Tuesday 17 March 2009

Another reckless speeder is indulged by the British legal system

Douglas Haigh, 44, was on the wrong side of a narrow road when he hit the red bus on July 31 last year with his black Porsche 911 Turbo. Simon Jones, prosecuting, said: "The Porsche was driving on the wrong side of the road at high speed and out of control." After the initial impact, the Porsche then went further out of control and hit a red Volkswagen Golf, with a family inside, including two young girls aged one and three. They were later airlifted to hospital. The court heard that after the accident, Haigh seemed more concerned about the state of his car than the injured bus passengers.

So what was this criminally reckless idiot charged with?

Haigh, from Wimborne, Dorset, denies one charge of driving without due care and attention. The trial continues.

Jake Voelcker:

Drivers are less harshly punished. This is due to a bias in the criminal justice system because of a lack of representation of vulnerable road users amongst judiciary, policy makers and legal officials. Unequal class and power relations allow the interests of drivers to be over-represented whilst the rights of pedestrians and cyclists are eroded.