This post obviously hits a nerve... and got me to thinking, maybe if we collect enough of these stories in one place, it might finally be enough to shock someone into action. but probably not 
http://bikesafer.blogspot.com/2010/10/nothing-ever-happens.html
Very often those drivers terrorize, maim, or kill with impunity. When a driver hits a cyclist, unless they flee the scene or are drunk, there is often no penalty. In rare instances the driver might get a traffic citation with a small fine. Those are rare instances. The possibility of criminal charges are almost non existent. In many cases the prosecutor claims that the burden of proof is too high, that they would have to prove negligence to get a conviction.
here's a police officer that was killed in Louisville a last week.
http://www.wlky.com/news/25233605/detail.html
Authorities say Pegram was on his bicycle on the shoulder, but had stopped to examine something or take a drink. Ashby says he does not believe the driver could have avoided the collision. IN THE SHOULDER andFogle has not been charged with any crime.
This was a police officer!
Wow that road is a) flat, b) straight, c) 20 foot shoulder. The cyclist was stopped. I hope we don't get the usual sun-in-my-eyes defense.
Look at the damage to the front of that SUV. He had to be going pretty damn fast. Its ok though, speeding and swerving or driving into the shoulder and killing someone is just a "accident" anyway
Quote from cop - "they're also going to look into cellphone records, looking for any type of distraction, which we did not see yesterday at the scene".
WELL, WAKE THE F*** UP THEN! The dead guy on the bike and the smashed up SUV ought to be some kind of clue that the driver was distracted - unless his contention is that people do that kind of shit even when they're paying attention.
Salty - I really like the point you made in comment of that article you linked - that the FACT of the dead body resulting from being struck by a motor vehicle IS evidence of negligence.
They must have their best detectives on the case
grn: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10288/1095446-100.stm
What I don't see in there is anything about taking away this guy's license to drive.
It's not just around here, it's happening everywhere
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/10/15/will-someone-please-explain-this/
this came out of that last one, and I think it's one of the many reasons that people generalize cops as being disgusting pigs (sorry, but there's times when I really hate cops - I recently witnessed a DWB right outside my apartment).
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/10/01/the-cost-of-being-different/
More American citizens have been killed in the last 10 years by cars while riding their bikes than have been killed by terrorists. Where's the war on cars?
