Susan Elan Jones, MP for Clwyd South, has been recognised by Brake for campaigning for longer jail terms for drivers who kill or seriously injure.
Ms Jones launched her campaign after the tragic death of a nine-year-old boy, Robert Gaunt, who was run over and killed by a driver who had no licence, no insurance and failed to stop when he hit and killed Robert. David Lunn was given a 22-month prison sentence, of which he served 10 months.
The maximum sentence for causing a death when driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured is two years in jail, and the maximum for killing someone and failing to stop and report it is up to six months. This compares to a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison for drivers convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.
Ms Jones secured cross party support for her Private Member’s Bill, The Driving Offences (Review of Sentencing Guidelines) Bill, which was brought forward under a 10-minute rule bill in January 2014. The formal date for second reading in Parliament is 28 February and Brake says that the Ministry of Justice is now committed to reviewing the law surrounding serious driving offences.
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: "Susan’s campaign is vital in helping to secure justice for families who have been devastated by road death or serious injury.
“It’s crucial these offences are taken seriously and appropriately tough sentences are handed out, to deter risky driving and ensure justice is done."
Susan Elan Jones said: "I am absolutely delighted to receive this award which also belongs to local campaigners and Overton-on-Dee Community Council who have worked with me throughout this campaign.
“We remain determined in our quest to secure some measure of justice for the family of those people so tragically killed or seriously injured on our roads."
One can forgive and forget up to a point, but we all have a duty of care to others on the road and if we fall below the standards expected of us, is it not negligence? ‘Second victims’ may react in different ways depending on their feelings of guilt, remorse and trauma but I would imagine the Courts would take this into account.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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In all fatal accidents there is always a ‘second victim’ which is usually the poor person who was in charge of the car/machine/train/aeroplane that was ultimately involved in the accident. It’s perfectly OK to prosecute those drivers that are really taking the mickey by performing deliberate acts or driving whilst banned or with no licence or insurance etc, but for those drivers who were as much a victim of a chain of errors as the poor person who was killed, such punishments are entirely counter-productive.
Check out Sidney Dekker’s thoughts on this at http://youtu.be/YeSvCEpg6ew
Duncan MacKillop, Steatford on Avon
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