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Road Traffic Offences: Fatal Collisions
15 November 2021
Lead MP
Christina Rees
Neath
Lab
Responding Minister
Andrew Stephenson
Tags
Justice & CourtsTransport
Word Count: 12167
Other Contributors: 10
At a Glance
Christina Rees raised concerns about road traffic offences: fatal collisions in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Rees urged the Government to change the law as set out in the petitions, specifically addressing the need for harsher sentences for hit-and-run drivers who cause fatal collisions. She also requested that the Minister meet with petitioners and other families impacted by such incidents to give them a voice.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Christina Rees highlighted the tragic cases of Matt Smyth and Paul, who were killed by hit-and-run drivers. The driver responsible for Matt's death received a sentence of 14 months and was banned from driving for 31 months; Paul's killer got three years but served less than half of it. She also discussed Ryan Saltern, whose death led to calls for stricter laws against hit-and-run incidents. Rees mentioned that many families have not seen justice with the current unduly lenient sentences imposed on offenders. She cited statistics indicating an average fine of £289 in 2020 for failing to stop and report a road traffic accident, while the most common sentence was four years and seven months for causing death by dangerous driving.
Ben Bradshaw
Lab
Exeter
Ben Bradshaw highlighted the inadequacy of current penalties for road crime, noting that offenders often receive light sentences while victims' families suffer. He criticised the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill for not addressing many fatal and serious injury cases adequately. He called for a full review of road traffic offences promised nearly eight years ago and an increase in maximum sentences for hit-and-run incidents from six months to five years. Bradshaw also urged the Government to reconsider allowing drivers to escape bans by pleading exceptional circumstances, citing 80,000 such cases over ten years. Mr Bradshaw inquired specifically into the status of the full review promised by the Department and its timeline. He also questioned whether issues like exemptions for bans were part of this planned review, expressing concern over their impact on road safety.
St Ives
Paying tribute to Ryan and his family, Cherilyn Mackrory highlighted the petition signed by over 270,000 people demanding tougher sentences for those who fail to stop after a fatal accident. She mentioned Ryan's case where the driver left the scene and was only caught days later, resulting in inadequate punishment. The MP discussed ongoing efforts with Transport Ministers and former Secretary of State for Justice regarding 'Ryan's law' which would widen the definition of death by dangerous driving.
Chris Stephens
SNP
Glasgow North East
Discussed the emotional impact of losing a loved one due to hit-and-run incidents and highlighted the disparity in sentencing for failure to stop after an accident compared to causing death by dangerous driving. Mentioned the case of Aidan Pilkington, who was killed on Crow Road in Glasgow with no arrest made two months later. Mr Stephens suggested a new charge for failing to stop after causing fatal or serious injury, addressing concerns about the current law's inadequacies.
Mr Grundy intervened to ask the Minister for assurances regarding the Department's stance on clarifying and strengthening laws related to Ryan's law, noting more than 1,000 signatures in his constituency supporting it.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon highlighted the preventable nature of some road traffic fatalities and emphasized the need for legislative change. He cited a Department for Infrastructure document stating that over the last five years, 56 people in Northern Ireland lost their lives due to excessive speed. Shannon expressed sympathy for families affected by fatal collisions and supported efforts to ensure drivers face consequences for accidents.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Ms McCarthy highlighted the importance of addressing driving offences that lead to fatalities, citing cases like Kevin Duggan and urging for law changes. She mentioned the estimated range of 210 to 250 people killed annually due to drink-driving in Great Britain. Concerned about delays in reviewing road traffic offences, she asked the Minister for a timeframe for the promised review and expressed worries over recent changes to driving tests and smart motorways that may compromise safety. Ms McCarthy pressed further on whether there are instances where drivers accused of fleeing the scene are charged with perverting the course of justice.
Peter Dowd
Lab
Bootle
My daughter was hit by a car and died nine days later, the driver received a 12-month custodial sentence for careless driving which they are appealing. He believes that sentencing guidelines need a thorough review to assure families justice is done.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Mr. Robbie Moore highlighted the problem of reckless driving in his constituency, mentioning a fatal hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a nine-year-old boy near Eastburn. He also referred to another collision on the Addingham bypass earlier this year which took two lives. Mr. Moore advocated for tougher sentences for hit-and-run drivers and suggested widening the definition of dangerous driving to include failure to stop after an accident.
Ruth Cadbury
Lab
Brentford and Isleworth
Congratulated the Government on increasing maximum sentences for dangerous driving and careless driving under influence. Called for improved messaging about revisions to the highway code, which places an expectation on drivers regarding hierarchy of road users. Advocated for stricter penalties for causing serious injury while under influence or driving banned, including a new offence with five years' max sentence. Emphasised the need for clearer distinction between careless and dangerous driving.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Mr Ali highlighted two recent fatal incidents in his constituency, one involving a hit-and-run driver who killed a three-year-old girl, the other an elderly bus driver injured by a stolen car. He criticised the leniency of sentences handed out to肇事者，并指出每年有超过1,700人因道路交通事故丧生，需要采取措施遏制鲁莽驾驶行为。他呼吁政府为地方议会提供更多资源以改善街道环境并增强对逃避责任的驾驶员的惩罚力度。
Government Response
Andrew Stephenson
Government Response
The Government takes road safety seriously and acknowledges the strength of feeling in constituencies regarding dangerous driving. The Minister thanked all Members for their passionate contributions, particularly highlighting cases where families have been fighting for justice following tragic incidents involving pedestrians or cyclists. He acknowledged that any death or serious injury on roads is unacceptable and expressed condolences to victims' families.
The current offence of failing to stop and report involves low-level traffic incidents in the majority of cases; only a small number are related to fatal collisions where there is no other evidence connecting the driver to the incident. The Minister reassured Members that increasing the maximum sentence for failing to stop and report would represent a significant change, as it requires no evidence of a causal link between the failure to stop and death or serious injury.
The Government is keen on understanding more about why drivers fail to stop and report in serious cases, noting research conducted by the University of Leicester in 2017. The Department aims to ensure that any reform strengthens the law without unintended consequences. Officials are exploring options including penalties, how the offence operates, sentencing guidance, and the potential for a new offence as part of a longer-term approach to road safety.
The Government committed to carrying out a review of road traffic offences in 2014; this includes measures being brought forward as part of the police, crime, sentencing and courts Bill. The Minister confirmed that Baroness Vere is considering how they could go further with the call for evidence on parts of the Road Traffic Act.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.