Re: Text Driver jailed for 4 years

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Adrian <toomany2cvs@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Roger Mills ("Roger Mills" <watt.tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>) gurgled
happily, sounding much like they were saying:

To return to my original point earlier in the thread, anyone caught
texting while driving deserves to be jailed even if they don't kill
anyone.

You haven't answered my request for clarification yet.


Actually, I have - look back up the thread!

Will that be AT ANY TIME the vehicle is moving? So even in very slow-
moving traffic on a motorway? Or will it be, as with the current
mobile phone laws, at any time the engine is running?


There are obviously varying degrees of danger - but I can understand why it
is an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone any time when you are in
charge of a vehicle with the engine running, even if stationary - because
that makes it an 'absolute' offence' which is much easier to enforce.
Magistrates faced with this evidence have no option but to convict - but
they *can* tailor the penalty according to the seriousness.

In my view, an assessment of the seriousness should be based on the
*potential* consequences, not the *actual* consequences. In other words, if
you do something which is stupidly dangerous but you don't manage to kill
anyone because no-one crosses your path at the critical time, I don't see
why you should be treated any more leniently than someone who perpetrates
the same act, but which *does* result in a death.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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