Killer drivers could soon face longer behind bars if the House of Commons approve a new Bill which is to be presented tomorrow.
The Criminal Driving (Justice for Victims) Bill will seek to increase sentences for those convicted of driving which leads to serious injury or fatality, scrapping the lesser charge of careless driving for those offences altogether, while also demanding improvements to the treatment of the victims and their families.
Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland is the driving force behind the new Bill, having devised its contents in conjunction with a cross-party group of MPs and peers, and road safety campaign organisations.
“I look forward to presenting the Criminal Driving (Justice for Victims) Bill tomorrow,” said Mr Mulholland.
“For far too long, victims and their families have been let down by the justice system. Sentences can be too short, bail conditions for offenders not strong enough and investigators sometimes not suitably trained.
These are just some of the issues I will be highlighting next week. Victims and their families are right to expect more from the justice system, and my Bill will continue the fight for that.”
Meanwhile, Alice Bailey of Brake - a leading road safety charity which is backing the Bill – said, “Too many victims of crashes caused by dangerous drivers are simply not getting justice at the moment. They and their families are often left feeling let down and insulted by the use of inappropriately-termed charges and overly lenient sentences. Drivers who have killed while taking illegal risks have too often been labelled ‘careless’ in the eyes of the law, and given insultingly low sentences, when their actions can only be described as dangerous and destructive. Greg has seen first-hand the devastating consequences of crashes on two families in his constituency, and Brake supports hundreds of victims and their families whose lives have been torn apart every year. They have already suffered so much and we must make sure their pain is not compounded by a lack of justice. It’s time this bill became law.”
Click here to sign up for our monthly newsletter
Popular news stories
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
|
|
||||||
