How just 1 in 11 killer drivers goes to prison

KILLER drivers are more likely to be punished with community service than jail, according to figures released yesterday.

Figures reveal that only one in 11 motorists convicted of causing death by careless driving was imprisoned in Scotland last year. The offender was sentenced to six months.

Of the remaining ten drivers, three received fines of £1,000, £4, 00 and £ ,000.

The other seven were given community payback orders of 200 to 300 hours. All those convicted were banned from driving but one lethal driver was disqualified for only a year.

A total of 2 drivers were charged with causing death by careless driving in 201 -16 and the Crown Office stressed that a number of prosecutions were still active.

But complete figures for 20141 show there were 29 guilty pleas or verdicts from a total of 43 prosecutions. Only four of the convictions resulted in loss of liberty. Most drivers – 24 – were ordered to do community service, while one was fined.

To date, four motorists charged with the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving in 201 -16 have been convicted and all were jailed. The terms were 20 months, two years, three years and nine months and nine-and-a-half years.

Zari’aat Masood, a spokesman for road safety charity Brake, said: ‘Lenient sentences are an insult to bereaved families. Deaths and serious injuries cause terrible suffering.’

There is also evidence that many non-fatal cases are dropped before they reach court. Of the 6,023 careless driving charges reported last year, no action was taken in 917 cases – a ratio of 1 per cent.

A total of 79 of 2, 93 dangerous driving charges were similarly dropped – three in every 100 cases.

A Crown Office spokesman said: ‘The Crown can only take action in cases reported to us where there is sufficient evidence.’