Call for tougher sentences for death drivers
A county MP is backing a campaign for tougher sentences for drivers who kill.
Andrew Bridgen has joined a cross-party call on the Government to review sentencing guidelines and make them tougher on dangerous motorists whose driving leads to someone's death.
It also asks the Government to consider abolishing the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving, so anyone whose bad driving results in a death is prosecuted for causing death by dangerous driving.
Mr Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, said: "Victims' families often feel let down by the justice system when a dangerous driver who kills a loved one receives a lenient sentence.
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"The maximum sentence of 14 years has never been used and only one in 10 of those convicted went to prison for more than five years. That's why I'm backing this campaign to give drivers who kill the sentences they deserve."
Julie Townsend, of road safety charity Brake, said: "This campaign is crucial because letting off drivers who kill with lenient sentences, or sometimes no jail term at all, implies that driving dangerously, even when it results in loss of life and terrible suffering, is only a minor transgression."
Comments
by brendon
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 7:04PM
“Assuming one filters out the genuine accidents, blown tire, avoiding a dog or some other benign act, then vehicular homicide. Treat it like any other.”
by georgeisafish
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 6:48PM
“shoot someone with a gun, kill them. lose control of a car, kill someone. bet the motorist gets the tougher sentence.”
by C_G_Lee
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 6:35PM
“The only thing I disagree with is the idea of doing away with the lesser offence. The reason it was brought in was because people were getting away with driving without due care and attention convictions even when people died as a result, without any account being taken of the death. It happened to a friend of mine many years ago.”
by DonHenson
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 5:55PM
“Personally I'd increase the penalty - but make a mandatory minimum sentence when there has been a death - starting in the region of the current maximum.”
by DonHenson
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 5:54PM
“Except: there is already a 14 year max penalty that has never been given. So unless the sentence is changed to a mandatory one, it really doesn't matter how high it can go...”
by LikeItaLot
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 10:46AM
“Yes I agree with this, This is not a knee-jerk reactionary response. It seems no other means of causing death where culpability exists is so lenient as can be the case with a motor vehicle.”
by Bob491
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 10:10AM
“For once, I agree with Bridgen.”