HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 c125W
Chris Ruane

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there have been under the Road Traffic Act 1991 c40 section 3 in each year since 1991. [97168]

Hilary Benn

The information is given in the table.

The Government's response to the consultation exercise on road traffic penalties, setting out our final recommendations, was published on 24 July 2002. This report sets out our commitment to raising the penalty for causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, from 10 years to 14 years imprisonment as soon as parliamentary timetable allows.

The Criminal Justice Bill will introduce new sentences for dangerous offenders that will ensure that offenders committing an offence under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act, who have also been assessed as dangerous, may remain in custody for as long as they are considered to pose a risk of harm to the public.

Proceedings and findings of guilt at all courts for the offence of causing death by careless driving while under influence of drink or drugs1 in England and Wales 1991 to 2001
England and Wales Number of offences
Total proceedings for trial at magistrates courts Total findings of guilt at all courts2
1991 3 3
1992 6 1
1993 63 29
1994 48 50
1995 51 53
1996 63 67
1997 78 67
1998 80 71
1999 63 49
2000 72 57
2001 66 32
1 Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 (implemented on 25 July 1991) introduced the offence and inserted it into the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 as section 3A, triable on indictment with a maximum sentence of five years or a fine or both (extended to 10 years under the Criminal Justice Act 1993, section 67.
2 Includes youth court cases sent for sentence, offence proceeding against in earlier years or for other offences.
3 Not available.

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