Fatal road crashes report could be a vital step toward meaningful change for victims, leading personal injury lawyer says

Sally Moore is joint head of the personal injury department at Leigh Day, the law firm which, with the charity RoadPeace supported research by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling and Walking and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety.

Behind the Headlines: Sentencing After Fatal Crashes was delivered by academics at the University of Leicester and published on Monday 20 October 2025.

It examined more than 200 cases across England and Wales and found that potential inconsistencies in charging decisions and court practices mean some dangerous drivers are not being held properly to account for their actions, although sentencing guidelines are generally followed.

Now the All-Party Parliamentary Groups have called for urgent action from government and the justice system, including:

• Redefining “dangerous” and “careless” driving to close legal grey areas.
• Ensuring all cases of causing death by driving are tried in the crown court. 
• Greater use of lifetime driving bans for repeat and high-risk offenders.
• Stronger licensing requirements for young drivers to prevent avoidable tragedies.
• Amending the law to give police powers to act against drivers touching a phone at the wheel, even in a cradle. 
• Resourcing Serious Collision Investigation Units to reduce unacceptable delays.

Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling & Walking said:

“If someone has taken a life through dangerous driving, we have to ask: why should they ever be allowed to drive again? Too many repeat offenders show open contempt for the punishments handed down by our courts and yet we still hand the keys back. It’s time we treated driving as the privilege it is, not a right without consequence. Lifetime bans and electronic tagging should be on the table to protect the public and make sure those who have already proved they can’t be trusted behind the wheel play by the rules."

Andy MacNae MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Transport Safety said:

“Every road death represents a devastating loss, and yet our justice system too often compounds that tragedy with delays, lenient outcomes, and a failure to hold dangerous drivers fully to account. This report shines a light on the urgent need for reform. It’s unacceptable that drivers who take lives through recklessness are allowed back on the roads while grieving families are left without a sense of justice.”

A RoadPeace representative, from the national charity for road crash victims, said:

“Every day we hear from families whose lives have been shattered by dangerous drivers — and who then face a justice system that too often fails to recognise the gravity of what’s happened. Losing a loved one in a road crash is not an ‘accident’; it’s a life taken, and the response should reflect that. We welcome this report’s call for reform. Families deserve a process that delivers real accountability and lasting change. Stronger sentencing, lifetime driving bans for repeat offenders, and consistent investigation standards would not only deliver justice, but also help prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak."

Sally Moore, joint head of the personal injury department at law firm, Leigh Day said:

"Every fatal crash is devastating, and this report highlights the need for sentencing which reflects the seriousness of these tragedies and makes roads safer for everyone. We know from our work with bereaved families and victims of serious collisions that justice must go beyond punishment and offer recognition and deterrence. To achieve this it is vital, whichever police force, prosecutors and courts are involved, that they are met with a consistent approach and compassionate communication throughout. We support the report’s recommendations and hope it marks a vital step toward meaningful change."