Glasgow bin lorry: the DVLA rules

I renewed my driving licence today. The form I had to fill in asked many questions. Amongst them was this:

Have you ever had, or do you currently suffer from any of the following conditions? 

9. Repeated attacks of sudden disabling giddiness

Then there is the declaration: I confirm that I do not currently suffer from and have never had any of the conditions listed previously.

And then:

I understand that it is a criminal offence to make a false declaration or withhold material information in order to obtain a driving licence and that to do so can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000 or imprisonment for a period of up to two years or both.

Maybe Clarke should get two years inside for his lies? Or £1000 fine? Fat chance – the DVLA has never prosecuted anyone for making false declarations

So here’s your chance, DVLA. You have the paperwork. You have a watertight case. Do something.

Glasgow bin lorry: Lord Advocate wrong?

Mr Mulholland (the Lord Advocate) said: “When you put all that evidence together, it’s quite clear and I have no doubt that you cannot establish, cannot prove, that Mr Clarke knew that he was unfit to drive that day as a result of an ongoing medical condition. If you can’t prove that, then you cannot prove criminal intention.”

‘Unfit to drive that day?” Really? This is a complete nonsense and the Lord Advocate must surely know it. Mr Clarke knew that his collapses were unpredictable, almost random. Therefore to say you cannot prove that Clarke “knew he was unfit to drive that day” is absolutely meaningless. Logic says that his liability to collapse at the wheel was unpredictable. Clarke must have known that he was liable to collapse at the wheel at any time. Clarke KNEW it was not predictable (it had happened before, perhaps many more times than he has admitted). Therefore, he was as liable to collapse at the wheel that day as he was at any other day. The risk was there, yet it was ignored by Clarke (and seemingly by the Lord Advocate).

Despite all this Clarke continued to drive. Surely this made him culpable? Surely the Lord Advocate can see the logic of this? Clarke KNEW he was unfit to drive that day simply because he knew he was liable to suffer one of his random blackouts. A blackout was as likely to occur on that particular day as on any other day. Therefore, he was unfit to drive. The fact that he drove, knowing there was a chance of having a blackout and losing control of the vehicle he was driving makes him culpable. QED?

Glasgow bin lorry deaths fiasco

I simply cannot ignore this.

FACT: A driver of public service vehicles suffers from blackouts.

FACT: He knows he has a record of collapsing at the wheel of vehicles he has driven (including a bus).

FACT: He lies about this fact on the official documents required to issue his driving licence.

FACT: Despite all this he continues to drive.

FCAT: Unless he is demented, he must know that similar blackouts might re-occur while driving.

FACT: He has a similar blackout at the wheel of a bin lorry, and as a result SIX PEOPLE DIE.

Yet he is not prosecuted by the Crown, because they say there has been no crime.

And this is justice?

Biggar Classic Vehicle Show: Is this a Model T?

Is this a Ford, Model T? There was no name on it. Also, it is for sale, so if you are looking for a new motor…

Biggar Classic Vehicle Show: Albion

 

For the kids?

Biggar Classic Vehicle Show: Lagonda

What can I say? To me this Lagonda is a thing of beauty, while to others it is an old car. In the eye of the beholder…

Biggar Classic Vehicle Show: Austin milk float

When I was a boy all the milk floats were electric and controlled by a milkman walking in front and steering it with a long curved lever.

This Austin would have been the height of luxury. Note that it is for sale, and that all the milk bottles are empty. Supermarkets ripping off the farmers, perhaps? Making retail milk sales unprofitable?

Biggar Classic Vehicle Show: Boys’ Toys

Well, they are, aren’t they? Big boys toys I have always wanted and will now (probably) never have.

The fire appliance was originally at Cockenzie Power Station near Edinburgh. I used to do contract work for the Central Electricity Generating Board, but they never let me drive one of these.

Biggar Classic Vehicle Show: Allday and Onions

What kind of a name is that for a car? The Allday and Onions on display at Biggar today had an engine that looked to me more like a steam engine than a petrol one (apart from the obvious electrics) .

And what are those brass taps on each cylinder? If the owner had been around then I would have asked. They don’t make them like this any more.

Biggar Classic Vehicle Show: Old bikes

The Biggar Classic Vehicle Show was on again today. Superb weather, and probably record crowds and exhibits! Shame it is only once a year. In the case of old bikes, it’s not exactly the Stafford Show. But it was well worth the visit.