Re: [ST] Accidents (was (mandatory jail (was IDIOTS))

[david.funk@xxxxxxxxxxx]

As you say "And we should be liable for screw ups. "
That is what civil courts are for, and they work very well in this country.
Jail is for crime.

David W. Funk
Pleasanton, CA

-------------- Original message -------------- 

> I can not disagree more, The whole idea of accident does not apply to 
> 95% of car Vs. pedestrian, biker or motorcyclist incidents. These are 
> not "accidents" , they are MISTAKES and drivers need to be responsible 
> for their mistakes, specially when they kill somebody. Imagine that 
> for some weird reason you have to walk out of your house with a 
> machine gun on hand, finger on the trigger pointing it at everyone 
> around you, how careful would you have to be if you had to walk around 
> town like this? Well, as silly as this sounds, driving a car is not 
> much different. Every minute on the road you have the potential of 
> killing somebody and you should take that seriously. If you did not, 
> and didn't bother to hang up you cell before driving, or taking a GOOD 
> look before crossing traffic, or drive too fast for conditions and 
> equipment you are on, or Drink and drive, or drive so tired you fall 
> sleep, it is not an accident, it is a screw up. And we should be liable 
> for screw ups. We have to be made responsible for not giving enough of 
> a shit about people that share the roads with us. Now lets say you 
> drive over a nail and blow a front tire in the freeway and loose 
> control, now that is an accident, but how many of these kinds of 
> incidents have taken the lives of our friends, compared to the idiot 
> that just blew a stop. I personally am sick of watching people get 
> away with murder. We have to try to make a change on the current laws. 
> 
> Rolo 
> '01 Sprint 
> 
> 
> On Aug 9, 2005, at 5:24 PM, Steve Bergman wrote: 
> 
> > I agree with David. I am sorry for the loss of friends in senseless 
> > tragic 
> > accidents and I am always extra sad when I read about losses posted on 
> > this 
> > list. 
> > 
> > But...please remember that the way our country has structured itself 
> > encourages 
> > dependency on driving cars. The average person cannot function 
> > without owning 
> > and operating a car and that means that there are a lot of average 
> > people out 
> > there driving around. Humans in general are accident prone and when 
> > you are 
> > hurtling down a road at the helm of a 2000lb hunk of metal a small 
> > distraction 
> > can lead to disaster. I don't think that makes the operator a criminal. 
> > 
> > It's one thing if someone is drunk or flagrantly disregarding the law 
> > but I'm 
> > sorry....a person can accidentally run a stop sign or pull into traffic 
> > thinking it's clear when it's not....still just accidents and not 
> > crimes. 
> > 
> > When you factor in that we are operating a vehicle that is much 
> > smaller and 
> > faster than 90something percent of what the average driver is looking 
> > at then 
> > accidents are even more likely. 
> > 
> > Think how quickly most accidents happen then think about how many 
> > times your 
> > eyes are not directly in front of you when you're driving. One quick 
> > glance 
> > left, right or anywhere else is enough time for the unexpected to 
> > happen...does 
> > that make you a criminal? 
> > 
> > My thoughts and regards to all who have suffered a loss. 
> > 
> > Steve Bergman 
> > 
> > 
> > --- david.funk@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote: 
> > 
> >> I disagree! 
> >> I don't think having an ACCIDENT should mean mandatory jail. 
> >> I think we must accept that bad things can happen. 
> >> 
> >> But an accident is NOT a drunk driver, running a stop sign, or other 
> >> avoidable things. 
> >> 
> >> David W. Funk 
> >> Pleasanton, CA 
> >> 
> >> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> >> 
> >>> At 12:03 PM 8/9/2005 - st-triumphnet.com-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> >> offered: 
> >>>> Last year a drunk pickup truck driver (.12 IIRC) killed a rider 
> >>>> last year 
> >>>> and messed up the passenger petty badly near my daughter's house. 
> >>>> All he 
> >>>> got was a slap on the wrist! 
> >>> 
> >>> I think *we* are partly to blame for not making our wishes known to 
> >>> our 
> >>> various state representatives and the AMA by supporting a mandatory 
> >>> jail 
> >>> sentence for anyone killing others on the road. As it stands 
> >>> currently 
> >>> there is no such law on the books, hence sentences are light. We 
> >>> need a 
> >>> MADD equivalent for motorcyclists, instead most m/c riders just 
> >>> don't care 
> >>> to get involved in politics. But that is what is really needed. 
> >>> 
> >>> 
> >>> Ken T. from Ca. 
> >>> 
> >>> After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to 
> >>> itch. 
> >>> - --Lorenz's Law of Mechanical Repair 
> >>> 
> >>> 95' Trident, 99' Triumph Sprint ST, 02' Bonneville 
> >>> http://www.labiker.com/members/index.php?cc63d31418542 
> >>> 
> >>> 
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