A new study has revealed overwhelming support for killer drivers to face tougher punishment.
Currently, drivers who have drank alcohol or taken drugs before causing a fatal accident are charged with causing death by dangerous driving or causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, which carries a sentence from six months and, on very rare, up to 14 years imprisonment.
However, the survey conducted by road safety group Brake found that more than nine-out-of-ten people questioned think that drivers who kill while drunk or high on drugs should face manslaughter charges, which carry a possible life sentence.
At present nearly half of drivers who kill are not jailed, and the average prison term is just four years. Even under current law, the survey found support from two-thirds of people backing minimum 10 year jail sentences for killer drivers, while 84% thought that in cases of serious injury or death the driver responsible should be charged with dangerous as opposed to careless driving.
Brake has launched a new campaign called Road to Justice, with Director of Communications and Campaigns, Gary Rae, saying: “We believe the public are behind us, judging from our survey results. People we work with tell us they are left feeling betrayed by the use of inappropriately-termed charges and lenient sentences. Drivers who kill while taking illegal risks are too often labelled ‘careless’ in the eyes of the law, and then given insultingly low sentences when their actions can only be described as dangerous and destructive.”
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