P-plater who killed cyclist avoids jail, judge finds low moral culpability

"You said you had no time to react and indeed you did not brake or steer away before the collision," Judge Wendy Wilmoth said.

"There were no warning signs as to the likely presence of cyclists and there was no dedicated bike lane nor any opportunity for either Mr Lowndes or you to veer left." The judge noted Rodda's moral culpability was low as she was not speeding, on drugs or alcohol, or fatigued at the time of the crash."Even momentary inattention can have tragic results leading in turn to serious punishment," Judge Wilmoth said.

Statements read to the court by Mr Lowndes' parents, sister and partner at an earlier hearing described him as a treasured member of his family and the cycling community. "They are very proud of his achievements as a champion cyclist who had been ranked 6th in the world championships in the under-23 category and more importantly, as a cherished son, brother and partner," Judge Wilmoth said.Rodda has been banned from driving for three years and will be required to undertake 200 hours of unpaid community work as part of her sentence.

Our judiciary has lost the plot. Infiltrated with low level female types who let their heart rule their mind.

I know its cruel to think...but sometimes you’d wonder how these judges would react if a similar tragedy (malicious or otherwise) would struck their loved ones Would they pursue real justice?!?

Summary of case...point 1 she was texting and driving...point 2 she was not texting when hit the cyclist...point 3 she had 2.2seconds to react as it was blind corner....point 4 no cycle lane Nine news going for the cheap seats again in the way they headline this news story!!

Nine news twisting story round again....fact she was texting and driving...another fact she was not texting when she hit cyclist ,the judge took all circumstances into consideration as a judge should do..nine news stop having misleading headlines and stick too the facts..

How does the happy judge know that she wasn't looking at the screen or re-reading something? It's pretty difficult not to see a guy riding a bike if you're driving without texting. Frankly, it's a slap in the face to the cyclist's family and friends

Jeez! We are really getting tough on driving texters. A fine demonstration of Sentencing IAW 'coming down hard' on driving with mobile phone use. BARF

It’s like “Mandatory jail” calls and laws for assaults on emergency workers, One-Punch cowards, high range drink driving. It doesn’t apply to women.

Why am I not suprised.. The justice system is so shit.

Joke

Disappointing. I really dont think justice was served. She gets to move on, victim's family suffer for a long time.

If that was a truck driver he'd be doing time I bet , that bus driver not long ago got jailed for hitting a bridge and I don't think anyone died . Injuries yes .

Consequences. She needs a consequence of consequence.

Yep she’ll learn a lesson from this🤬 typical bloody justice system, what a disgrace, we bang on about the road toll and dangerous driving and this is the sentence

No justice

And The Courts Fail The Community Once Again. No Justice Here. This Texting Driving Problem Needs To Be Sorted.

What nonesense.. sets precedence for other p plate drives to follow suit...

Qlder You would expect the decision to be appealed.

The title is quite misleading as it clearly says it was proved she wasn't on her phone at time of accident. More a case of a crappy road with poor visibility. Just like Mt Nebo in Brisbane where cyclist get hit and killed often.

Every day I drive I see clowns like this women on their phones and our road toll continues to climb!! Once again little to no penalty We wonder why they continue to use their phones Jail the idiots and other caught on their phones loose their licence... it’s not hard!

AlisonHale24 The Courts are PATHETIC!

Wonder if sentence would be the same if she was an ethnic person justice system is a joke

AlisonHale24 Court FAIL AGAIN!!!!

The judiciary let down the community yet again!!

WTF - No Deterrence - that man's family have lost him forever!

What is she paying the judge?

Male lives matter

Understand the low moral culpability but this would some form of prison time would have really set a harsh stance on using mobile while driving.

Wow that’s justice......not....

what a fucking joke, at a time when Moble phone use is at a high while driving, & said to be a problem & worst than drink driving...she walks with community serves & 3 years lost of licence..

Dont text and drive! She should have had time in prison to deter others. Plus she did kill someone!

Bad judgement

Wow, his family must be mortified.

That will teach her

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