Is it time to punish ALL law breakers

[Oneeyedvic]

There are (and have been for the last 10 years) between 200-220 knife victims a year.

There are around 3000 deaths through car accidents per year.

Is it time to have a zero tolerance approach on speeding (which is often a contributing factor).

Cars should be restricted to 70mph and anyone caught going over the speed limit should be put in prison for 5 years.

Anyone agree?

[BigDogsWang]

Ahhhh right. So we all have to walk around with a knife then? Just in case?

Why stop there? Think i'll get myself an Uzi, just in case someone comes at me with a Handgun.

[jake-the-peg]

Perfectly safe whiffey - I'm sure you're easily able to handle a front tyre blow out at 138mph - come back when you're ready to grow up.

It is a bit BB BDW but you have to start to ask yourself what it will take to stop so many people getting killed

10 people a day - and the UK is one of the lowest figures.

If 3,000 soldiers a day were killed in Iraq can you imagine?

Do you have a better idea?

[jake-the-peg]

Sorry should be 3,000 a year of course

[Gromit]

Willful intent or willful neglect.

The result is the same. Someone dead.

A plea of, (I broke the law, I disregarded good safety advice on speed, I was not in proper control of my vehicle and had no regard for other road users) but I didn't mean to hurt anyone

is just as lame an excuse as I only had a knife for protection.

For every speeding, drink driving and careless driving offence, that person's driving licence should instantly be revoked, and only let back on the roads when they had passed their driving test again. Additionally, points, fines or imprisonment depending on the case.

[Oneeyedvic]

BDW - Carrying a knife for 'protection' (if you have had friends attacked) is probably a more sensible argument than " I wanted to get home 10 minutes early".

An uzi is not something that an average youth can get easily - a knife is. Hence the reason that knife crime is more prevalent than gun crime.

[BigDogsWang]

But of course, everyone who is carrying a knife is doing so for protection? That's why 20 teenagers in London are dead this year, because they were knived by someone who was protecting themself?

Why are so many people killed in America by guns? Because so many people have them for 'protection'.

[Oneeyedvic]

Not everyone, no.

Just as not everyone who is killed in a car accident is speeding.

But, quite a few people do feel scared to go out, and will arm themselves in case they are attacked.

My wife used to carry a nail file in her pocket - if she was ever attacked she would use it to the best of her ability.

Should she be locked up



(actually, bad example, she probably should be ;-)

[anotheoldgit]

Another one brain cell posting from R1geezer.

Accidents are caused by bad driving, speed is a factor in the outcome, rarely the cause,

I can only assume the "7o guvnor" mob above by their ignorance are the types that are th cause of accidents. Dawdling along in the outside lane ate 70, because "no one can legally over take me" perlease

Breaking the speed limit is bad driving, FACT.

Keeping to the legal speed limit of 70mph on a motor way is not dawdling, or 30mph in a built up area, to anyone with an ounce of brains, but then that excludes R!geezer.

Or the old git , or should I say AOG doing 30 on the inside lane of a dual carrageway.motorway forcing all the trucks to overtake,

Another completely stupid coment, how do you know what speed I do? I have been driving since before you were playing with your Corgi cars.

But then perhaps you have never driven anything else but a bike, by ther way is their an engine in your bike or do you have to pedal?

We try because if we hit things hit hurts.

Impossible in your case you are too thick.

If everyone spend a year on a bike before driving a car then the roads would be much safer.

You have got to be joking, why is it (percentage wise), there are many more accidents with bikes than cars? Because the majority of riders, constantly break the speed limit, never keep to the highway code, and are a total nuisance on the roads.

It is people with the Bravado attitude of R1geezer who should be banned from our roads.

[nedflanders]

Vic, If you were under an iminent threat what would you do? I would suspect your first instinct is to run like Dwain Chambers on Steroids, so what good would a knife do for you when running away. Fact is, most of these gang members are too proud to run away and instead think they are invincible and end up getting a kicking or worse. Most of them will be carrying knives to act like big men to their mates, not for protection.
I know as I grew up during the casual era in the late 80's early 90's and seen it first hand.

[R1Geezer]

touched a few oldgit nerves there methinks!

[jake-the-peg]

Not often I agree with AOG.

First time for everything

[Oneeyedvic]

ned, agreed, but not everyone is intelligent (or even fit) enough to run away.

Some of it is false bravado.

Some people want to copy Crocodile Dundee.

When taking the dog for a walk at night, I often carry a dog chain in my hand. If someone tried to mug me, I would use it to the best of my ability.

A knife is not the problem. Attitudes are.

If it is not a knife, it will be a chain, or a knuckle duster, or a rolled up newspaper (like the old Millwall fans).

Attitudes need to be changed.

[flip_flop]

I've ridden bikes for 15 years and in that time, fortunately, have never been off.......however, I've had loads of close calls and without exception the close calls have always been caused by car drivers, whether by pulling out from a side turning and not looking properly, just relying on their mirrors when turning right without considering filtering motorcyclists (perfectly legitimate motorcycling technique) and generally just being idiots.

In a line of traffic I've even had car drivers spy me in their wing mirror, get annoyed that I'm making better progress than them, so they begin to drift to their right forcing me accross the white lines onto the other side of the road (when this happens to a friend of mine he kicks off their wing mirror as he passes - it obviously goes without saying that I don't condone this.........).

So, I think R1Geezer has a very valid point - I think all new drivers should be made to spend a year on a bike as it would make them more considerate and careful car drivers - its the little things like looking over their shoulders before making a manourvre (I can never spell that bloody word) as opposed to relying on their mirrors. A a bike rider you have no choice but to look behind you, as a result I tend to find I also do this when drving a car.

[Gromit]

And, how about all motorcyclists should have to pass a cycling proficiency Test before they are allowed on the streets on the motorised variety.

Filtering is legitimate (sometimes) but the onus is the the rider to do so when it is safe

And all accidents are other peoples' fault, always.

[karenmac60]

I am totally sick of hearing people say speed cameras are a tax on motorists - if you drive within the speed limits you have nothing to worry about. I am also tired of doing the speed limit and being treated like an old lady doing 20 by other drivers who constantly overtake me. There should be other offences than careless or dangerous driving and then straight onto death by dangerous driving. I was knocked down by a drunk driver, on the pavement, who had no licence, no MOT and no insurance, who then drove away. I was badly injured, suffered suspected kidney damage and severe depression as a result of head injuries which effectively destroyed my marriage, and all he got was a fine because he was treated the same way as if he had hit a parked car rather than a person.