Road safety charity show public support for criminal drivers who kill to be charged with manslaughter

A survey to mark the launch of Brake’s new “ROADS TO JUSTICE” campaign shows there is huge support for strengthening both the charges and sentences faced by criminal drivers.

91 per cent of people questioned agreed that if someone causes a fatal crash when they get behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs, they should be charged with manslaughter, a crime which carries a possible life sentence.

At present the charge can either be ‘causing death by dangerous driving’ or ‘causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs’. With the maximum sentence which can be issued to a drunk driver who has killed someone is 14 years.

Peter Dolan, the father of Enda Dolan, an 18 year old boy who was killed by a drunk driver in Belfast, has been campaigning for reform of the law since the death of his son.

Mr Dolan said: “There is no reason why that can’t be done. It is important. There is no deterrent and 14 years of a maximum sentence isn’t sufficient under the current law.”

Peter Dolan welcomed the charity’s call and urged MLAs to support the campaign for tougher sentences.

Brake’s survey shows that the majority of the public are of the same opinion.

Two thirds of people surveyed (66 per cent), believe that those convicted of killing someone while driving under the influence should be jailed for at least 10 years. Around 20 per cent of those surveyed believe that drivers who kill should be jailed for life.

At present almost half of drivers convicted of killing are not jailed at all, and the average prison sentence given to a driver who has killed someone is less than four years.

The new campaign to introduce stronger sentences is being backed by a number of recently bereaved families who feel they have not had justice for their loved ones.

Gary Rae, director of communications and campaigns for Brake said: “People we work with tell us they are left feeling betrayed by the use of inappropriately-termed charges and lenient sentences.

“Drivers who kill while taking illegal risks are too often labelled ‘careless’ in the eyes of the law, and then given insultingly low sentences when their actions can only be described as dangerous and destructive.”

Brake’s survey also revealed overwhelming support for never using charges that describe driving as “careless” in cases where bad driving has resulted in death or injury. Eighty-four per cent of people questioned agreed a charge of dangerous driving should always be brought where lack of attention is given to the road.