General Chat

can i stick my boss on the punishment thread for being totally uncaring and uniterestedxxxxx):

Glad the little girl is ok!!! What is the point of every other person paying insurance when idiots like that do not get tougher and harsher fines for no insurance - but for driving away and leaving that little girl he should have served jail time!!! lol xx

The bloke who lives nextdoor was driving around for quite a few weeks in his car while banned. We only found out when the police told us, and had the cheek to ask me to call them if I saw him driving!! Why wasn't the car clamped or something to stop him driving it?? We have had numerous problems with these people anyway. I am not getting involved and having the repercussions from it. In the local paper a couple of weeks back it was reported he had been in court yet again for driving on the day he was banned and also after being stopped a few days later, he was still driving for weeks after that until his court appearance. He had no insurance and was quite blatant. He was given a 40 hour punishment bond and another two month ban. What good is that. Another case in the paper this week. A person was caught doing the same getting off the ferry (I am near a port) he was given a 100 hour punishment bond and fined as well as a further two year ban. What is the difference in these case and why was the bloke next door "let off" lighter. He is always in trouble and this isn't the first time he has been banned. He has been done for drink driving too in the past. There should be strict guidelines for these offences.

But what gets me is what is the actual punishment??? We all remember Jamie Bulger and what happened to him... was his killers punishment a deterrent or more of an encouragement to other kids. I just dont get it anymore

From yesterdays paper. Gap year student, Richard, was walking home with two friends when he was run over and suffered fatal head injuries. The family's grief turned to anger when they learnt that the driver was suing them for loss of earnings (he's a cab driver) and trauma he suffered following the accident. The driver, who did not face criminal charges following the accident, is now close to an out-of-court settlement worth thousands of pounds. He maintains Richard was guilty of a lack of care as he walked home and is suing the parents under the public liability aspect of his household insurance. The taxi driver, from Rhyl, said: "I am happy with the outcome. I want to forget all about it now." Asked how he felt about the effect his claim had on the family, he said: "I do feel it is rough on them but at the end of the day I have suffered as well." The case will be in the courts on Friday

And theirs me thinking it was against the law to use a mobile phone in a car!!!!

The main thing is your son is okay now...but it does make my blood boil when I hear things like that. Especially when the people in the wrong try to get compensation..... Unbelievable

It's awful isn't it? The problem is, a lot of car drivers seem to think the Highway Code is just a suggestion - only applying to them when it's convenient! How many people have actually been fined for using a mobile in the car? How many people have been fined for parking on double yellow lines - many of them seem to think that having their hazard warning lights on negates the yellow lines! My biggest bugbear is parking on the pavement. How many people have been booked for this? My daughter, with grand daughter in pushchair was forced to retrace her steps and go a quarter of a mile out of her way because a 4WD had parked on the pavement (and double yellow lines) to take the shopping in. I was nearly run over yesterday as a van mounted the pavement to park! I'm always amazed at how few cars have indicators as well!! Some drivers seem to think pedestrians are psychic - or do they really expect us to stay where we are - just in case they're coming around the corner! If they're not indicating they're coming in to the junction I'm trying to cross - I cross - dangerous, but I actually have the right of way. I thought the DVLA had a wonderful system where they could trace people with no tax - or does this only target honest people who are a bit late renewing it? maggie

I understand... but they always say what comes around, goes around

Id have done more than stand and stare at him..

How can he claim off the parents???? Thats disgusting

There was a story in the paper yesterday about a teenager who was killed by a car. The driver is suing the boys parents for the upset he went through!!

I drive a lot in my job mainly around London and Surrey. It is a nightmare. Half of them have never obviously sat a driving test and don't have tax and insurance. There should be more of these spot checks. I drove down a road in Croydon last year and almost every car in the road was clamped for having no tax.

Two teenage boys were knocked off their bikes yesterday outside their school. One of them seemed in a bad way as he hit the windsreen of the car. The driver of the car did a runner but was caught by some parents. His excuse for running.........no tax or insurance!!!

I agree it's disgusting. Many people are driving around in cars that only cost about £200 - £300, yet minimum insurance would cost 3 or 4 times the cars value. The fine for no insurance is a pittance, and how many get caught? My 20 year old son's insurance for his N reg Fiesta (bog standard, no fancy bits or posh trim) is £1200 a year. He only paid £500 for the car, but this was the cheapest quote he could get. He goes without other things in order to pay the monthly premiums, but as he says, how many (mostly young) drivers are out there driving with no insurance, tax or MOT when the chances of ever getting caught are negligible, and if you do get caught the fine is hardly a deterrent. Sue

on G.M.T.V today a girl was on their with her parents.she has made a full recovery now but was left unconsious and seriously injured after being hit by the car the man driving off and then they found out he had no insurance.what justice did he get penalty points off his license and a hundred and fufty pound fine.he could have killed her!as eamon holmes was saying he got the programme got two quotes for a ford focus for insurance .for and 18 year old they were quoted about two just under two grand.for a 31 year old living in london with no penalty points it would have been four hundred and eighty pound/work that out.the fine was way less so this is why it is so easy to not have insurance and just get that minimal fine.this girl could have lost her life and for what.a pitance of a fine.it's bloody disgusting!xx):