Open Letter

Dear PC Pickles and PC Clough,

The news outlet, Belfast Live have reported today that a “Cyclist [has been] taken to hospital after being hit by car which then drove off”. I wasn’t aware that cars could drive themselves (at least they are not yet on sale), but do notice the trend I mentioned of removing responsibility for road violence. Constable Phil Barnes would do similar by saying “the male was cycling on the inside lane of the Ormeau Road citybound at Ormeau Bridge when a vehicle knocked him off his bicycle from behind and drove off”. The vehicle did the knocking and then did the driving away.

To add further insult to injury, another officer Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd had the following to say, highlighting the trend of focusing on the victim’s conduct first and then glossing over the actions and responsibilities of those exerting lethal force:

“Cyclists also need to remember they are amongst the most vulnerable road users, so we recommend wearing a helmet, always using front and rear lights, not listening to music players and keeping aware of their surroundings. At the same time, drivers must be aware of cyclists, paying particular care at junctions, traffic lights, when opening vehicle doors after parking. Most importantly, drivers need to give cyclists enough room when overtaking”.

This culture with in the police, CPS and government of ignoring road violence probably leads to cases where a driver can use her car to chase then knock down a person cycling, yet the judge deem this not road rage, and peversely, even “not a case of running a person down because you were only travelling at 10mph and he sustained no injuries”.

Even worse we have the death of Michael Mason who was struck from behind by a driver who didn’t even know whom she had hit, she “thought it was a pedestrian”. It? Anyway, the police as if a dead man wasn’t enough evidence of dangerous driving didn’t even refer this to the CPS which is remarkable.

When it does get to the CPS there are countless examples of pathetic attempts at prosecution. The most recent example is the death of Daniel Squire killed by van driver, Philip Sinden, on a straight road and in good visibility. Sinden had swapped 40 texts that morning, received a text approximately 2 minutes before a 999 call was made by a passerby, and who had a half written text on his phone was still found not-guilty. Sinden would tell police at the scene he didn’t know where his phone was. Sinden would also say to police that he had not seen Squire, but after consulting with a solicitor would then claim he did see Squire, but that he rode off a (non-existent) pavement into the road. (For the full horrifically toothless prosecution see here.)

In Scotland, it may be bad luck to kill one person cycling, but what about two and in collisions separated by more than 20 years? I’ll again point out the language, “McCourt, who was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of community service, told police he ‘clipped’ Mrs Fyfe’s back wheel at a junction.” You would laugh a person out of the room if they had killed someone by “clipping” them with a hammer, or “knicking” them with a knife. Perhaps though if you kill someone and it be your fault that should be enough for a permanent license revocation.

My last case will be the exception, that of a successful prosecution not just of a driving ban but of assault. The assailant would admit assaulting Constable McMahon due to the fear of injury caused to the latter by passing him with only two or three feet to spare, and this without even having video evidence. It seems my mistake has not been cycling toor far from the kerb but not having the foresight to join the police. This is neither a one off, jail time was proposed for a similar assault in Bolton.

As the author rightly says, something is seriously wrong here, whether on the streets of Belfast, Manchester, or London — drivers have been given a legal impunity to endanger and even kill someone cycling. It is time people of good conscience and the ability to act found their voice.

Regards, […].