LICENCE TO KILL 100s of deadly drivers let off by courts
MORE than 450 killer drivers have dodged prison sentences and are still on our roads.
who caused death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs – which also has a 14 year maximum – were similarly let off.
There were also 426 people allowed to keep their freedom who had been convicted of the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving.
This charge was brought in to recognise the fact a momentary lapse of concentration could have fatal consequences. However, the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show that only around one in every three people convicted of the offence ends up in prison.
In 2017, a record number of 90 out of the 398 people sentenced for causing a fatal car crash were given a suspended sentence, which meant they avoided doing time.
Of the remaining drivers convicted of fatal crashes, two were given absolute discharges, five were fined and 48 were sentenced to community service. Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at Brake, the road safety charity, said: “Our road justice system has to deliver for bereaved families and ensure that unsafe drivers are kept off our roads, but tragically the current framework fails to do so.
“At the root of this failure are the definitions for causing death by careless and dangerous driving, which are unfit for purpose and lead to inconsistent and indefensibly lenient sentencing.
“The Government must undertake a review of road traffic offences and penalties, as promised by the Transport Secretary in 2014, to fix our flawed road justice framework and ensure families receive justice and the public are protected from harm.”
Westminster has promised to change the sentencing regime.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Independent judges make sentencing decisions on each case, but because killer drivers ruin lives we’ve committed to give them the power to hand down life sentences for those who cause death by dangerous driving.”