Safe Speed Forums

Here video report
and Here
Sky News Here
(Also called 'JOYRIDING' EX-POLICEMAN JAILED FOR KILLING GRANDMOTHER - no links ...)
[23rd Sept 09 - Police Chase Fatal accident ]

_________________
Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Not defending him, but an average of less than 22mph doesn't seem like it could be all that 'prolonged' to me.

_________________
Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

I agree that the overall average is low but when we consider 104 in a 40 with some use of B&T (blue's and two's), to deliver a family birthday card, the abuse of his position of authority is extreme.
We have to ensure that Police Drivers fully understand their responsibilities, and only use those privileges that they hold with great understand and to use them appropriately.
There is precious little info (perhaps understandably) about the accident, but I was told that she stepped out onto 'a' road, beyond that I have little info, other than a little earlier he was doing 56 in a 30.
With many roads being re-limited, who knows what this road looked like or how well vision was or conditions or even if day or night.
However, I fail to see why he was given time off to deliver a birthday card, and to use a Police car too.
To then abuse that kindness offered to him by behaving very inappropriately is bad enough but to drive with such little observation, anticipation, awareness, or good attitude is appalling.
Why was he in a rush for any of this journey. Was he 'joy-riding'? His show off attitude to his relatives (in his Police car as so reported) is just downright shameful, and puts the police force to shame.
The hypocrisy and arrogance of this is frankly shocking.
Whatever happened to his responsibility towards himself, his family and all those about him. I can only guess that he became 'way' over adrenalin filled and became blind to his real purpose and his position.
Any adrenalin filled driver / rider might become blind to the dangers and potential hazards that any road may present.

I hope that the Police Training Facilities, & Police Chiefs, take this on board, and do everything that can possibly do to ensure that this avoidable tragic incident is never repeated. Responsible driving is crucial to road safety whoever and where-ever we all are.

_________________
Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

LBC Radio for their morning show are looking to speak with anyone that has experience of an accident where the Police were involved, please let me know, or contact the show directly.
LBC.co.uk

_________________
Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

I absolutely agree (and with your overall message) ... but ... is that the point?
(just to clarify: the point I was highlighting was the possibly misleading way the driving was reported: 'prolonged')

What if he really was on a real mercy drive - I can only assume the outcome would have been the same he would still have been convicted for DBDD, even though he was using B&Ts. Surely there is a deeper fundamental problem here than abuse of authority?

_________________
Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

Yes I do think that he got carried away on some adrenalin charged 'run' - how that came about and what basic flaw/s in his character led him to it, is an interesting debate. I wish I had more information to work with.
'Prolonged' - we do not know the whole routes and information. We do know that he stopped three times - deliver the card (we assume it was on him - unless that was the need to stop at the store), drop the card off, pick up relatives and take them for a run, drop off relatives, stop at store, on return to police station is when the accident occurred.
I can only assume that he never had any intention to hurt anyone.
The situation that makes this worse, is the highly unusual lead up to this accident. He was not 'on the job' but chose to drive like this for 'fun'. He had no call to proportionately justify his 'riskier action' driving style.

What caused his (presumably) intense concentration, to fail to observe I just cannot imagine. I gather it occurred near a railway bridge, so shadow, angle road layout, did the pedestrian 'just' step out ? I understand that he was not using the B&T's at the time of the incident.

I think you raise a valid point, however the full story isn't told in the press release above.
I was sent a reporters better balanced info from the Court they had attended.
I see the issues too of my knowing more than is initially being openly discussed.
He had used B&T when taking his relatives for a 'run' in the nearby streets, that is when he is reported to do the 104mph.
The fact that he abused his position of authority in this reckless manner is an issue that needs to rest squarely on his shoulders. I am sure other good police drivers never wish to be associated with his 'performance'.
He failed from all I have been told in every basic (driving) ability to drive safely and the Court has tried I think moderately fairly to deal with that.
He was allowed to go and drop off a birthday car to his sister's 18th, and apparently went to a supermarket too, so no need for any Police actions whatsoever. Frankly I am not sure why he wasn't in his own car to use the public's purse to hand deliver the card is misuse of funds too.

I haven't seen any info to say that he was a top trained police driver, but Nick this morning suggested that he was.
However it is the basic situation of total lack of regard for all his training and safety for those around him that has failed him so comprehensively here.

I agree the bigger picture is not to be forgotten that a principal needs to be fairly remembered, that when we start to apply one rule to a highly emotionally charged event, we can be in danger of forgetting fundamental principals. When there is a genuine case those rules and regs must still be applied.

_________________
Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

I had read reports that he has been using B&Ts during his 'prolonged' run, so I had assumed he was using them during the stints where he was well in excess of the limit including where the collision occurred (which would be reasonable).

If what you understand is correct, then this action smacks of unpredictable behaviour and is absolutely inexcusable; for me this would be the fundamental problem! Factors like abuse of authority and pedestrian misjudgement (if any occurred) are red herrings.

_________________
Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

The report I had was that he'd used B&T's when he was with relatives going 104 in urban area (40).

Nothing I have read or heard states that he had any B&T's on before the incident.

Added - I felt the interview would provide a chance to get across good driver points by showing his bad aspects ... and show our serious interest in a return to Intelligent Road Safety.
I am not too keen to contribute to too many emotionally driven news stories but this needed a good solid answer and understanding. I hope I did achieved my aim - albeit not quite 'flowing' ! Was more nervous than usual but then I am up against time this week especially so not too much sleep !

_________________
Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.