Causing Death by Careless Driving
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New powers for the courts to tackle careless drivers who cause death behind the wheel could become law – if the Government backs a new Bill being discussed in Parliament, the RAC Foundation said today (21).
Sally Keeble, Labour MP for Northampton North, has introduced a Bill that would create a new offence of ‘causing death by careless driving.’
The RAC Foundation has consistently argued the need for the creation of a new offence of ‘causing death by careless driving’. The need for a specific offence arises as a result of the disparity between the offences of careless and dangerous driving, both in term of the burden of proof and the sentencing option available to courts following conviction.
Kevin Delaney, Traffic and Road Safety Manager of the RAC Foundation, said:
“The offence of causing death by dangerous driving is extremely difficult to prove and prosecutions tend to be brought only in the most extreme cases of grossly bad or wicked driving.”
“Prosecutors tend to charge with the lesser offence of ‘careless driving’, or accept a plea of guilty to ‘careless driving.’ This often leaves relatives feeling that justice has not been done following the death of a loved one.”
“The RAC Foundation believes that having an offence of causing death by careless driving on the statute books would help bridge the gap by allowing prosecutors to bring a charge appropriate to the level of bad driving; which recognises the death of a third party - and which carries a range of penalties appropriate to the gravity of the offence.”
Research Material:
Sally Keeble’s Bill is scheduled to receive Second Reading today.
The Home Office consultation, “A Review of Road Traffic Offences Involving Bad Driving,” proposes a new offence of causing death by careless driving. The consultation closed in May 2005 and publication of the result is awaited.
Related Links:
RAC Web Site & Roadside Assistance
AA Web Site & Roadside Assistance
Related Articles:
Auto | Auto News | Autos | Automotive | Britain | British | Careless | Dangerous | Driving | Driver | Government | Law | Legal | Legislation | Offence | RAC | Roads | Road Safety | Safety | UK | United Kingdom
Sally Keeble, Labour MP for Northampton North, has introduced a Bill that would create a new offence of ‘causing death by careless driving.’
The RAC Foundation has consistently argued the need for the creation of a new offence of ‘causing death by careless driving’. The need for a specific offence arises as a result of the disparity between the offences of careless and dangerous driving, both in term of the burden of proof and the sentencing option available to courts following conviction.
Kevin Delaney, Traffic and Road Safety Manager of the RAC Foundation, said:
“The offence of causing death by dangerous driving is extremely difficult to prove and prosecutions tend to be brought only in the most extreme cases of grossly bad or wicked driving.”
“Prosecutors tend to charge with the lesser offence of ‘careless driving’, or accept a plea of guilty to ‘careless driving.’ This often leaves relatives feeling that justice has not been done following the death of a loved one.”
“The RAC Foundation believes that having an offence of causing death by careless driving on the statute books would help bridge the gap by allowing prosecutors to bring a charge appropriate to the level of bad driving; which recognises the death of a third party - and which carries a range of penalties appropriate to the gravity of the offence.”
Research Material:
Sally Keeble’s Bill is scheduled to receive Second Reading today.
The Home Office consultation, “A Review of Road Traffic Offences Involving Bad Driving,” proposes a new offence of causing death by careless driving. The consultation closed in May 2005 and publication of the result is awaited.
Related Links:
RAC Web Site & Roadside Assistance
AA Web Site & Roadside Assistance
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posted by Jon Fry at 3:04:00 AM
1 Comments: Please Post a Comment
Was the law passed? people are sad when someone dyes and blame others.. but alot of them wont slow down untill they are forced to!
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