Careless drivers who kill face jail term
Those who cause death due to reckless driving could face up to five years in jail, the government announced today.
Criminal justice minister Fiona Mactaggart set out a number of amendments to the government’s road safety bill, with the creation of two new offences that aim to ensure dangerous drivers are unable to escape with just a fine.
A new offence of causing death by careless driving would be introduced, as would one of causing death when driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured.
The former could result in a jail term of five years, while those convicted of the latter offence could be imprisoned for up to two years.
The changes are designed to make the current legal situation clearer and ensure that drivers who kill because of careless driving, but are not found guilty of manslaughter, receive tougher punishment.
“All too often, families who have lost loved ones because of a careless driver have seen the offender getting no more than a fine,” Ms Mactaggart said on announcing the new penalties.
“That does not reflect the serious impact of the driving on their lives.
“That’s why the government is proposing these new offences with tough penalties to deal with bad driving. I believe they strike the right balance between the level of criminal fault on the part of the bad driver and the devastation that their actions can cause.”
Responding to the new crackdown, road safety charity Brake welcomed the tougher punishments but called for more to be done in regard to those people who suffer serious injury but are not killed as a result of dangerous driving.
“We welcome these proposals as a step in the right direction,” Brake spokeswoman Aimee Bowen said.
“However, they fail to address the ongoing lack of justice for many drivers who cause serious injury on the roads.”
Shadow transport minister Greg Knight gave an equally cautious welcome, saying the Tories supported “tough measures” to combat those who drive dangerously, but adding that courts should have the discretion and flexibility to impose a sentence appropriate to the circumstances.
“This is an area of law that is very difficult and emotional – the key is to provide fairness and justice,” he said.
The road safety bill was introduced in the Lords in May and has just completed the committee stage.
