Sir Ken Macdonald QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, recently introduced
updated guidance produced by the CPS on bad driving following public consultation. One of the main aims of the guide is to provide a better service to bereaved families. The revised policy gives full details of the victim and witness care service that the CPS provides, and explains the recently-introduced Victim Focus scheme, where a prosecutor will meet those who have lost a close family member through bad driving.
Dangerous driving could now include:
- racing or competitive driving;
- disregarding warnings from fellow passengers;
- reading a newspaper/map;
- aggressive driving, such as sudden lane changes, cutting into a line of vehicles, or driving much too close to the vehicle in front;
- driving whilst using a mobile phone
Careless driving could now include:
- driving inappropriately close to another vehicle;
- tuning a car radio;
- selecting and lighting a cigarette or similar where the driver was avoidably distracted by that use.
Inconsiderate driving could now include:
- flashing of lights to force other drivers in front to give way;
- unnecessarily remaining in an overtaking lane;
- driving with un-dipped headlights which dazzle oncoming drivers;
- driving through a puddle causing pedestrians to be splashed;
- driving a bus in such a way as to alarm passengers.
Sir Ken said: "We want to make sure our prosecutors reach the correct charging decisions not only in line with current law, but also, where it is just and lawful to do so, that they take into account changing public attitudes to bad driving and the desire of victims or their families and friends to see that justice is done."
Sally Moore, head of the accidents and disasters department at leading personal injury law firm Leigh Day & Co, has represented many people who have been seriously injured in road traffic accidents, or who have lost family members in such tragic events. She says of the new guidance:
"Any measures that can reduce the number of deaths on UK roads which are caused by deliberately reckless behaviour by car drivers are to be welcomed. Solicitors at Leigh Day & Co see for themselves the horrifying long-term damage that road traffic accidents cause to those involved and their families."
Please contact
Sally Moore on 020 7650 1200 for more information.
See also
Weblinks
Policy for prosecuting
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