Otley mum welcomes criminal driving crackdown
Campaigners, including an Otley mum who lost her son at the hands of a drunk, speeding motorist, have welcomed reports that the Queen’s Speech will include tougher penalties for criminal drivers who kill and injure people after driving recklessly.
Campaigners, including an Otley mum who lost her son at the hands of a drunk, speeding motorist, have welcomed reports that the Queen’s Speech will include tougher penalties for criminal drivers who kill and injure people after driving recklessly.
16 year old Jamie Still, was hit by a car on New Year's Eve in 2010.
The driver was almost twice over the drink-drive limit and had been travelling at speeds estimated at 50mph in a 30mph zone.
He was jailed for four years.
The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is 14 years, but the average sentence served by those convicted is just four years. The maximum sentence for homicide however is life in prison. Sentences for those who kill or injure as a result of reckless driving now look set to be increased to be similar to sentences given to murderers.
Jamie Still’s mother Karen Strong added:
“This is great news and long overdue. For five years I have been campaigning for changes in the law and for two reasons. The first being so Jamie didn't die in vain and secondly so no other family suffers like ours. Hopefully victims will get some justice, and that this acts as a deterrent for potential reckless drivers.
“This is a massive step but it cannot be the end of our campaign for change. More still needs to be done and I can only thank Greg for his relentless campaign to the government on our behalf.”
MP Greg Mulholland has long campaigned for justice for victims of criminal driving, following the death Jamie and David and Dorothy Metcalf – another two of his constituents.
In March 2015, after working with families, charities and MPs from all parties, Greg published a manifesto, which was backed by the road safety charity Brake, that called for a range of changes to criminal driving laws, relating to sentencing, investigations, victim support, and other areas.
This January, he introduced the Criminal Driving (Justice for Victims) Bill in the House of Commons with cross-party support, and the following month he was named Brake’s Road Safety Parliamentarian of the Year.
Commenting, Greg said:
"I welcome reports that ministers are set to announce tougher penalties for criminal drivers. For too long victims have not had the justice they deserve and families have seen the killers of their loved ones let out of prison too soon. It cannot be right that while the sentence for homicide is life in prison, the average sentence for a criminal driver who kills someone is just four years.
"I have sadly had three of my own constituents killed in recent years. Jamie Still, who was killed in December 2010, and David and Dorothy Metcalf in January 2012. I firmly believe their killers should have served longer sentences given the severity of their offences, and that is why I have long called on ministers to make the changes. Jamie's mother Karen, his sister Rebecca, and David and Dorothy's children Clive and Lindsay have all shown real courage in campaigning for tougher penalties.
"After working with families, charities and MPs from all parties, this January I presented the Criminal Driving (Justice for Victims) Bill in the House of Commons. The Bill called for a range of changes with regards to sentencing, investigations, victim support, and other areas. While we will continue to call for all of the changes in the Criminal Driving Bill, the measures reported to be announced in the Queen's Speech mark a huge campaign success for us and will be a major step forward in helping us deliver justice for victims of criminal driving and their families."