Teenager steering car with his knees paralyses woman.

What a tragedy.
The poor woman and what she now faces.
The sentence was an absolute joke.
How ironic that the photograph taken of the offender outside court showed him with his mobile phone pressed to his ear. The idiot can't live without a phone.

I'd have ripped it from his hand and shoved it down his throat if I'd been a family member of the poor victim.
But then I probably would have been given a longer prison sentence than he was given.

Many years ago I was on a coach trip in Holland. As we were seated quite high I could see into a lorry. The driver was leaning back in his seat and steering with his feet. I've never got over his stupidity.

Sentencing in this country is ridiculous.

I agree, not just for driving offences either.

The criminal probably did not get in the car with the intent to kill someone but acted his age, or younger, and was too immature to handle the responsibility of driving a vehicle. Do parents have to agree to let their teenager operate a vehicle?

The stiffer sentences would be reserved for those evil ones who have a plan and intent to murder, mame or harm others and are repeat offenders that can't be rehabilitated. They are locked up to protect other citizens.

I can remember years ago DH steering his lorry with his knees. it's easier in a lorry because the driving position is different, and of course, he wasn't videoing himself.
Teenage boys never seem to be able to see what their actions might lead to. I remember a local boy who was devastated when his unbelievably dangerous driving led to the death of his girlfriend. It had never occurred to him that she might be in danger.

should never ever be allowed to drive again it really makes me so angry

This character will be free and walking the streets in a few months time. Not so his victim.
Banned from driving for 40 months?, it should have been for life.
Where is the justice in this country?.

BBC News - Teen filmed himself driving with knees before A47 Norwich crash - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2nzd4r63go

Apologies Primrose53 but I thought this further article on the BBC website was worth sharing as well.
(It's the underlined link in the article you posted).

There are no words adequate to describe this horror.
Is it possible to appeal a sentence?

I read about this today and felt incensed. Where is the justice in that sentence? That poor woman and her family.A life sentence of hardship for them.I haven't been able to stop thinking about it today and thinking of my own family out on the roads going to and from work and how life can change in a second through someone's wicked disregard for others.

Smileless2012

Outrageous , He should be banned from driving for life.

I agree.

A Young Offenders' Institute? Cushy number.

His sentence should be reviewed and when he's 18 he should be transferred to an adult prison.

crazyH

Tougher punishment for these boy-racers 😡

But it isn't just boy-racers......I was in Sainsbury's carpark last Sunday and witnessed a young mum, children in the car too. She was driving - slowly I admit - in a queue of cars and was obviously using her mobile. Stupid cow!!!

I echo the thoughts of the gransnetters , who have posted on this travesty of British justice .

I saw a van driver today, older guy, both hands on his phone. God knows how he was driving.

crazyH

Tougher punishment for these boy-racers 😡

Hear, hear crazyH, the roads are terrible! I have stopped going away on jollydays because the travelling back & forth was so stressful!
The roads, even the backwaters are full of car drivers with no -sense & even less care. Its such a shame as my world seems to be getting smaller & smaller these days. I used to really love exploring but it's now not worth the terrific amount of fear & dread that I experience on the mean, lethal, streets of the UK currently ! Modern life is rubbish!! 😑

MissAdventure

That's an insult, not a sentence.
U hope he never gets a minutes peace from his own conscience.

I totally agree. It’s an insult to that poor woman and her family.
He should have been given a much stiffer sentence and a lifetime ban from driving.

We live on a busy main road and from about 9pm motorbikes and cars fly past here at horrendous speeds. No speed bumps or speed cameras. We are surprised that there haven't been any accidents. It's crazy.
Just to add we were out in our car yesterday and couldn't believe we passed a young lad cycling along without his hands on the handlebars. It was on a busy road and he only needed to hit a pothole or something and he would've been under the wheels of a car. Stupidity at its best.

My DH says that rules for car driving should be like those for motorbikes. You have to start with small engines and then work up. Teenage boys in particular often show off and it has been mooted that they should not be allowed to take passengers for a period of time. The driving test is far too simple. Nothing is included about driving in bad weather or driving on motorways. It should be far stricter and why can people drive at 17 and not 18? The rules re young drivers in particular should be tightened up as so many young lives are lost on the roads and, in this case, a woman. Also I know a few people who have been caught for speeding and have been on speed-awareness courses. All of them say the course is brilliant. Surely this course should be compulsory when learning to drive. Why is this country so soft on almost everything!

Outrageous , He should be banned from driving for life.

(Please note: My post is a speculation and not intended to reduce the teen's punishment for this horrific act. My heart goes out to the victim and victims of this crime. )

If a boys' brain does not fully develop until the age of 28 or so then why does society allow them the ignition keys of what can become a lethal weapon?

That's an insult, not a sentence.
U hope he never gets a minutes peace from his own conscience.

Tougher punishment for these boy-racers 😡

Very sad, my heart goes out to the family of the young woman, what a terrible loss, of any kind of life rather than an existence.
The teenager in question was obvs showing off and it went horrifically wrong, I believe that he needs to be forced to face the young woman’s family to truly realise what he has done and must serve a longer sentence with his licence taken off him for 20 years with an immediate return to prison if this is breached.
We need to get much tougher on car crime.
😞

62Granny

I don't know what to say, except how sorry I feel for this poor young women and her family💔 that could easily have been the daughter to anyone of us.

Exactly my thoughts 62Granny. The sentencing laws in this country are a joke.

I don't know what to say, except how sorry I feel for this poor young women and her family💔 that could easily have been the daughter to anyone of us.