To think this is unreasonable and this judge knowingly scentenced this man to death

[Sootyandsweep2019]

Just read a heartbreaking story in the paper about an 87 year old man, who given a 27 month prison sentence after he killed someone in a car accident. The judge was warned at the time by the man's doctors that this was highly likely to lead to his death; but went ahead and did it anyway. As predicted, he died nine days later. This was not murder, this was not malicious; it was a complete, tragic accident.

By all means ban him from driving if he was a danger, look at tightening the driving regulations around older drivers.

But our obsession with "making people pay," for genuine accidents has led to this utter tragedy .

The poor man must have been terrified. I really think this particular judge/ case needs urgent investigation; and we need a wider look at whether prison is always an appropriate response to car accident s like this.

Sadly I don't expect the judge/ CPS/ solicitors etc. Feel guilty at all.

Its very difficult. I imagine he certainly did not set out if any intention of hurting anyone.

But ultimately, the driver made the choice to drive despite been unfit to. I understand it is hard to give up that independence but if you are not safe behind a wheel, you shouldn't be driving.

Would you feel the same if it was a drunk driver?

We were hit by an 85 year old this summer, luckily, we were all unharmed but it could have been fatal. He hit us 4 times because he was confused and kept pressing the accelerator instead of the brake.

The man was devastated to have hit us but clearly shouldn't have been allowed on the road, and he made the choice to get behind the wheel that day.

If we were going any quicker (it was a 70 mph road, but it was heavy on traffic at that point) he could wiped out my whole family.

I find it a tragedy when anyone is sent to prison after a car accident.

^OP is deluded

I've changed my vote to Yabu, now I've read the case. He nearly ran into a family with young children, but decided to keep on reversing at full speed, until he killed someone and caused life changing injuries in another person.

On the one hand, sex offenders walk free and Alfie Lamb's Mum is already out, so I do see your point.

But everyday I see near accidents, by careless driving and just by luck, nothing serious has happened.

We need tougher sentences, as a deterant. Not leniency because of age.

I find it a tragedy when anyone is sent to prison after a car accident

How many times? It was NOT an accident. It was an angry man reversing at speed for 100 ft. That takes several seconds, and he failed to react, having hit these poor women. It was dangerous driving. It resulted in one death and one woman whose life is irreversibly changed. His age is irrelevant.

You're just wilfully ignoring questions from people that don't fit with your narrative.

I have a feeling you didn't know all the circumstances of this case and discovered them on this thread but now you're too embarrassed to say your view may change when taking into consideration the actual circumstances.

Do you now know the details re him hitting a bollard then immediately continuing driving in anger which resulted in killing one woman and leaving another with lifechanging injuries AND not saying sorry?

Do you acknowledge these conditions including him not apologising and still remain unwavering in your original view?

Genuinely, I'm interested.

So no if he was 17 ... I would.NOT be clamouring for a longer punishment and would just feel sad that he had been put through this

Surely this tells us all we need to know about the OP.

I changed my vote after reading the details.

He was utterly careless and hasn’t even apologised to the families of the women he injured/killed. He KILLED someone. Of course he deserved jail.

"But decided to keep on reversing at full speed,"...did he really decide to though? Didnt the report say he mistook the pedals, so was potentially trying to stop?

I'll tell you what a tragedy is OP, a tragedy is two innocent people going about their business as normal then bam!! One is dead and another left with life changing injuries. THAT is the tragedy here not a selfish man going to prison because of something HE did. I haven't seen one word from you expressing sorrow for the innocent victims, it's all about the perpetrator, that's just weird.

Have you read the facts of the case? He reversed at 20 mph for about 100 feet, not a momentary lapse. He claimed he was trying to edge into a space and hit the wrong pedal by mistake but why would you be trying to touch a brake to creep forward? The sad thing was if his companion who had been driving had just parked the car in the first place, he wouldn’t have had to get out and move it. He killed a woman, and ruined another woman’s life, why should he be dealt with differently?

Didnt the report say he mistook the pedals, so was potentially trying to stop?

He travelled 100ft backwards at 19mph. Plenty of time to realise he was going the wrong way.

It was not a momentary lapse in concentration. He was angry at hitting a bollard and driving at speed when he killed one person and severely injured another by being confused over which was the brake and which was the accelerator. How do you imagine those two ladies felt whilst being propelled across the car park to eventually be crushed? One died and the other suffered serious life changing injuries and a stroke. Too right he should have been jailed. He should never have been driving in the first place. Many older drivers refuse to relinquish their driving licence even though they know full well they are a danger to others on the road.

Im sorry but like others said he put her family through stress of trial instead of admitting. I don't care how old you are if you killed my family member with dangerous driving (clearly couldn't operate and safely control his car) then i would want you to face justice.

Yabu.
I'm very much in favour of causing death by dangerous driving attracting a custodial sentence. It's more than a simple accident and people need to realise if they do this there will be consequences. It's an absolute travesty that Anne Sacoolas is going to get off scot free. She's an utter coward and I hope that she's haunted by what she did every day of her life.

If you have faced the challenge of an elderly unsafe driver who refuses to stop driving and is backed by their insurance company you might see a different side to this

I was told by a copper that Road Traffic Accident was changed to Road Traffic Collision because it is very very rare that it I'd unavoidable. Whether that is leaving a longer distance, driving according to the weather, better observation, proper maintenance or just not driving while raging something can usually be done.

My grandad's driving got dangerous. We took the car off him, even though it caused a lot more work for us driving him and my gran around. One relative changed their car specifically to one both grandparents found easier. He was stubborn about it so we had to take matters into our own hands. It wasn't easy. But it needed doing so was done.

This man disgusts me. If you find breaking is increasing the speed take your bloodly foot off and coast!

Were you in Court or, if not, have you read the transcript of the trial? I would not criticise a sentence simply on the basis of a press report.

Sooty and Sweep

A crime is a crime. If you don't want to go to prison don't commit the crime. Age is irrelevant.

"He travelled 100ft backwards at 19mph. Plenty of time to realise he was going the wrong way."
No, He obviously would have realised he was going the wrong way, and at speed, its just there has been numerous cases over the last few years, where people have put their foot on the wrong pedal, then get confused, trying to press the brake, but repeatedly pressing the accelerator. I dont know this case thoroughly as havent been in the court to hear the full details, but I cant see why he would willingly reverse at speed.

I think some older drivers (mainly men?) have an arrogance/entitlement about driving

I don't think it is mainly men though. There's also an astonishing amount of little old ladies driving extremely dubiously round my way. Why do they not get the bus?

Op you know if he’d admitted that his driving was dangerous and done so early on and expressed remorse it’s very unlikely he’d have gone to prison.

He travelled 100ft backwards at 19mph. Plenty of time to realise he was going the wrong way.

I think that's the whole point though - it's not plenty of time for an 87 year old, their reaction times are obviously too slow for them to be driving safely.

OP with respect, you sound very naive and ill informed.

The judge was absolutely right to set the sentence that they did.

There is absolutely an argument for rehabilitation of offenders and I recently watched a very interesting documentary about the Halden prison in Norway which adopts a very different approach and has a low reoffending rate. Having said that it would not be appropriate in this case. There was no remorse and my sympathies lie with the families of the victims and the victims themselves.

Op you know if he’d admitted that his driving was dangerous and done so early on and expressed remorse it’s very unlikely he’d have gone to prison.

This. It's very likely. Do you acknowledge this OP?