Council Driver who killed Jason McIntyre, a Scottish Cycling Champion, suspended and fined £500

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OPINION Cyclists are in uproar over the inadequate sentencing of a council driver convicted of careless driving.

Once again, to cyclists, this comes as no surprise. The Cycling Touring Club (CTC) have for years condemned the typical lack of tough sentences for motorists who kill vulnerable cyclists.

In Cycling Weekly, one cyclist commented "Can't believe the defence said he "simply" didn't see the cyclist as he was crouched down and was not wearing high visibility clothing.
If only it were so simple for the two little girls who now have no dad".

The following comments come from the  www.bbc.co.uk: " A van driver involved in an accident which killed a Scottish cycling champion has been banned from driving for six months and fined £500. The family of Jason MacIntyre, 34, had wanted Robert McTaggart, 36, prosecuted on charges of culpable homicide, or causing death by dangerous driving. McTaggart earlier pleaded guilty at Fort William Sheriff Court to a charge of careless driving. Mr MacIntyre, who was training in the town, hoped to go to the Olympics. Speaking outside court, his father David described Mr MacIntyre as a loving husband, devoted father and precious son and brother. "He was an outstanding cyclist with Scottish and British championships," he said".

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Yet, only recently, in an article by The Times, a lorry driver was convicted for creating a false tachograph and he was fined £800, which is £300 more than the driver who killed the cyclist. Even a thief who stole from cars at train stations in Kent received a tougher punishment - his own car was orded to be confiscated by the judge, and crushed.

The Highway Code (2008) states that the minimum suspension for death by careless driving is 2 years but  driver  received a punishment far less than that.