Friday 3 July 2009

Two cycling protests today about killer drivers and the CPS

(1) Central London

Protest outside the CPS.

(2) Reading

This Friday (3 July) is the 1st anniversary of the death of local Reading cyclist Anthony Maynard. Anthony was cycling between Henley and Bix when he was struck from behind by a van driver who claimed in his defence that he didn't see Anthony. Anthony was with another local cyclist who was seriously injured.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute the driver, and this decision has left any vehicle driver who kills a cyclist to simply say I didn't see him or her and get away scot free. This is of course an outrageous decision, but there is no option to appeal. So left with no choice Reading Cycling Club (of which Anthony was a long term member) are organising a protest outside the office of the Crown prosecution service at Eaton Court, 112 Oxford Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 7LL.

The CPS offices are close to the town centre, at the very start of the Oxford Road: The cycling club and friends of Anthony would like to invite any cyclists to join us in this protest.We will meet at 4 pm, and the protest will last about 10 minutes. Please come along, and spread the word.

adrian lawson
adrian1@ntlworld.com

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“The CPS’s own guidelines in these situations state that these decisions must be influenced by the public interest.

“Surely it is in the public interest that a jury have the opportunity to decide guilt when an innocent cyclist is killed from behind on a clear road?

“When a driver collides with an innocent cyclist from behind, in this case two, then barring acts of god, or overwhelmingly adverse conditions, there has to be careless driving involved.

“Accidents just don’t happen.