RAC Foundation backs new offence of causing death by careless driving

New powers for the courts to tackle careless drivers who cause death behind the wheel could become law – if the Government backs a new Bill being discussed in Parliament, the RAC Foundation said today (21).

Sally Keeble, Labour MP for Northampton North, has introduced a Bill that would create a new offence of ‘causing death by careless driving.’

The RAC Foundation has consistently argued the need for the creation of a new offence of ‘causing death by careless driving’. The need for a specific offence arises as a result of the disparity between the offences of careless and dangerous driving, both in term of the burden of proof and the sentencing option available to courts following conviction.

Kevin Delaney, Traffic and Road Safety Manager of the RAC Foundation, said: "The offence of causing death by dangerous driving is extremely difficult to prove and prosecutions tend to be brought only in the most extreme cases of grossly bad or wicked driving.

"Prosecutors tend to charge with the lesser offence of ‘careless driving’, or accept a plea of guilty to ‘careless driving.’ This often leaves relatives feeling that justice has not been done following the death of a loved one.

"The RAC Foundation believes that having an offence of causing death by careless driving on the statute books would help bridge the gap by allowing prosecutors to bring a charge appropriate to the level of bad driving; which recognises the death of a third party - and which carries a range of penalties appropriate to the gravity of the offence."