Appears that the statements from the UK Government changes over time.

Good morning. Welcome to the wonderful world of Boris Johnson.

Since she had Diplomatic Immunity. It is now up to the USA to waive, or not waive her Immunity.

Only because of the incompetent drafting of the 1995 Croughton agreement - they forgot to include the automatic off-duty waiver from immunity for spouses.

The agreement was covered by an Exchange of Letters between the US and UK in 1995 and 2001. The documents we've seen include diplomatic notes and sensitive discussions between the two governments.

They make clear that when the arrangements were drawn up both governments agreed that US staff covered by diplomatic immunity at RAF Croughton would face an automatic waiver from that immunity if they were to commit a criminal act outside their duties.

But only if she was asserting that she had immunity as a spouse. There were persistent rumours, but starting rather later, that she was a senior CIA agent on her own account. Should she have been awarded personal immunity in her own right - immunity that would have been automatically waived in respect of off-duty criminal acts?

We haven't finished with this one yet.

Since she had Diplomatic Immunity. It is now up to the USA to waive, or not waive her Immunity.

Only because of the incompetent drafting of the 1995 Croughton agreement - they forgot to include the automatic off-duty waiver from immunity for spouses.

The agreement was covered by an Exchange of Letters between the US and UK in 1995 and 2001. The documents we've seen include diplomatic notes and sensitive discussions between the two governments.

They make clear that when the arrangements were drawn up both governments agreed that US staff covered by diplomatic immunity at RAF Croughton would face an automatic waiver from that immunity if they were to commit a criminal act outside their duties.

But only if she was asserting that she had immunity as a spouse. There were persistent rumours, but starting rather later, that she was a senior CIA agent on her own account. Should she have been awarded personal immunity in her own right - immunity that would have been automatically waived in respect of off-duty criminal acts?

We haven't finished with this one yet.

Assume both were agents. Each is the spouse of the other. Which would apply, self or spouse or both? Is that to be given liberal or narrow construction?

There were persistent rumours, but starting rather later, that she was a senior CIA agent on her own account. Should she have been awarded personal immunity in her own right - immunity that would have been automatically waived in respect of off-duty criminal acts?

"Persistent rumours" by who?

Harry Dunn's family seek answers over reports Anne Sacoolas was CIA officer
Anne Sacoolas: Harry Dunn’s alleged killer a more senior spy than husband, report claims
Harry Dunn’s ‘killer’ Anne Sacoolas was a CIA spy who ‘held a higher rank than her husband’
Fugitive American wife Anne Sacoolas who is wanted over the death of Harry Dunn was a CIA spy and 'held a higher rank than her husband'

Do you need more? Maybe the American media didn't cover that angle on the story.

8 months after the fatal accident, They're still occurring
Now is that stupidity or
arrogance?

Or worse, a combination of both?

Thankfully, in this country, ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law.
One holds a qualified license?
Then one is responsible for their actions as per the Highway Code & Road Traffic Act.
Excuses be damned.

8 months after the fatal accident, They're still occurring
Now is that stupidity or
arrogance?
Or worse, a combination of both?

No It's a habit. Driving on the wrong side instead of the right side is very confusing when driving in the UK. I always forget even just as a pedestrian crossing a street to look at the right way.
Sweden was also driving on left side on the roads until 1967 but changed that to the right side.
A big event back then and was called H-Day and even songs were written so we should remember.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQtKHv6GRHA

Doing some research for somebody else this morning, I came across a report saying that Anne Sacoolas had only been in the UK for three weeks prior to the fatal accident. I hadn't seen that before.

It might explain, but certainly not excuse, her bad driving and unfamiliarity with local conditions. It's incumbent on all drivers, everywhere, to take special care when entering unfamiliar situations.

There are other US bases in the UK and I don't remember hearing of this problem happening near them. Last night I asked Richard if he had heard of any problems near the NSA base at Blubberhouses on the A59 as I hadn't heard of anything. This side of the border we get news about the A59 if it gets blocked, but all I have heard about is land slips close to, but on the other side of Blubberhouses from RAF Menwith Hill, such as a couple of years ago the road was closed for a few weeks.

Richard confirmed that he hadn't heard of any RTA's in that area due to driving on the incorrect side of the road.

You would think that anyone with some part of a brain would realise that the passenger sits by the shoulder of the road and the driver near the centreline no matter what country you're in (unless you're using an imported vehicle, you're pissed or a deadhead or all of them combined).

I was taught to drive in Germany, driving right-hand (and left-hand) drive vehicles for the military, and spent 12 yrs there. Coming back to the UK I had no issues driving on the "right" side of the road. It's down to using your eyes ;-)

P.

---

The road markings are pretty clear & she had to be in the right lane leaving the base. Looking at the entrance, I'm safely assuming she failed to give way. Aside from the base personnel, it's a pretty quiet B road which lies between the M40 ahead & A43 behind.

I mentioned to Andy that I have a colleague (a near neighbour) who used to have contacts with the women's peace camp which was occupied close to the main gate of Menwith Hill base. She's just rung me, so I asked her if she had any relevant recollections.

Apparently, during the time in question (1980s and 1990s), she was working in Harrogate, and used to drive along the road in question past the main gate of Menwith Hill practically every day, and often stopped when passing to chat with the peace camp members. She doesn't recall having witnessed any wrong-side driving incidents, and doesn't recall it being the subject of any camp gossip or concern.

She did, however, tell me a very interesting anecdote about international relations in those days, which I'll keep for another time.

I've driven past numerous bases & often delivered to many. Most have good clear views of both sides of the road from the exit point. I can't see how she failed to see the motorcyclist.

I was planning to go out and find a proper walk somewhere this afternoon. I'll detour round and see what the site entrance looks like now. One thing that tools like Google street view (or your lorry cab) don't always show is the vertical sight-line from a car drivers' seat. I think videos have shown that road as undulating - the bike might have appeared out of a hidden dip at speed. My car has a relatively low driving position, so I'll be looking out for things like that.

Oops, sorry Richard I didn't really take that into consideration. However, have driven that area many a time on a motorcycle before my lorry days,, so my view (pun intended) is still valid.
Edit
That section that I posted is pretty straight, most of the bends & dips are behind it heading towards the A43

Well, that cheered us up. :-)
Just received a phone call from the missus' boss. Dreading it to be honest because she was notified by mail last week about the possibly of having her furlough extended & possibly with 80% pay She has been on 100% since mid-March). :-)
Furlough further extended until June. She will still be on 100% for now but she was told that they don't really know as yet, what is happening.
So it's Carry on Crunching (for now) as we won't be losing 100s a month - phew.
If furlough extended any further & pay cut to 80%, crunching will have to be greatly reduced. :-(

Edit
Also got a notice from phones tube map app.
From next week, tube services will be back running to 70% with a reduced capacity of 13-15%.
That's going to be fun. :(

Lot's of furloughed people here as well.
As for the UK .
UK furlough scheme extended by four months
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52634759
But what will happen after October? There is no way that business as usual will happen by then.
Well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo

As if the Corona crises wasn't enough.
Daesh on the move again.
But didn't both Trump and Putin said "Mission accomplished"?
Apparently they were wrong :(
Daesh has stepped up its attacks during the corona pandemic. In Iraq alone, 110 incidents were reported during the month of April, and there is also a clear increase in neighboring Syria.
https://www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/is-trappar-upp-terrorn-under-corona-pandemin

The images of soldiers running out of the delivery clinic in Kabul on Tuesday carrying babies wrapped in bloodstained blankets are difficult to shake off. Eyewitnesses at the scene confirmed that the perpetrators entered the hospital area disguised as police officers, and that they opened fire indiscriminately in all rooms at the delivery clinic.
At least 24 people were killed in the attack, hospital staff, newly delivered mothers and two infants who were only a few hours old.

Following on from our discussions yesterday about other RTAs involving American service drivers on British roads. I've just had this eye-witness account forwarded to me.

During the time we were camped on Moonbow Corner (May 1994 - April 1995), there were FOUR accidents as a result of base personnel exiting the junction onto the A59 then driving on the right hand side of the road (and on the Harrogate side of the junction is a blind bend) and ONE where the driver overshot the junction in the fog and crashed through the fence opposite. We had a mobile phone (the size of two house bricks) and I would phone the Menwith Hill police on their emergency number, as they could get to the scene quicker than if I rang 999.