http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
Thought it may spark discussion. Here are the individual articles
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27285078
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23967547
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gl ... e-21681914
Tougher sentences for drivers - BBC front page story
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Re: Tougher sentences for drivers - BBC front page story
Once someone's been killed the horse has bolted and it doesn't really matter how hard the stable door is slammed shut. I'd propose:
1. Police prosecute dangerous driving offences whether an injury death occurred or not. Sentencing according to the likely outcome, not the actual outcome. If by the grace of God you don't kill someone by driving at 120MPH down the M6 I see no reason you should have a lower penalty than someone who does.
2. Driving while disqualified attracting a custodial sentence for the remainder of the ban - i.e. if you can't be trusted not to drive during the driving ban, then it will be made impossible for you to do so.
1. Police prosecute dangerous driving offences whether an injury death occurred or not. Sentencing according to the likely outcome, not the actual outcome. If by the grace of God you don't kill someone by driving at 120MPH down the M6 I see no reason you should have a lower penalty than someone who does.
2. Driving while disqualified attracting a custodial sentence for the remainder of the ban - i.e. if you can't be trusted not to drive during the driving ban, then it will be made impossible for you to do so.
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Re: Tougher sentences for drivers - BBC front page story
The problem is preventing banned drivers from driving in the first place, as said, a hefty custodial sentence once they have killed someone, while banned, is shutting the stable door a weeee bit late.... and no consolation to the bereaved family..
About to be discussed by Jeremy Vine but just heard a snippet that a large proportion of 'accidents' are caused by drivers who are banned or doing something illegal ....
Perhaps there should be some sort of tagging system that prevents them driving...???
About to be discussed by Jeremy Vine but just heard a snippet that a large proportion of 'accidents' are caused by drivers who are banned or doing something illegal ....
Perhaps there should be some sort of tagging system that prevents them driving...???
I stand and rejoice everytime I see a woman ride by on a wheel the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. HG Wells
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Re: Tougher sentences for drivers - BBC front page story
Prevention is always preferable to detection and punishment. Increasing the severity of punishment is a normal route when the stem is perceived to be failing. (The standard illustration of this is the way establishment of the Metropolitan Police led to a reduction in the number of offences punishable by death.)
An inevitable result of these measures will be an increase in the number of both hit-and-runs and drivers deciding to try to escape police by dangerous high-speed getaway driving.
An inevitable result of these measures will be an increase in the number of both hit-and-runs and drivers deciding to try to escape police by dangerous high-speed getaway driving.
Re: Tougher sentences for drivers - BBC front page story
There are warning signs already.
Take speeding... it is unequivocally linked to tail gating, failing to give way at junctions, and other behaviour
This is because speeding drivers tend to be "risk takers" and the other "high risk activities" follow this behaviour
Anyone who has a number of speeding tickets, or a speeding ticket and "other" driving offence SHOULD be flagged as a major risk to other road users and action taken.
Why not a "three strikes and out" type of penalty where a license is lifted automatically as opposed to the bizarre present situation where drivers can still be out there with 40 odd points on their license.
Take speeding... it is unequivocally linked to tail gating, failing to give way at junctions, and other behaviour
This is because speeding drivers tend to be "risk takers" and the other "high risk activities" follow this behaviour
Anyone who has a number of speeding tickets, or a speeding ticket and "other" driving offence SHOULD be flagged as a major risk to other road users and action taken.
Why not a "three strikes and out" type of penalty where a license is lifted automatically as opposed to the bizarre present situation where drivers can still be out there with 40 odd points on their license.