the corner based on the stones on the road. So I suspect he gave a curosry glance and then without stopping or significantly slowing as it was “clear” just drove straight into the unfortunate cyclist. Multiple bad driving but yes, lets do him on careless as we don’t trust in our ability to convince people otherwise.
*convict? people otherwise’
*convict? people otherwise’
Well that is part of the problem, it’s a conviction and a win for the CPS and their success rates.
Maybe just not an appropriate conviction.
Check this image:
Check this image:
Playing armchair collision investigator here, but the police report says that the car was in Fitton End Road and turned at the junction to join Roman Bank, Leverington.
Doesn’t say which way the car turned or direction of travel of the cyclists.
On Google maps I can only find one junction as described above. The view is as the driver will have come up to the junction.
The junction is massive and apparently (I don’t know how old the image is) clear of any obstruction.
WTF! The drive had to blame the A-pillar as there was nothing else to blame!
He’s never seen the cyclists because he’s never looked for them. Looked for cars or tractors yes, but not bikes
Ahem, I posted similar right
Ahem, I posted similar right below you.
If you look in the bottom right corner the image was captured in 2009, so all the saplings on the right could well be trees now. He turned into their path and as the stones on the end and the wearing of the junctions shows, all the vehicles cut across the central line when turning right out of it. The only reason that happens is everyone comes out at speed once they “see” it is clear. If everyone stopped first then there would not be the cutting across we see there.
Thanks AS, inquisitive minds
Thanks AS, inquisitive minds think alike!
Unfortunately, the bigger the
Unfortunately, the bigger the junction, the bigger the effective blindspot is, if you happen to be in it. I was nearly taken off once and then actually taken off for exactly this reason at the same junction (not this one but it’s similar), the sight lines are too good so drivers don’t bother looking around the A pillar
I’d suggest the bigger the
I’d suggest the bigger the junction the higher the speed the driver is trying to go through it!
I don’t think it’s mentioned
I don’t think it’s mentioned in the article, but from the streetview it appears that this is part of the National Cycle Network, which are suppsed to be “safe” routes.
NCN 1 – the biggie!
NCN 1 – the biggie!
The junction does indeed form part of the network.
Anytime I’m turning right or
Anytime I’m turning right or left, I’m looking out of the side window, not trying to see through the A pillar. What a load of wank.
Another depressingly lenient
Another depressingly lenient sentence. Lock em up or string em up and never ever let them drive again!
Joke driving ban, community
Joke driving ban, community service- usual forgiveness for killing a cyclist. Typical type of excuse which is essentially I don’t bother looking for cyclists, and which seems to be generally accepted by the police. I apologise for mentioning this yet again but when I, as a stationary cyclist waiting to exit Sainsbury’s onto the main road, was hit by a driver cutting the corner turning into Sainsbury’s, the police response was ‘it was only a momentary loss of concentration, no further action’. I was lucky and wasn’t smashed to pulp by the bike being rammed back into my pelvis- I was just hit on the shoulder by the mirror and got a stiff neck. I spent a lot of time fighting the police standard brush-off, but all I achieved was the joke driving course. Now I get straight onto police dodging, no messing around- you have to hurt the b*******, or they will try everything to avoid action.
Was that a wing or a door
Was that a wing or a door mirror?…
Just a mirror. I couldn’t be
Just a mirror. I couldn’t be bothered with all that again!
250 hours community service?
250 hours community service?
Are they doing community service during Covid?- or can they just work from home on virtual litter-picking?
Well, they are doing virtual
Well, they are doing virtual speed awareness courses!
To add something slightly new
To add something slightly new to this, my bike is around 7 feet long (probably, I’ve never really laid down next to it) and if I’m riding side by side my friend and I are probably taking up at least 6 feet of width.
There were two cyclists so did he not see an object at least 14ft by 2 ft or an object 7ft by 6ft? Just how big are those pillars!
And remember – you on your
And remember – you on your bike (seven feet by two feet) is “taking up the whole road” whereas a single motorist in their car (let’s say six feet by fifteen feet, typical SUV) is just the normal state of things…
Pitiful sentance and a not
Pitiful sentance and a not very believable excuse for bad driving.
Having said that, understanding blind spots is REALLY important for cyclists safety.
Blind Spots are bigger than you think, there is a phenomenon called windscreen zoning, which says that drivers tend not to make eye fixations near the edge of their windscreen. Blind Spots move with the vehicle. You dont always know when you are in a blind spot, which means there is no defense.
For a sobering picture Google – Cyclist Death Ipley Blindspot – (for some reason I cannot paste the link, but this pulls up a load of relevent articles on the topic
https://singletrackworld.com
https://singletrackworld.com/2018/01/collision-course-why-this-type-of-road-junction-will-keep-killing-cyclists/
Thanks Mate
Thanks Mate . I think you will agree it’s a scary read.
So the penalty for *killing*
So the penalty for *killing* someone in real life is only slightly higher than the penalty for simply *cheating* in a virtual race (https://road.cc/content/news/zwift-hands-two-more-bans-riders-falsifying-race-data-280605)?
Wow! You couldn’t make it up, could you? I wonder what Franz Kafka would make of it all?
The driver was only affected
The driver was only affected by the A-Pillar because HE FAILED to look around it properly! No matter how big the A-Pillar is, the driver has the responsibility to make sure that the road ahead is clear. If that means moving your head to one side or leaning forward to look properly then so be it. Truly pathetic excuse and an equally pathetic sentence. RIP Mr Sims.