Degrees of carelessness

i STRONGLY oppose the creation of a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving.

Punishment for careless driving should be based on the degree of carelessness, not on the outcome.

To do otherwise would result in the perverse situation where a driver who makes a minor error of judgment, but causes serious injury, would face a severe penalty of up to three years in prison, while a driver guilty of a far worse case of careless driving, which didn’t cause an injury, would receive a much lighter sentence. This can’t be right. Disproportionate sentences are unfair and unnecessary.

i had personal experience of a road traffic accident in which, sadly, a friend died. A lorry jack-knifed on a wet road, but the degree of bad driving wasn’t high. The driver who caused the accident suffered great regret and trauma. i had no wish to see him further punished by a severe court sentence.

good and effective motoring legislation should be based on the degree of intent and negligence, not on a relatively random outcome.

This type of legislation is reminiscent of the last labour government’s motoring policies, which criminalised the otherwise law-abiding motorist.

NORMAN JONES, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd.