Lucklily enough, I am not due to be the 'Judge' in this case so I don't feel THAT constrained as yet.
However, let's consider the subject.... personally I'd make the punishment for losing control of your vehicle, significantly enough to hit the scenery to be EXACTLY the same punsihment as you would get it you killed someone in such an accident in ALL those conditions!
The difference between killing and not (in equal conditions) is NOT down to the driver.... it's down to LUCK. I don't beliece you should get punished more for 'bad luck plus bad driving' than for pure 'bad driving'.
Imagine a bus stop on a Monday. Driver X loses control of his car at 8.05 am and ploughs through the bus stop injuring no one as the school bus collected the kids at 8.00am. On Tuesday, the same driver loses control of the car in EXACTLY the same conditions, at EXACTLY the same time but THIS time.... this Tuesday.... the bus driver overslept and didn't arrive to collect the kids until 8.10am. All the kids died.....
Now.... our courts will not even want to SEE him about Monday's loss of control but will probably send him top PRISON for Tuesday's......
.... Is that even FRACTIONALLY sensible? Using 'court logic' it's actually the BUS DRIVER who made the difference on Tuesday and NOT the car driver! And yet, our daft system sees it diffrerently...... no.... WRONGLY!
So.... if the kid lost control anywhere where there is LIKELY to be injuries.... then he is as guilty as if he HAD caused those injuries.
I'd take into account the likelihood of causing injuries. If you lose it in a town at 'school' times, then you should be punished more than if you lose it in the barren wastes of Scottish Highlands where you are only likely to kill sheep! I'd not draw a distinction about whether you'd KILLED someone or not.... that was NOT down to the driver.... that was PURE LUCK!
I'd make the 'crime' Bad Driving..... not whether bus drivers are late or simple BAD LUCK!
On the 'Dad' part.... ANY reasonable Dad KNOWS that 20 year-old boys with 19 year old girls in the car CANNOT be trusted with a ! 20 year old kiddies are NOT responsible..... Dad's are SUPPOSED to be!
Ian
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