Sentencing Guidelines for Courts dealing with Driving Offences Resulting in Death

In July 2008 The Sentencing Guidelines Council issued guidelines for Judges and Magistrates when sentencing drivers guilty of a driving offence which results in a death. They are given a clear message that such offences are serious and should receive appropriate sentences. Lengthy custodial sentences are recommended by the Sentencing Guidelines Council for cases involving:

• prolonged, persistent and deliberate bad driving
• driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
• offenders who were distracted by a hand-held mobile phone when the offence was committed
• offenders who were reading or composing text messages whilst at the wheel

Clear advice on driving bans is also given. Magistrates and judges are reminded that disqualifications are effective from the day that they are imposed and will only be of practical effect if they extend beyond the period that will be served in prison.

The definitive guideline covers four offences:

• causing death by dangerous driving
• causing death by careless driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• causing death by careless driving
• and causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured.

Chairman of the Council, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers said: "Sentencing in cases where death results from the misuse of a car on the road are among the most difficult for judges and magistrates. [...] This guideline is designed to support sentencers in making the very difficult decisions that face them in these cases."

The full Press Release issued by the SGC on 15th July 2008 is available here for downloading; as well as a copy of the "Causing Death by Driving - Definitive Guideline" document.

2007 Casualty Figures from the Department of Transport

The Department of Transport has now published National Statistics on road casualties in Great Britain in 2007, which relate to casualties in crashes reported to the police:

• The number of people killed in road accidents fell by 7% from 3,172 in 2006 to 2,943 in 2007.
• 30,720 people were killed or seriously injured in 2007, 4%; fewer than in 2006.
• There were 247,780 road casualties in Great Britain in 2007, 4% less than in 2006.
• Child casualties fell by 7%. The number of children killed or seriously injured in 2007 was 3,090 (down 6% on 2006). Of those, 1,899 were pedestrians, 6% down on 2006. 121 children died on the roads, 28% fewer than in 2006.
• Provisional figures indicate that road traffic levels rose by 1% compared to 2006 and the provisional estimate is that the overall casualty rate per 100 million vehicle kilometres (49 per 100 million vehicle kms) was 5% lower than in 2006 (51 casualties per 100 million vehicle kms).
• There were 644 pedestrian deaths, 5% less than in 2006. Killed or serious injured casualties fell by 2% to 6,924. The all pedestrian casualty figure fell to 30,191 in 2007, 3% lower than 2006.
• The number of pedal cyclists killed fell by 7% from 146 in 2006 to 136 in 2007. However the number of seriously injured cyclists rose by 6% to 2,428. The total casualties among pedal cyclists remained at the same level as 2006
• There were 588 motorcycle user fatalities in 2007, 2% lower than during 2006. The number of killed or seriously injured rose compared to 2006 (up 4% from 6,484 in 2006 to 6,737 in 2007). The all motorcycle user casualties figure for 2007 of 23,459 is 1% higher than in 2006.
• The number of deaths among car users in 2007 was 1,431, 11% less than in the previous year. The number seriously injured fell by 9% to 11,536. Total casualties among car users were 161,433, 6% lower than 2006. Provisional traffic estimates indicate a 1% fall in car and taxi traffic over the period.
• There were 182,115 road crashes involving personal injury in 2007, 4% fewer than in 2006. Of these, 27,036 accidents involved death or serious injury, 3% fewer than in 2006 (27,872
• In 2007, the number of people killed or seriously injured was 36% below the 1994-98 average; the number of children killed or seriously injured was 55% below the 1994-98 average; and provisional estimates show the slight casualty rate was 30% below the 1994-98 average.

Telford & Wrekin Council - Road Safety Seminar

In conjunction with the TTC Group, AIRSO presented an important Road Safety Seminar for the Telford & Wrekin Council on 14th May 2008. There were a series of presentations given by leading Road Safety specialists. The details of each presentation are given below along with pdf versions of the slideshows:

• Graham Feest, Secretary AIRSO: The Business Case and Driving Forces. (pdf version)
• Ian Brooks, FORS Manager, Transport for London: Road Death Investigation and Corporate Accountability. (pdf version)
• Michael Appleby, Solicitor, Housemans: Corporate Manslaughter. (pdf version)
• Bob Winter, Norwich Union Risk Services: Managing the Risk. (pdf version)
• Graham Wynn OBE, Director, The TTC Group: Drink Drugs and Impairment. (pdf version)
• Ian Walsh, Transport Manager, PHS Datashred: A Case Study - Cutting Costs, Saving Lives and Improving Performance. (pdf version)
• Graham Feest, Secretary, AIRSO: Establishing Policy and Practice. (pdf version)

More from Telford & Wrekin Council & TTC Group websites...