6/05/14
By Daniel Machin
Tougher sentences are to be handed down to disqualified drivers who kill although behind the wheel.
Law reforms announced by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling will see offenders that trigger death given up to 10 years in prison, although these that inflict severe injury will get up to 4 years behind bars.
The maximum sentence faced by a driver who causes death whilst driving when disqualified is presently 2 years in jail.
MPs have pushed for a change in the law to deal with banned drivers following a quantity of incidents across the country.
Mr Grayling believes the reforms, which are due to come into force in 2015, will send a clear message to drivers who flout bans and act as a deterrent to these considering getting behind the wheel.
“I want to make our roads safer and make certain folks who result in harm face hard penalties,” he stated.
“Disqualified drivers need to not be on our roads for great cause.
“These who chose to defy a ban imposed by a court and go on to destroy innocent lives should face severe consequences for the terrible influence of their actions.
“We are sending a clear message that any individual who does will face a lot tougher punishment.”
Official figures show there were 16 prosecutions and 13 convictions for causing death by driving when disqualified, unlicensed or uninsured in 2012.
Last year, husband and wife Ross and Clare Simons were killed on a tandem bicycle when they had been hit by drug addict Nicky Lovell, 38, driving a Citroen Picasso near Bristol.
Lovell, who had 11 preceding convictions for driving whilst disqualified, was being pursued by police at the time of the accident.
He pleaded guilty to 2 counts of causing death by unsafe driving and one particular of driving whilst disqualified and was jailed for 10 years and 6 months.
Road safety charities have welcomed the tougher punishments for banned drivers.
“We have long campaigned for a shake-up of charges and penalties for risky and irresponsible drivers who kill and injure on our roads,” commented Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake.
“Brake supports families who have been deeply and permanently affected by selfish and risky behaviour at the wheel and we frequently hear from these households that they feel terribly let down by our justice technique.”
Plans for a complete evaluation of all driving offences and penalties, which contains offences committed by uninsured and unlicensed drivers, are also in the pipeline.
Jail warning for drive ban killers
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