The toll of young men on Melksham's roads

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

There are more details given in the Daily Mail article, which I won't quote as it is quite lengthy: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2880966/Teenage-drink-driver-jailed-killing-father-three-complete-248-mile-charity-bike-ride.html

I personally don't think any new laws would prevent this happening again.  The only solution is to change attitudes.  We've managed to do that with seatbelts, hopefully people will learn sooner or later that drink driving is unacceptable.

[Alan Pettitt]

I also personally do not think that lowering the limit would reduce deaths or accidents; most drivers who have accidents due to alcohol are already (well) over the present limit. A lower limit would simply mean that they would be over the new limit by a greater amount. Only with a progressive change in attitude and driver responsibility will the accident numbers fall.

[LiskeardRich]

I also personally do not think that lowering the limit would reduce deaths or accidents; most drivers who have accidents due to alcohol are already (well) over the present limit. A lower limit would simply mean that they would be over the new limit by a greater amount. Only with a progressive change in attitude and driver responsibility will the accident numbers fall.

But are they breaking the limit because they believe they can have a few and still be under the limit?
If the limit is low, will they still take that risk of thinking a few are still under the limit.
When I was 18/19 I had in my head that 2 pints was just under the limit. So if I had the car I had 2 pints. Now I wouldn't dream of it!

[bobm]

I am probably biased, but I have had two car accidents.  Both involved uninsured drunk drivers.  As a result of the second one my vision is affected and I can no longer drive.

To add insult to injury a third uninsured drunk driver then crashed into my house.

In most people's minds drinking and driving is unacceptable, but there is still a small minority who ignore the warnings, the guidelines and the laws.  I believe they will attempt to drive come what may.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Two charged over Melksham fatal crash

Two men have been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a road crash that killed a teenager from Melksham.

Max Lewis, 19, was killed on 15 November, in Forest Lane near Melksham.

Julian Drew, 26, and Connor Forrester, 18, who are both from the local area, have been remanded in custody.

A third man, aged 22, has also been summonsed to court to face a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

The 22-year-old had been interviewed by detectives but had not been arrested, Wiltshire Police said.

[LiskeardRich]

There must be more to it if they are remanded in custody?

[ChrisB]

One car, one driver but three charged?

[LiskeardRich]

One car, one driver but three charged?

I wont speculate with this incident, but there was a similar thing with an incident down here in Cornwall about 2-3 years ago.

One car crashed, but on investigation the police discovered the fatally crashed car, was "racing" 3 other cars. Even those cars didn't crash they were prosecuted for causing death, I cant remember whether it was dangerous or careless though.

[Chris from Nailsea]

One car, one driver but three charged?

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Police appealed for the drivers of two cars which did not stop at the scene to contact them. "Three cars were travelling towards Melksham in close proximity to each other," said PC Peter Williamson, from Wiltshire Police. "When the Saxo was involved in the collision, the other two cars did not stop at the scene. It is imperative that the drivers of the two cars come forward as soon as possible to assist us with our enquiries."

There are your three drivers. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Melksham crash: Driver guilty of causing Max Lewis' death

The driver of a car that crashed, killing a 19-year-old passenger, has been convicted of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Max Lewis was a passenger in a Citroen Saxo when it collided with a van near Melksham, in Wiltshire, on 15 November.

Driver, Dan Palmer, 23, from Melksham, pleaded guilty to causing his death at Swindon Crown Court. He was acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was bailed to return to the court at a later date for sentencing.

Connor Forrester, 19, and Julian Drew, 26, both from Melksham, also faced a charge of causing death by dangerous driving but were acquitted.

Forrester was convicted of dangerous driving and Drew, who was acquitted of dangerous driving, faces a hearing at a later date for offences of disqualified driving.

Following the trial Sgt Barrie Card, from Wiltshire Police, said speed had been a "factor in this collision".

"This incident shows that driving too fast can have tragic consequences," he said. "There was no need for this incident along a quiet country road on a Saturday afternoon."

[Penzance-Paddington]

I think this thread is in the wrong place. It belongs in 'The West but not the West's trains' section.