§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average sentence for motorists who caused a driving-related fatality and had been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, in each of the last five years; [14924]
(2) what percentage of drivers convicted of a road traffic offence in which someone has died were indicted on the charge of (a) careless and inconsiderate driving and (b) causing death by dangerous driving, in each of the last five years; [14922]
(3) how many drivers have been charged, in the last year for which figures are available, with careless and inconsiderate driving after causing a death on the roads; [14875]
(4) what was the average sentence for motorists who caused a driving-related fatality and had been charged with careless and inconsiderate driving, in each of the last five years; [14923]
(5) if he will list the number of occasions on which drivers being charged with causing death by dangerous driving, have had the alternative verdict of careless and inconsiderate driving substituted by the court, in the last five years. [14876]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answers 10 February 1997]: The available information is shown in the table.
Information on the original charges brought and original offences contained in indictments are not available centrally. The information contained in the table, therefore, is based on the offence for which the court took its final decision. Nor is it known centrally whether careless driving prosecutions involve a fatality.
148W
Motoring offences of 'causing death' 1991–95 England and Wales Number of offences Offence type Causing death by reckless/dangerous driving1 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Prosecutions 431 339 352 301 305 Total convictions 360 320 258 234 247 of which: Non-custodial sentences 97 99 72 56 67 Custodial sentences 263 221 186 178 180
Motoring offences of 'causing death' 1991–95 England and Wales Number of offences Offence type Causing death by reckless/dangerous driving1 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Average custodial sentence (months) 19 22 23 28 36 1 The Road Traffic Act 1991, effective from 1 July 1992, amended the charge of "causing death by reckless driving" to one of "causing death by dangerous driving" and added a new offence of "causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs".
England and Wales Number of offences Offence type Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs1 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Prosecutions — 6 63 48 51 Total convictions — 1 29 49 52 of which: Non-custodial sentences — — 9 5 8 Custodial sentences — 1 20 44 44 Average custodial sentence (months) — 21 20 31 35 1 The Road Traffic Act 1991, effective from 1 July 1992, amended the charge of "causing death by reckless driving" to one of "causing death by dangerous driving" and added a new offence of "causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs".
England and Wales Number of offences Offence type Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs1 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Prosecutions — 111 27 26 13 Total convictions — 49 26 24 24 of which Non-custodial sentences — 33 5 7 4 Custodial sentences — 16 21 17 20 Average custodial sentence (months) — 9 18 17 17 1 Offence added by the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992, effective from 1 April 1992.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters of complaint have been received by His Department in respect of lenient sentences for drivers who have been involved in causing a driving-related fatality; and what percentage of all letters of complaint received by his Department this represented in the last year for which figures are available. [14879]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 10 February 1997]: During 1996, the Home Office received in the region of 200 letters from hon. Members and 1,300 letters from members of the public about the sentencing decisions of the courts. Of these, 31 or 15 per cent. and 20 or 1.5 per cent. respectively concerned what were perceived to be lenient sentences for drivers involved in a driving-related fatality.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of drivers convicted of a driving-related fatality in(a) the 149W five years preceding the implementation of the Road Traffic Act 1991 and (b) the five years following that implementation. [14878]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 10 February 1997]: The available information relates to the number of convictions in England and Wales for causing death by reckless driving between 1987 and 1991, and for causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs and causing death by aggravated vehicle taking between 1992 and 1995; the Road Traffic Act 1991 was effective from 1 July 1992.
The information is as follows:
Convictions for causing death by dangerous driving etc. England and Wales Number 1987 322 1988 272 1989 379 1990 358 1991 360 1992 370 1993 313 1994 306 1995 323 Figures for 1996 are not yet available.