Landy owner convicted of manslaughter of kids by defects

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

Police say vehicle had ill conceived mods to improve off road
ability that led to it being dangerous on the road. The failure
of the rear axle mounts led to the accident.

Family tragedy, loss of 4 youngsters. Will the media have a
go at us 4x4ers now? Hope this doesn't lead to a restriction
on safe modding and another industry wiped out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/7788278.stm

[nejones]

Above anything else its a real tragedy fo Nigel and his family isn't it.
I couldn't imagine losing my 4 children in any circumstances let alone one that I had control over.
Thoughts are with the family at this time.

However it does raise questions about modifying the vehicles we love to drive, and also how well we can maintain the vehicles with the help of other non professional mechanics?

I'm not a fully trained mechanic though I did twirl the spanners for a few years after leaving school, but I feel confident in the work that I do just as I'm sure Nigel did.

I wonder whether after such a terrible loss already Nige will get a custodial or non custodial sentence?

[jims-terrano]

I think the poor guy will have and will be punishing himself and nothing a court can hand out will ever be able to equal this.

It would be interesting to know what mods he had carried out and what repairs had not been done correctly.

One thing I do know is that the media will have a field day the next time there is nothing else to report.

Jim T

[Terranosaurus]

A couple of the mods I have heard are miss matched brake calipers, one side bigger than the other, drivers seat not bolted down and an issue with the rear axle which lead to the acident they believe.

[JonathanM]

http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php?t=33783&start=60&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Long thread on Difflock about this.

It cannot have been an easy decision to prosecute this man, in the same way the parent of the quad riding child who died last Christmas was prosecuted. Agree the guy has suffered, but he also seem to have tried to absolve himself of any responsibility at all, either in the state of the vehicle or his driving.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

the report i saw earlier said 16 faults, demonstrated loose driver's
bucket seat.

think said something about kids couldn't get out but didn't define?

court said had modded it like a meccano set, tbf thats always been
a term / selling point assoicated with LRs.

Looked like had put a lot of effort in to the truck, ext. cage, lift? bigger
tyres, winch. Resembled a lot of enhanced trucks seen on sites like
this, and what many aspire to. A guy with a big family, seemed he had
the right model in a 110SW.

As said be interesting to see full list of faults and or mods. Considering
so many want bigger tyres usually by lifting, any such mod has the
potential to raise CofG and effect stability. Will this lead to SVA or
enhanced MOTs.

[DJ38]

Regardless of the dodgey vehicle mods, what wasn't reported was the LR drivers extremely poor driving at the time of the incident.
I'm sure he will go to prison, not long maybe.
Your right above regarding the media jumping on the dangerous 4x4 angle.
Plod/CPS have used the condition of the vehicle to reinforce their case.
Terrible thing for all involved.

[elty001]

Looked like had put a lot of effort in to the truck, ext. cage, lift? bigger
tyres, winch. Resembled a lot of enhanced trucks seen on sites like
this, and what many aspire to. A guy with a big family, seemed he had
the right model in a 110SW.


totally agree rbrt.but at the end of the day when you mod your motor it still needs to be safe to drive.mine has had a 2" suspension lift which has raised the centre of gravity but the wheels/tyres and spacers on mine have increased the track by 120mm to try to counter effect this.driving style also has to change when cornering.
no doubt 1 persons mistake will be felt by all 4x4 owners.what about lowered hot hatches,how many young fools kill themselfs in them but you dont seem to get the anti hot hatch lobby trying to ban them and price them off the roads. :evil:

[floyd500b]

I think ultimately every accident is caused by either one of two things.

Driving beyond the limits of your capability.
Driving incorrectly for the given conditions (including the condition of your vehicle).

Every instance can be summed up by this.

That said losing your kids - that doesn't bear thinking about.

Graham

[Deleted Member S]

what about lowered hot hatches,how many young fools kill themselfs in them but you dont seem to get the anti hot hatch lobby trying to ban them and price them off the roads. :evil:

When I was into my hot hatches I would get stopped at leased once a week (sometimes every other day) by the police & by god they would go over my cars :roll: since getting the T2 they just leave me be & don't seem to notice me even tho i've got the same graphics on etc. To me it seems the police are only interested in pulling hot hatches & nothing else :roll:

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

So true, about hatches, and another area of modding.

read the difflock thread all way thru, typical scare mongers
the police/cps/media made from 5 vehicles, not cut n' shut
but chassis, engine, rear axle etc. typical of most 'mature'
vehicles kept going with old parts. that said appears chassis
is f reg but lr on a j reg so issues there.

main points without wishing to preach is that if we mod we
have duty of care to make sure done correctly. ignorance
is no excuse and of course drive according to vehicle's
limits. seems driver blames minibus coming other way and
took evasive action which led to loss of control. weak or
broken components in suspension/drive train caused loss
of control.