Harsh measures do not prevent accidents

Editor, I wish to respond to a letter titled, “Heavy fines will check reckless driving (The New Times, September 4). Frank, thank you for the classification.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Editor,I wish to respond to a letter titled, "Heavy fines will check reckless driving (The New Times, September 4). Frank, thank you for the classification.

But the day you knock a palm tree or a street light because you had to swivel the car to avoid hitting a child who came running into the road or a recklessly driving motorist, just to save the passenger that was on a Moto is the day you will understand that not all people who get involved in accidents are to blame.

Harsh measures do not stop accidents. And sometimes it’s not about how careful or not careful you have been. Enough said. (Alex, Kigali  --------------------------------------Editor,Intention, at law, is express or inferred. It is express if there is evidence of planning for an act and knowing the consequence and, therefore, intending that that the result should come about.

It is inferred when one’s conduct leaves right thinking members of the society no other explanation of the said conduct except that he knew or ought to have known that a certain act with certain consequences was likely to happen.

Example; if you sit and drink alcohol to your fill and then stagger to the steering wheel and take off, intention to cause an accident will be inferred from your conduct, and if you should actually cause such accident, you cannot be heard to claim that it was an unplanned, unforeseen event.Emanuel, INILAK