Justice for Jack Sultan-Page killed by a hit-and-run motorist

Eight-year-old Jack Sultan-Page was riding his BMX bike when he was struck by a car and killed.

Mathew Alexander was handed an 18-month suspended sentence and six months home detention after a hit-and-run that killed the child.

"In the Darwin Magistrates Court today Alexander pleaded guilty to five charges involving the possession and use of drugs and of driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner...He was fined $2,090 for the five charges but noted the amount was lower than it might have been because Alexander had shown himself to be committed to drug rehabilitation." (source)

Social justice commissioner Mick Gooda said  ”Hard to get away from making the conclusion that there appeared to be different laws applied to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, especially given Alexander's sentence." (source)

Mathew Alexander sentenced over hit-and-run death of Jack Sultan-Page fined over separate charges, abc 22.07.2015

'Different laws' for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people: social justice commissioner Mick Gooda, abc 22.07.2015

Man in custody after hit and run accident that led to the death of Jack Sultan-Page 02.11.2014 


Update:
More on Australian race relations:
Imaginary Spear Outrages Oz. Slap On The Wrist For Hit And Run Death Of Black Child Doesn't, 28.07.2015

Putting Geelong on the Map with Hit and Run

The almost daily news in an automobile-centric country with motor enthusiasts:

"A hit-and-run that killed a cyclist near Geelong may have been deliberate, police have said, after they received numerous reports of cyclists being "stalked" in the area." (source)

The mind of motorists

 

The mind of a motorist

 

Cycling has not yet fully infiltrated into Australian culture.

A classical Australian way of cycling. It requires a huge multi-lane highway, bulldozed 'clean' to do a few rounds of fitness cycling.

Australia is set up for automobile dependency. Cycling is done mostly in groups of plastic clad sweaty people hunched on sporty bikes. Fitness seems to be the main motivation. It is sport - like

Manly SUV on cycle path

most things in Australia. The plastic accessories are necessary to not lose face, as one has to display that it is only a 'recreational' thing. Imagine one could think you are of 'lower status', not part of the motorist community that hoards a garage full of fossil fuel machines. The bike is basically a recreational gadget or a children's toy. Youth prefer to hop around on mountain bikes on delicate forest soil.

Once back in the SUV the motorist mindset despises non-motorised forms of mobility. The expectation is for a carpet to carpet delivery via unobstructed roads - but fast.

Status and an absence of a cycling infrastructure combine to make cycling deadly risky for people who wish to integrate a fossil-fuel-free form of mobility on an everyday basis.

Leaders and motorists are in deep denial about the climate disruption delivering an uninhabitable planet. Some see the need to wean off fossil fuel addiction.

The Dutch Cycling Embassy is sharing their know how with Australia. "We read about bike-related accidents, complaints about the lack of cycle lanes, and road-rage aimed at cyclists. It is difficult to change such prevalent ideas about infrastructure...Cycling has not yet fully infiltrated into Australian culture. "

Cyclist killed, law breached, driver not charged

 

The recent killing of Alberto Paulon by a car door suggests a problem with law enforcement in relation to cyclists in Victoria.

'Dooring' has been explicitly made an offence because it is dangerous. It is one of the main causes of injuries to cyclists.  It is common when offences are committed which cause death that it is taken seriously by the authorities, e.g. speeding, red lights, etc, - more seriously than when no one is hurt.

In the case of Alberto Paulon no charges were laid apparently because the driver saw "the first bike coming, but didn't see the second bike". Given that almost 2 million people cycle daily in Australia and that more than one of them may be expected on a road at any given time, it is hard to understand the relevance of this. This needs to be explained to the public.

The message that the non-enforcement of the law in this 'incident' sends to car drivers is that killing cyclists with doors is nothing for drivers to be concerned about. No fines, no points lost, no day in court.

One of the purposes of the law is to send messages to the public about the consequences of engaging in acts which are prohibited. This a deterrence. Enforcement is crucial. A court may say that the circumstances demand lenient treatment of the person who killed another as a result of their breach of the law. However for this to happen the person must be charged, not let off.

See also
The car door is potentially a deadly weapon

The car door is potentially a deadly weapon

Alberto Paulon, 25, was knocked to the road when a person in a parked car opened their door, and he was then hit by a passing truck in Melbourne. (source) (video)

Paulon was riding to work. The 'accident' happend in an area where one in ten residents regularly ride to work. (source)

"Car drivers and passengers need to recognise that the car door is potentially a deadly weapon and was in this situation

Victoria Police issued 180 dooring notices in the past 12 months. The fine is $369." (source)

Cyclist groups are pushing for government-backed safety awareness campaigns (source)



In Paul Virilio's dromology there is no 'accident' or even 'incident', there is only an integral accident. The accident is inherent in the set up of the technology and its (fossil fuel) culture.

Paul Virilio: Der eigentliche Unfall. Wien: Passagen 2009, Allem Anfang wohnt ein Unfall inne Buchrezension

see also
Cyclist killed, law breached, driver not charged

Update:
Eliminating the risk of "Dooring": Good cycle infrastructure design keeps cyclists out of the door zone and saves lives, A view from the cyclepath