§ 20. Mr. John Hutton (Barrow and Furness)What plans he has to review the current law relating to the sentencing of drivers responsible for fatal road accidents. [40282]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Alun Michael)The whole House understands the devastation and misery caused to any family when members of the family die in a road traffic crash. Severe penalties are available for situations in which the death is the consequence of fault or of the deliberate actions of another person.
§ Mr. HuttonI thank my hon. Friend for his reply. Although I acknowledge the severity of sentences to deal with dangerous driving, will he look again at the sentencing options available to the courts to deal with death as a result of careless driving? Will he especially find time to look again at the recommendation of the 1988 North committee report that road traffic offences legislation be amended to allow magistrates courts to take into account the consequences of carelessness, which can result in the death of an innocent pedestrian?
§ Mr. MichaelThe North report concluded that it would be wrong to visit on a driver severe penalties for tragic consequences. It recognised the difficulty of dealing with a case in which the tragic consequences might be much greater than the culpability of the offender. However, I undertake to keep this area of policy under review. We certainly return to the North report, which was a helpful investigation into the handling of the issue.