This is a nasty story from the BBC website.
23-year old Nathan Morris of Tenby was selling a car – a Peugeot hatchback – and Gavin Collier (20) went to look at it. Morris took the car out with Collier as the passenger to test drive it and crashed into a parked car whilst travelling at “up to 75mph in a 50mph zone”.
Gavin Collier died as a result.
The car had a faulty shock absorber, which Morris had been warned about on his MOT test. Morris told police he was only doing 50mph.
The judge pointed out that the defect would have made controlling the car on the bend more difficult at the “grossly excessive” speeds Morris was travelling at.
He was jailed for 4 years at Swansea Crown Court (earlier BBC report here).
Gavin Collier’s father said:
While nothing will ever bring Gavin back, his family hopes his death has not been entirely in vain.
We hope it will act as a warning to others of the tragic consequences that can result from dangerous and irresponsible driving.
I just have one worry. As long as teenagers and young adults share the attitude demonstrated by Morris and are not pulled up for it by their parents – and let’s not kid ourselves: a great many youngsters are like this – then it is just another episode in a never-ending story.
EDIT 26/2/2011: The Western Telegraph has a comment on this story (you can ignore the idiotic comment someone has left).
I’d just like to point out something. In the past, I have had model pupils. They’ve learned quickly, been high achievers at school, come from stable and loving families… as many sickly-sweet cliches as you can imagine.
One of them – probably the most likeable, and least likely to transgress – regularly drove at speeds up to 70mph in 30mph zones (according to his girlfriend, whom I subsequently taught). He was 17.
Another waved at me as she drove past me a couple of weeks ago. She wasn’t driving at the 20mph speed limit, of that I’m certain. She probably wasn’t consciously aware she was doing it. She was early 20s.
Another I know has had a crash at traffic lights. Apparently it wasn’t his fault – but several weeks before I saw him doing well over 30mph near to his house. He was 17.
Another passed his test one morning. He was insured and driving within an hour. Within 2 hours he had driven to McDonalds with a car full of mates (I was giving one of them a lesson that afternoon, and they rolled up while I was waiting). He was 17.
Another overtook me at traffic lights and honked me and waved. She was accelerating hard. She was early 20s.
I’m fairly sure all their parents were absolutely certain they would never do anything like that… And if they’re looking at buying pratmobiles – no matter how much they “like” cars – alarm bells should be ringing very loudly indeed.