Drivers who cause death or serious injuries on the roads
when they've been banned from driving will face long jail
sentences.
Drivers who cause death or serious injuries on the roads
when they have been banned from driving will face long jail sentences, Justice
Secretary Chris Grayling announced today (6 May 2014).
The
law will be changed so disqualified drivers will face up to 10 years in prison
if they cause death, and up to 4 years imprisonment if they cause serious
injuries. These much tougher maximum sentences are designed to reflect the
devastating impact on victims and their families.
The
Justice Secretary also announced his intention to launch a full review of all
driving offences and penalties, to ensure people who endanger lives and public
safety are properly punished. This will include reviewing offences committed by
uninsured and unlicensed drivers.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said:
I
want to make our roads safer and ensure people who cause harm face tough
penalties.
Disqualified drivers should not be on our roads for good
reason. Those who chose to defy a ban imposed by a court and go on to destroy
innocent lives must face serious consequences for the terrible impact of their
actions.
Today, we are sending a clear message that anyone who
does will face much tougher punishment.
The
current maximum sentence faced by a driver who causes death while driving when
disqualified is 2 years imprisonment and there is no specific offence of
causing serious injury by driving while disqualified.
The
government plans to change the law shortly to introduce the new sentences. The
changes are expected to be implemented in early 2015.
The
new review of driving offences will be carried out over the next few months and
published in due course.
Notes to editors
- There were 1,754 road deaths in 2012 and 23,039 serious
injuries on the road according to the Department for
Transport.
- There were 16 prosecutions and 13 convictions in 2012
for causing death by driving when disqualified, unlicensed or
uninsured.
- Around 8,200 people were convicted for driving whilst
disqualified in 2012 according to MoJ figures..
- The
government introduced a new offence of causing serious injury whilst dangerous
driving in December 2012 ( as part of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment
of Offenders Act).
- The current maximum sentences
for driving offences which cause serious injury and death are set out by the
Road Traffic Act 1988. They include: Causing Death by Dangerous Driving (14
years); Causing Death by Careless Driving when under the influence of drink or
drugs (14 years); Causing Death by Careless of Inconsiderate Driving (five
years); Causing Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving (five years); and Causing
Death by driving when unlicensed, uninsured or disqualified (two
years).