Deaf man killed at blind junction
This is a tragic case. The driver of the fire engine failed to take into account that not all road users would be able to hear the two tone siren. In rushing to save human life a human life was lost.
Is this the price of human life £750 fine and six penalty points? I don't wish to appear to be too harsh on the fire engine driver, still, I feel that the car driver's estate ought to sue for damages.
Isn't this technically "causing death by dangerous driving"?
ReplyDeleteOf course the other side of the coin is whether someone who is stone deaf should be driving. It is illegal to drive when wearing headphones precisely because it leaves one unable to receive and thereby respond to any acoustic information around one.
The case is undoubtedly tragic but it also, I feel, perhaps raises some wider questions about the physical/health requirements for drivers and certainly about the charges that were brought considering the consequences of the accident. If being able to hear is not a legal requirement for driving then certainly the estate of the deceased should seek compensation.
richard: Causing death by dangerous driving is harder to prove and the CPS tends to go for the easier option. In this particular case I think they were right. Deaf and disabled people still have to pass their driving test and if they are deemed medically fit its legal. As you point out not hearing sounds like a car horn giving a warning might be a disadvantage.
ReplyDeleteThose two tone horns do not provide a sense of direction anyway. I always have to wait and see which way the flashing lights are coming from long after I have heard the siren.
ReplyDeleteWhen they use the white noise it is easier to discover the direction.
ReplyDeleteA couple of years back I was rear ended at some traffic lights as the driver behind was looking around trying to find out which direction the siren was coming from, and had not noticed that I had to stop for the jam in front.