2004

Motorists are rarely jailed since most traffic offences are not imprisonable

Even culpable road deaths are rarely followed by an indictable charge - 3,500 people are killed annually in road crashes- over four times more than are murdered- but less than 300 drivers a year will serve a prison sentence for causing a road death.

Most road deaths caused through law breaking and irresponsibility are only followed by the mere summary charge of Driving without due care and attention, for which the common sentence is a fine and a few penalty points, although the magistrates have the power to disqualify.

Each year, 300,000-500,000 (police/hospital data) people are also injured in road crashes, but the few cases that go to court are only prosecuted for the minor charge of Driving without due care and attention.

Only the offence of dangerous driving can attract a prison sentence of up to two years, but drivers charged with this offence will have broken several road traffic laws to a serious degree and have been a serious threat to other drivers/road users.

Ralph Smyth, a barrister with experience of road traffic cases, said:
"The idea that people are in jail for "minor motoring offences" is a joke, particularly as they are non imprisonable, unless you count causing death by dangerous driving or drink driving as minor. And with more people killed on the roads than murdered, it's unbelievable that anyone can even consider suggesting for a moment that these drivers are not a danger to society. "

Brigitte Chaudhry, National Secretary of RoadPeace, said:
"The drivers who may be in prison will be in prison not for the offence itself, but for not paying fines, not appearing in court or similar offences. But it also has to be remembered that law-breaking drivers are a far greater threat to everyone than are burglars, who only steal property, not lives..."
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Contacts:
RoadPeace Office 020 8838 5102
RoadPeace Helpline 0845 4500 355