MEDIA RELEASE FROM BICYCLE NSW
Inadequate sentence of driver following the deaths of two cyclists in 2019.
The Bicycle NSW Board was disappointed to learn that a driver has been sentenced to only a 240 hour community service sentence after killing two cyclists in a vehicle collision in late 2019.
On 19th December 2019, minutes into his journey, a young man fell asleep on his way to work and swerved onto the opposite side of the road, hitting two cyclists head on during their predawn ride at Richmond with fatal results.
Just over 2 years later in Parramatta Court, the now 21 year old male was found guilty of negligent driving occasioning death, and received a 12 month intensive corrections order to serve 240 hours of community service. He was also disqualified from driving for 3 years, and will be eligible to drive again in December this year.
"This sentence is manifestly inadequate. It does not send the right message to drivers. It says that driving a motor vehicle with gross negligence has only minor consequences. The community expects more of our judicial system," said Melinda Tarrant, President of Bicycle NSW.
"Due to these careless actions, wives have lost their husbands and children no longer have a father. We stand with bicycle riders: we have laws in place to protect people, and we need the judicial system to send a clear message that avoidable actions and bad decisions like these to drive while fatigued are completely unacceptable. Regrettably, this sentence devalues the impact of such actions on the victims, their families, and all vulnerable road users in this state."
