Foreign touring cyclist killed by lorry on Highlands road

Well said. I'm beyond feeling disappointed in people who seek public office though. Seems to attract a particular breed of cretin.

We all know and accept the additional risks we take when we travel on roadways that must be shared with motorized vehicles. We accept the risk that we may be seriously injured, or even killed, by the driver of a motorized vehicle. We recognize that our flesh and blood and bones are no match for the powerful, high-speed mass of metal and glass that these drivers control.

However...  what is totally and completely unacceptable are the attitudes of the local politicians and law enforcement when a cyclist is killed. If you read the article that appeared in the "Lochaber News", you will gain additional insights and details regarding the shameful attitudes of the public officials in the area. I am speaking specifically of Councillors Thomas MacLennan and Brian Murphy, and Chief Inspector Brian MacKay (but thankfully, the moron Sherriff Small was not quoted in this particular incident). These bureaucratic minions that call themselves councillors, or political leaders, or claim jobs that are intended to serve the public, were far more concerned with finger-pointing at each other over the delays in traffic flow that occurred in the aftermath of this horrific accident than they were with this stupid, senseless loss of life, and what they could have done and should have done to prevent it. These attitudes are unacceptable; these people are paid to run governments and be caretakers of public safety; not bicker and scuttle about like cockroaches after someone is killed in a hit-and-run. Do your jobs, gentlemen, or step aside for someone who will.

It is also unacceptable that the courts will dismiss hit-and-run drivers involved in any incident with no more than a slap on the wrist. It seems to border upon barbaric that they would effectively dismiss hit-and-run drivers who maim and kill other motorists, pedestrians or cyclists. As I write this, the lorry driver who killed the unnamed Czech cyclist is still at large, and in fact unidentified, as no witnesses have stepped forward. However, based on other cases in similar circumstances, he has little to fear from the courts for his cowardly and murderous act. Likely he will receive a £500 fine and loss of driving privileges for 6 months at the worst. This is unacceptable. The courts are in effect saying that there's no substantial consequence for using your vehicle to murder another person, and then leaving them in the road to suffer and die.

This was a tragedy, and when we choose to share the road with cars and trucks, we must accept that these tragedies will occur. But what we should not accept are cockroaches in positions of public trust, and court systems that condone hit-and-run vehicular homicide. 

Not even a kilometre from where Jason McIntyre's ghost TT bike hangs. RIP.