Collective Punishment Still All The Rage In 2013, Then...

The £18.5million Roscommon Way extension was opened in January in a bid to ease traffic and help Charfleets Industrial Estate on Canvey expand.

However, yobs have been using the road as a racetrack since September, causing misery for residents by revving their engines, honking their horns and causing damage to the road in the early hours.

All traffic offences. So, catch them, prosecute them, impose ASBOs.

No? What, too much like hard work, Essex Police?

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “Our policing operations to combat anti-social bikers on Roscommon Way appear to have only fixed the problem short term. We are looking into a more robust way of combating the problem in the long term.

“We are continuing to liaise with the highways authority in a bid to alter the road layout to prevent such dangerous riding.”

The plans could include introducing traffic calming measures such as speed humps or chicanes to force motorists to slow down.

Hang on, 'motorists'? I thought we were talking about 'rogue bikers'?

"Beat the clock, ya gotta beat the clock.."

Some fun to be had in Plymouth:

A new type of crossing is up and running on Royal Parade.

Oh?

The signals, next to the Big Screen, were installed this week and count down to show pedestrians exactly how long they have to cross the road.

A green man still lights up when it is safe to cross, with a countdown before the red man appears to let people know they should clear the crossing.

Oh boy! That's not going to have some unforeseen consequences, is it?

Nothing 'Complex' Or 'Unusual' About It...

Remember this story?

Six police officers were treated in hospital after diving into a river in a bid to rescue five occupants of a car which had crashed into the water.

...

Police said the six officers dived into the River Avon in a bid to save the silver BMW's occupants after it crashed into the water today.

Two other women were being interviewed as witnesses in what the Fire Service described as a "complex" and "unusual" incident.

Oh, really? Well, now the court case is over, we can see just what was so 'complex and unusual' about it:

A drink-driver who careered off a city centre bridge, killing a young mum, had been driving with no licence or insurance for 13 years.

A court heard Shennie Jaffer had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his breath when tested, nearly three hours after losing control of his BMW car in Passage Street and plunging into the Floating Harbour.

Bristol Crown Court heard Jaffer, of Robertson Road, Easton, had been showing off and refused to slow down or stop even though his terrified passengers – who included his pregnant girlfriend – pleaded with him before the accident at 4am on October 20

....

Jaffer dived into the water several times but his frantic efforts to free her failed and she drowned.

The court heard the 31-year-old then went home, where police later found him and his girlfriend, next to wet clothes. Disoriented Jaffer initially told them they were "corrupt" in targeting him, before saying: "I tried to help her."

...

He had previous convictions for failing to stop after an accident in 2004, when he was banned for a year, and failing to provide a breath specimen in 2009, when he was banned for two years.

Nothing too unusual there. Nothing too unusual about the defence's laughable attempts, either:

Mr Rose said eventually his client walked away in shock and was found at home, disorientated, with his wet clothes beside him.

He said: "That disorientation was more than mere alcohol.

"When first spoken to he was aggressive and defensive. But he admitted matters regarding him driving in the police station.

"He was exuberant that night, in an excess of high spirits. Now he is very subdued, quiet and thoughtful and inevitably affected by it."

Yes, clearly, he's the victim. OK, maybe the punishment from the justice system is the 'complex and unusual' part?

Jaffer was jailed for six years and eight months yesterday...

Nope. Guess not.

Well, Don't Be Too Hard On Her...

To the family of the grandmother she killed while texting at the wheel of her car, it could not have been more insensitive.

They had come to court hoping to see Nikita Ainley show some remorse – and not a little humility – at her sentencing over the death of Mary Rutherford.

Instead, they looked on as the 20-year-old arrived tapping away on her phone.

...after all, maybe she was checking in with her 'Weightwatchers' app..?

She got three and a half years. Hope she likes prison young offenders unit food.

“We just can't get our heads round what happened.”

The family of a teenager who died in a road accident while his moped was being followed by police have called for a fresh investigation. Relatives of Kyle Bartlett have asked the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to release statements taken from the police after the fatal collision.

The calls come as the family still believe that the police were to blame for the accident, which saw Kyle and his 15-year-old friend come off the bike while being followed by a police car.

They are in a minority, though. Everyone else can see the writing on the wall.

An IPCC investigation has already concluded there is no evidence to support the accusation. And a jury sitting at a two-day inquest returned a verdict of accidental death earlier this week.

So, what’s the issue?

Kyle's auntie Shelley Crisp, from Meir, said: "Although we accept the verdict we are not happy with the outcome because we feel there are still a lot of inconsistencies. We feel there are still a lot of things that don't add up in the police statements."

Such as?

The deputy coroner ruled that Kyle could have stopped if he had wanted to. But Mrs Crisp, aged 37, said: "As soon as we came out of court I was on the phone to the IPCC asking if we can have access to the police statements.

"We don't feel that we have had justice for Kyle because it is still unclear what happened. "We can't get closure until we have seen the witness statements for ourselves."

It’s not ‘closure’ (Ugh! How I loathe that particular Americanism..) you really want, is it?

Kyle, a former pupil of Blythe Bridge and Endon High school, had intended to join the Army. Shelley, a telesales supervisor, said: "He was just your typical 16-year-old lad who loved life. Everybody who knew him loved him for his massive smile."

Yes, yes. They always are, aren’t they?

Shelley said: "It has been devastating because he had his whole life ahead of him. Instead, he suffered for his own stupidity. We had to bury him on his 17th birthday."

Make up your mind, Shelley! Wasn’t it ‘the fault of the police’ a scant two paragraphs ago?

His aunt added: "We are going to keep fighting for this and I hope the IPCC will agree to our request. We just can't get our heads round what happened."

Oh, I think you can, if you try.

The 'Mail' Photo Editor, Folks! /Golfclap

Eagle-eyes readers will note that, despite the headline, not one of those vehicles is a 4x4.

Oh, except for the vehicle that the man whose car is stranded in the bottom-right picture is being helped into - that's a Land Rover.

That's some spectacular fail, 'Mail'...

Why Do People Put Up With This?

Drivers are facing severe delays this morning with reports of tailbacks up to six miles long on the A47 at Postwick. A spokesman for Norfolk Constabulary said the rush-hour highway disruption was due to people being stopped for a traffic census.

When will people learn not to give the government this information?

They cannot compel you to do this or answer their questions (though you do have to stop for the police) and if enough people refused, they’d soon get the message.

Certainly, complaining about it on Twitter isn't going to achieve a thing!

This morning people were taking to social media site twiitter (sic) to register their frustration.

@dyblew said: “Stuck on the A47 and running late because of a census. Not a happy bunny”

@alexandrapow87 said: “Avoid the a47 to norwich like the plague this morning tweeps #traffic #standstill”

@staceymac16 said: “The stupid census they r doin in norwich has made me late again. 5 times now. Avoid a47 east bound between trowse & Broadland business park”

The police won’t care that they've held up motorists. Why should they? They can legitimately claim ‘Just doing my job!’…

dave123 Do what I would do and give them completely untrue information or throw the card away. There must be better ways of doing these things nowadays!!!

Well, quite. But I suppose they wouldn't give the Department of Transport staff the warm glow they must feel at holding up everyone so they can ask their pointless questions…

‘It’s Only Public Money!’ Part 248963

Southend Council has announced plans to enhance the informal pedestrian crossing points at City Beach.

Ah, yes. This is down to the complaints and the accidents.

Contractors will begin laying contrasting paving blocks to make the crossing points more visible to motorists in February.

Will they be….black and white? In stripes? A bit like a….zebra?

Like this, maybe?

The council is following recommendations made in an independent safety review following a number of complaints from concerned residents.

Because it’s not like it cost them anything, is it?

Don't Let It 'Pain You', Coroner...

Picture the scene - a tragedy in King's Lynn:

More safety measures have been proposed at a Norfolk town's annual fair after a three-year-old boy was killed by a car.

Awful, terrible, more must be done!!

West Norfolk Council has backed proposals to increase the number of stewards and barriers at the event.

Plans would also see the fair, held in Tuesday Market Place, shortened from 14 days to nine.

Councillors recommended that the fair was moved from its traditional Valentine's Day opening to begin on the first weekend of February half-term in 2013.

No expense must be spared! Set up the JustGiving page to pay for a lavish funeral!

On Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 5:30pm a three year old boy called Rio Bell, had his life so tragically cut short by a driver, as the Kind’s Lynn Mart in Norfolk.

But look at how forgiving the parents are to the evil motorist:

More than 150 people attended Rio’s funeral service which was held by the rector of Kirkley the Rev Andrew White and saw his white coffin enter to the R Kelly song If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of time.

In a moving eulogy he said: “In the time I have spent with members of the family over the last few days, I have been struck by the total absence of anger and bitterness or any need for revenge.”

Oh, saints they are, surely?

Cometh the inquest, and - although I'd forgotten the case - I found I was following a reporter covering it for 'Look East' on Twitter:

Hmmmm....

O...kay....

'Independent'? He was three! Not of an age where you are expected to be traffic-smart, which it why it's the job of the parents to do it!

The press couldn't not report it, could they?

“I don’t wish to add to the distress and anguish of Rio’s family, but the primary responsibility for young children must rest with those having care of them,” he said.

“At the time of this tragedy, Rio was not under suitable control or supervision. He should have been under very close and direct control.

“Under the circumstances, he should have had reigns (sic), been in a buggy or had his hand held.

“It pains me to say that.”

It shouldn't.

Perhaps someone would like to set up a JustGiving page for the poor bloody driver?

Why The Discrepancy?

In a post a few days ago, Bill complained about my comments regarding arrest for a lorry driver in a pedestrian collision, saying that:

Regardless of fault he did kill someone. The whole point of the arrest is to establish if he was grossly negligent. That can't be decided there and then.

And frequent commenter Blueknight noted:

The Police have to abide by ACPO's Road Death Manual. ..if an early assessment indicates that a criminal offence may have been committed, arresting suspect(s) who have been identified and are present at the scene of a fatal collision must be a priority, for example, in cases where impairment through drink or drugs is suspected. In such circumstances, the escape of any potential suspect(s) and the intentional or accidental destruction of material (e.g., tachograph charts, documents, and reconnection of speed limiter) must be managed. The isolation of any suspect(s) and/or vehicle(s) is also important ..

Well, this incident occurred recently:

A teenage boy has died after being hit by a car on one of London’s busiest roads. The 14-year-old died yesterday following the accident on the westbound North Circular Road near Brent Cross on Tuesday afternoon.

What is noticeable about this one is as follows:

The driver of the Mercedes estate car involved stopped at the scene and was not arrested.

Now…why not? How come the police were concerned that a criminal offence 'may have been committed' in the first incident, and yet not in the second?

So...I'm Helping Pick Up The Tab For This Instead?

Oh, and you too, if you are a motorist:

James Williams, 26, of Stoke Gifford – who was described as a "very unhappy young man" – caused massive damage to the outside of the House of Fraser store in a crash in December 2008 which almost cost his own life, as well as that of another driver whose car was in his path.

Lord Justice Ward told London's Civil Appeal Court yesterday that Mr Williams drove his Ford Puma at speeds of up to 100 mph along the M32 and Newfoundland Street before deliberately swerving into a low wall.

The car span into the air, bounced off the roof of another car waiting at a junction and smashed into the shop window.

The other driver was lucky to survive:

The driver of the other car, Jamie Haynes, also suffered serious injuries, including a fractured shoulder, four fractured spinal vertebrae, a broken rib and punctured lung.

His Audi A6, which was waiting at a red light, was pushed on to its side, writing the 11-year-old car off, the court heard.

Williams was prosecuted:

Mr Williams, of Fabian Drive, was later jailed for 21 months for dangerous driving and causing criminal damage.

He was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended driving test before ever getting back behind the wheel.

And after that, the 'fun' begins:

The crash sparked a legal battle between the shop's insurers, Bristol Alliance Limited Partnership, who initially covered the cost of replacing the vast windows, and EUI Ltd, with whom Mr Williams had a motor policy.

EUI fought the case tooth and nail – insisting they were not liable for the damage as it had been caused by Mr Williams' "deliberate act" – and yesterday finally triumphed in what is likely to be seen as an important test case for the insurance industry.

Allowing EUI's appeal against an earlier ruling against the company, Lord Justice Ward, sitting with Lord Justice McFarlane and Dame Janet Smith, said that what Mr Williams did fell outside the terms of his policy and his vehicle was therefore uninsured at the time.

So...as he's now an uninsured driver, guess who'll be picking up the tab? Yup. That's right. Me and you, via the MIB and higher premiums!

In his ruling, the judge described Mr Williams as "a very unhappy young man".

Yeah, I'm pretty unhappy too, now.

Hull: Darwin Award Capital Of The World…

The mother of a boy who died after running in front of a bus in Hull city centre wants improved road safety measures.

Well, at least she isn’t asking for buses to be fitted with pedestrian airbags! It’s not entirely clear what she is asking for, though….

The calls come after last week a woman was involved in a collision with a bus on a pedestrian crossing where two countdown timers were introduced weeks previously.

A woman. Not a child, not even a teenager. An adult. Albeit one of those modern adults MacHeath describes, infantile and prone to immediate gratification of their desires, however foolhardy.

And this isn't even the usual excuse of there being ‘no safe place to cross’:

Colette Scholes, whose 14-year-old son Jack Fisher died in April 2008 after being hit by a bus as he ran across the nearby Brook Street junction with Ferensway, said more needs to be done to prevent accidents.

"Even with the new timers, people are still risking their lives crossing the roads," she said. "I think everyone could be doing a bit more to prevent accidents."

And by ‘everyone’, I think you must surely really mean ‘Hull pedestrians’? Because there’s precious little the local council and the bus companies can do that they haven’t already done!

It just doesn't seem to be sinking in, even with people who should know better:

Two years after Jack's fatal collision, pensioner Colin Lyon lost his life at the crossing in Margaret Moxon Way. An inquest heard he failed to look properly before crossing the road.

You can almost feel the palpable despair of the transport chief:

Graham Hall, assistant head of transport and asset management, said: … "I would urge people to take care and only cross when the green man shows as it's for their safety.

"Pedestrians may have to wait a few moments but it's better than being seriously injured.

"The countdown timers have been recently added to give pedestrians a ten-second warning to when the red man appears and traffic will start to move again."

Sadly, I fear they've only provided the lemmings of Hull with a challenge: ‘Beat The Clock!’