Welcome to BC, where blowing through a light that's been red for 20 seconds, severely injuring a father, and killing his infant daughter, gets you found "not guilty of driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm."
Replies
They used the defence: "Your Honour, I was not paying attention, so I am not repsonsible for this." It works surprisingly well. We all know that when we drive, we too are just a momentary lapse of attention away from causing unspeakable tragedy. But we gotta drive eh? So we give it a pass.
aug 24, 2025, 3:22 am • 6 0 • view
The courts and regulatory authorities in general will jump through hoops of questionable legal logic in order to preserve the sanctity of the individual operating a motor vehicle...
aug 24, 2025, 1:51 am • 4 0 • view
Ultimately, the goal is to continue making the acquiring and operating of private vehicles as easy and carefree as possible. The last thing they want is for consumers to feel any trepidation about continuing their role in the auto/energy industrial complex.
aug 24, 2025, 1:51 am • 5 0 • view
With a split decision, the Crown may appeal to the SCC. Hopefully they will.
aug 24, 2025, 12:53 am • 2 0 • view
Unfortunately, the easiest way to kill anyone in North America is via car
aug 24, 2025, 8:01 pm • 0 0 • view
The message to all drivers everywhere is that you can drive so irresponsibly as to cause death and it won’t be considered “a marked departure from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person in all of the surrounding circumstances,” Am I understanding this correctly??!
aug 25, 2025, 3:19 pm • 0 0 • view
Shameful
aug 23, 2025, 9:47 pm • 1 0 • view
Criminal law has never been able enforce traffic safety, because it relies on intent, not consequences.
aug 24, 2025, 9:06 am • 0 0 • view
Welcome to BC where the government run insurance company spends 1hr interviewing a driver, then 9hr interviewing the cyclist she hit. Then they decide their claims process is "too expensive" so they just make it illegal to sue them. I moved Wales b/c of ICBC.
aug 23, 2025, 10:12 pm • 15 0 • view
Indeed. “No fault” is essentially the government washing their hands of the societal cost of the unsafe roads and driving. Just like Worksafe BC, it’s sacrificing legal jurisdiction to a self-interested organization. It’s an outrage.
aug 24, 2025, 2:07 am • 9 0 • view
Rather than make roads safer or drivers better, we'll just reduce our legal costs... If private biz, say home insurance companies, in BC complained they were unable to make a profit would the gov introduce no-fault for them? No, this was a special measure to protect the cash cow.
aug 24, 2025, 7:09 am • 2 0 • view
Terrible decision, but ultimately we desperately need to lower speeds and improve road design across the entire system so that someone making a (yes, terrible) mistake doesn't end up with somebody dying. Throwing this driver in jail won't really fix anything fundamental, fixing the roads will.
aug 23, 2025, 10:19 pm • 5 0 • view
Yup... We can't put in concrete barriers etc because it might hurt a driver. At the same time if a driver disobeys traffic laws and murders a child it is "well, better luck next time I guess."
aug 24, 2025, 1:23 am • 5 0 • view
Taking away their license to drive for life WOULD change something.
aug 23, 2025, 11:38 pm • 14 0 • view
Jailing drivers for killing ppl will resonate with other drivers & will improve behaviours NOT jailing dangerous drivers sends a message that there’s NO consequences, so driving behaviour deteriorates In Ireland enforcement is very poor, so 5 or 6 vehicles accelerate through red lights all the time
aug 24, 2025, 4:03 pm • 0 0 • view
Morally speaking, to my eyes, he is guilty of murder, or manslaughter at lesst. Throwing him in jail would prevent him from killing again, and perhaps convince other would-be murderers to not behave so recklessly. I'm all for locking him away (as I would be for murderers generally).
aug 23, 2025, 11:45 pm • 5 0 • view
Why are you using the passive language for the driver. He actively drove dangerously and killed someone. You choose to speed you have entered the realm where people will die because of your actions. The driver is an adult and knows this and does not care.
aug 24, 2025, 12:10 am • 2 0 • view
Yeah. He's a criminal and the law is an ass.
aug 24, 2025, 12:26 am • 1 0 • view
The position that the killer shouldn't be punished is widespread, but the response should be immediately stopping car traffic on unsafe roads, not hoping that one day they'll be made safe. It's incoherent for the same government to keep operating that road as is, yet also tolerate eg running reds.
aug 24, 2025, 12:13 am • 2 0 • view
He could have been found guilty but not sent to jail. This decision does not send the right message to law-makers that changes are required to protect the public.
aug 24, 2025, 12:15 am • 2 0 • view
Yes, that is why I called it a terrible decision
aug 24, 2025, 12:33 am • 0 0 • view
Disagree. If you push someone in front of a speeding train it's criminal. Running a red light in a speeding two tonne machine causing death is criminal negligence at a minimum.
aug 24, 2025, 12:24 am • 4 0 • view
Fuck that shit
aug 24, 2025, 6:16 am • 0 0 • view
This is so stupid. I assumed there were details you left out but nope! The judges think running a red like this does not constitute criminal liability for dangerous or unreasonable driving. They need to go back to law school. (And driving school)
aug 23, 2025, 11:07 pm • 33 0 • view
If you cross a hold short line in a small aircraft you get told to return to the apron and call an investigations number and you can't fly until it's been dealt with. I genuinely wish drivers were held to the same standard.
aug 23, 2025, 11:40 pm • 26 0 • view
Right? I hate it so much because it just sends the wrong message.
aug 24, 2025, 12:39 am • 4 0 • view
We treat car crashes like industrial workplace accidents. "Oopsie! Oh, how did that happen? Oh, OK then. I'll write a report." Nothing ever changes.
aug 23, 2025, 10:46 pm • 7 0 • view
Worse: we treat car crashes ***where the driver was wilfully and demonstrably breaking safety laws*** as if they were industrial workplace "accidents."
aug 23, 2025, 11:42 pm • 11 0 • view
In 2018 I was hit by a truck and badly injured (I'm ok now). It's uncertain whether they ran a red light, and no investigation was done. Police told the driver "be careful" and sent him home to the US. Your posts make me feel less alone and less crazy for feeling I was denied some form of justice.
aug 24, 2025, 2:19 am • 9 0 • view
I say uncertain because the driver claims the light was green, witnesses (interviewed by a good Samaritan who sent me video later - not by the police!) claim the light was red, and I have no memory of the event due to brain injury. So, I guess, who's to say! Still, I am grateful to be healthy now.
aug 24, 2025, 2:23 am • 4 0 • view
Pedestrians (esp with kids in tow) very rarely walk out in front of oncoming traffic if the lights are green for cars. Drivers regularly drive through red lights. Drivers ALWAYS claim it was green. I know who I would believe.
aug 24, 2025, 3:54 pm • 5 0 • view
20 seconds is not “momentary.” This is injustice so I really hope there’s an appeal that reverses this.
aug 24, 2025, 3:38 am • 5 0 • view
It's vehicular homicide. Take the killer out of the car and in any other circumstance - ANY - it's criminal. #CarCulture.
aug 23, 2025, 10:06 pm • 13 1 • view
Horrifying and disgraceful. I’m heartbroken for the family who lost their daughter. It’s unconscionable that we could create a society where this doesn’t happen and our leaders choose not to.
aug 23, 2025, 10:27 pm • 9 0 • view
Can't imagine what losing my son like this would do to me. I would certainly be unable to function for a very long time.
aug 24, 2025, 1:24 am • 2 0 • view