• US Tourist Jailed after killing two in a car accident in Western Australia
    33 replies, posted
[QUOTE]An American man has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for causing a crash on Perth's outskirts that killed his wife and a toddler, and injured four others. Jerome Rubin, 61, from Massachusetts drove on the wrong side of the road in Bedfordale in March this year, and crashed head-on into another car. Rubin's wife Joan, 60, died at the scene, while a two-year-old girl who was in the other car, Carmen Julius, died in hospital the next day. Rubin's daughter was injured along with the father, mother and grandfather of the toddler. The District Court was told despite road signs showing the road was a single lane, Rubin believed he was still driving on a dual carriageway.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]"He sits before you a broken man," Mr Andrews told the judge. A suspended sentence would fail to adequately reflect the serious nature of the offences. "He's racked with the guilt knowing he caused the death of his own wife ... and Carmen ... and caused serious injury to his own daughter and three other people."[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]"[But] at the end of the day, it's so serious because of the deaths of two people, the grievous bodily harm to three others and the bodily harm to another," Judge Bowden said. "Regrettably, a suspended sentence would fail to adequately reflect the serious nature of the offences." Rubin will have to serve nine months before he can be released.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-07/us-tourist-jerome-rubin-jailed-after-crash-killed-wife-toddler/6681618"]Source[/URL] I feel so bad for him, I completely understand the whole driving on the other side of the road thing, especially when it was the first time, I had to think pretty hard the first time driving in a country on the other side of the road. Considering most roads connecting cities in the states are Dual carriageways compared to the single lane, not even wider than a residential streets we have connecting cities we have here. Sure, he could've been paying a bit more attention but it was an accident that unfortunately lead to fatal consequences. Something he is going to have to live with for the rest of his life. Jail wouldn't be right for him in my eyes, especially considering that drunk drivers who kill people usually get off for this sort of thing.
Except drunk drivers don't get off for this type of thing. They're regularly jailed for it [editline]7th August 2015[/editline] 6 years after killing a woman while drink driving - [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-12/driver-jailed-for-crashing-into-house-killing-sleeping-woman/5885016[/url] 5 1/2 years for running over a cyclist drunk - [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-27/drink-driver-sentenced-over-killing-perth-triathlete/6353602[/url]
[QUOTE=download;48399891]Except drunk drivers don't get off for this type of thing. They're regularly jailed for it [editline]7th August 2015[/editline] 6 years after killing a woman while drink driving - [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-12/driver-jailed-for-crashing-into-house-killing-sleeping-woman/5885016[/url] 5 1/2 years for running over a cyclist drunk - [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-27/drink-driver-sentenced-over-killing-perth-triathlete/6353602[/url][/QUOTE] Actually a man in Darwin was given a suspended sentence after a hit and run being under the influence of methamphetamine, he should be the one in prison not this guy [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-21/man-gets-home-detention-after-fatal-hit-run-of-eight-year-old/6636102[/url]
[QUOTE=Animosus;48399935]Actually a man in Darwin was given a suspended sentence after a hit and run being under the influence of methamphetamine, he should be the one in prison not this guy [url]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-21/man-gets-home-detention-after-fatal-hit-run-of-eight-year-old/6636102[/url][/QUOTE] The defence argued that methamphetamines didn't impair his ability to operate a vehicle and the jury agreed. Having never taken meth I can't say for sure how accurate it is, but being a stimulant, it wouldn't surprise me if it actually increases your reaction time.
[QUOTE=Animosus;48399871] I feel so bad for him, I completely understand the whole driving on the other side of the road thing, especially when it was the first time, I had to think pretty hard the first time driving in a country on the other side of the road. Considering most roads connecting cities in the states are Dual carriageways compared to the single lane, not even wider than a residential streets we have connecting cities we have here. Sure, he could've been paying a bit more attention but it was an accident that unfortunately lead to fatal consequences. Something he is going to have to live with for the rest of his life. Jail wouldn't be right for him in my eyes, especially considering that drunk drivers who kill people usually get off for this sort of thing.[/QUOTE] Ignorance isn't an excuse.
It's not really ignorance though, it's something that you would more than likely do every day, suddenly having every single action reversed. Sounds easy enough when you think about it, much, much trickier when actually doing it (for the first few times). Sure, it's bad what happened but it was an accident and as I said, he has to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed his wife and a two year old.
[QUOTE=Animosus;48400116]It's not really ignorance though, it's something that you would more than likely do every day, suddenly having every single action reversed. Sounds easy enough when you think about it, much, much trickier when actually doing it (for the first few times). Sure, it's bad what happened but it was an accident and as I said, he has to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed his wife and a two year old.[/QUOTE] No, that's definitely ignorance. [editline]7th August 2015[/editline] Sucks to be this dude, but he did commit manslaughter.
[QUOTE=Take_Opal;48400284]No, that's definitely ignorance.[/QUOTE] No. It's not ignorance. Ignorance implies he doesn't know the law. He no doubt knew the law was to drive on the opposite side of the road than in America, however instinctively drove on the wrong side of the road. It was an accident that didn't stem from ignorance. [editline]8th August 2015[/editline] Oh, wait. I understand what you're referring to. The dual carriageway issue.
[QUOTE=download;48399998]The defence argued that methamphetamines didn't impair his ability to operate a vehicle and the jury agreed. Having never taken meth I can't say for sure how accurate it is, but being a stimulant, it wouldn't surprise me if it actually increases your reaction time.[/QUOTE] Meth makes everything seem awesome and interesting to the mind of the user. You're still fucked up mentally. I don't know that your mind would make your body react to stop running over someone.
Thats what I fear the most if I ever went to a country that drove on the opposite side. It'd take so much to get used to and I'd piss off a lot of locals. Poor fucking guy, though. Must've been right around a bend if it was just a one-way road.
As much of a hassle as it would be, why exactly aren't there seperate driver licences for countries with different laws when it comes to driving?
[QUOTE=SinjinOmega;48400770]As much of a hassle as it would be, why exactly aren't there seperate driver licences for countries with different laws when it comes to driving?[/QUOTE] Why would there be? The majority of traffic laws are the same around the world.
[QUOTE=SinjinOmega;48400770]As much of a hassle as it would be, why exactly aren't there seperate driver licences for countries with different laws when it comes to driving?[/QUOTE] Because to design a new system just because a few countries want to be different isn't the right way to go about it.
[QUOTE=NoobieWafer223;48400725]Thats what I fear the most if I ever went to a country that drove on the opposite side. It'd take so much to get used to and I'd piss off a lot of locals. Poor fucking guy, though. Must've been right around a bend if it was just a one-way road.[/QUOTE] I once saw a polish Artic driver go the other way around a roundabout, these mistakes can happen. You are essentially going against what has become second nature Poor guy really
Jailing this guy isn't going to bring back the dead, nor will it do anyone justice.
Is it really that hard? I can't really imagine it being all that difficult, I feel like I'd do just fine driving in America. Shouldn't you be prepared to drive on the other side if you are going overseas? What's the dual carriageway issue? I don't understand.
[QUOTE=Animosus;48400116]It's not really ignorance though, it's something that you would more than likely do every day, suddenly having every single action reversed. Sounds easy enough when you think about it, much, much trickier when actually doing it (for the first few times). Sure, it's bad what happened but it was an accident and as I said, he has to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed his wife and a two year old.[/QUOTE] I really feel for the guy, but it's not difficult to drive on the correct side of the road regardless of the conventions, especially when the car is actually configured for left or right hand drive. The first time I drove on the opposite side of the road was in Canada. I drove many many hours, and it didn't feel unnatural and nor did it require constant awareness of the fact. Once you first set off, you're made very aware of the lane differences. In fact, it would feel very unnatural for the driver to be driving close to the kerb, rather than the centre of the road.
Oh I get you. There are a good deal of dual carriageways in Australia too. I can't imagine that would be any different in America, there are two way roads everywhere.
[QUOTE=reevezy67;48401148]Is it really that hard? I can't really imagine it being all that difficult, I feel like I'd do just fine driving in America. Shouldn't you be prepared to drive on the other side if you are going overseas? What's the dual carriageway issue? I don't understand.[/QUOTE] It isn't difficult or unnatural, provided the car matches the road conventions. And I think the dual carriageway/single "lane" issue is actually supposed to explain that the man thought he was on a dual carriageway, when it was a single carriageway with two opposing lanes. In other words, he thought there was some other half of the road elsewhere that carried traffic in the opposing direction. Not really sure how he thought that, or if that's correct Either way, if he knew the side of the road he was supposed to drive on, he wouldn't have been in what he would have thought was the "outer" lane anyway.
Christ his wife is dead, I think he learned his lesson. Jail time is unnecessary.
[QUOTE=Animosus;48400116]It's not really ignorance though, it's something that you would more than likely do every day, suddenly having every single action reversed. Sounds easy enough when you think about it, much, much trickier when actually doing it (for the first few times). Sure, it's bad what happened but it was an accident and as I said, he has to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed his wife and a two year old.[/QUOTE] It's not rocket science dude, if you can't transition to the opposite side of the road with minimal difficulty you shouldn't be driving in the first place imo.
[QUOTE=No_Excuses;48406950]Christ his wife is dead, I think he learned his lesson. Jail time is unnecessary.[/QUOTE] But still did kill a child, his wife, severely injured 3 others & injured another all because he drove on the wrong side of the road. No one at all is spared jail when they do something like that, law is law, regardless of who they are or where they come from. There's a reason why when hiring out cars they always let you know what side of the road that specific country drives on. There's been many incidents of tourists causing unnecessary crashes because of a lack of knowledge of the road rules.
[QUOTE=shutter_eye5;48407165]But still did kill a child, his wife, severely injured 3 others & injured another all because he drove on the wrong side of the road. No one at all is spared jail when they do something like that, law is law, regardless of who they are or where they come from. There's a reason why when hiring out cars they always let you know what side of the road that specific country drives on. There's been many incidents of tourists causing unnecessary crashes because of a lack of knowledge of the road rules.[/QUOTE] They also have huge-ass signs at ever airport exit reminding everyone.
[QUOTE=download;48407905]They also have huge-ass signs at ever airport exit reminding everyone.[/QUOTE] Actually Perth airport doesn't once say "Australia drives on the left" when you leave it. Just a small sign stating state speed limits and that's it.
They're normally in the rental car parks.
[QUOTE=download;48399998]The defence argued that methamphetamines didn't impair his ability to operate a vehicle and the jury agreed. Having never taken meth I can't say for sure how accurate it is, but being a stimulant, it wouldn't surprise me if it actually increases your reaction time.[/QUOTE] closing thing i've done to meth would be MDMA, you'd be the happiest guy driving into oncoming traffic.
[QUOTE=Animosus;48399935]Actually a man in Darwin was given a suspended sentence after a hit and run being under the influence of methamphetamine, he should be the one in prison not this guy [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=download;48399998]The defence argued that methamphetamines didn't impair his ability to operate a vehicle and the jury agreed.[/QUOTE] I live in Darwin, and this doesn't surprise me. This town is truly a terrible shit hole.
What a goddamned moron. How could you forget the traffic stereotypes. They are helpful in this case. Only sympathy he gets from me is him losing his entire family.
[QUOTE=0x0000000C;48411519]What a goddamned moron. How could you forget the traffic stereotypes. They are helpful in this case. Only sympathy he gets from me is him losing his entire family.[/QUOTE] It's second nature to drive on one side in a country, it probably slipped his mind to go on the left.
A lot of people don't seem to understand "Force of habit". You spent ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE doing something in one particular way it becomes 2nd nature to you.
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