South West Norfolk MP, Christopher Fraser has renewed calls on the Government to review the law on leaving the scene of a road crash. In a debate in the House of Commons, he argued that current legislative guidelines may encourage young drivers, particularly those under the influence of drink or drugs, to flee from the scene of road traffic accidents.
Christopher Fraser drew attention to the fact that motorists who kill on the road while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs face a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, whereas those who flee the scene of an accident only face a maximum of six months’ imprisonment. Speaking afterwards, he added:
“Too often, we hear of tragedies on our roads caused by drivers under the influence of drink or drugs. Failing to stop at the scene of an accident carries a maximum sentence of just six months – in my opinion, this effectively encourages those who are over the legal limit to drive off, in the hope that by the time the police have caught up with them, they will have sobered up sufficiently to pass any tests. Some irresponsible drivers may even leave their victims injured or dying on the road.
I am pleased that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport acknowledged this significant anomaly in legislation. He has promised to raise the matter with the Ministry of Justice and I look forward to hearing about any progress made. I hope that due consideration will be given to reforming the current guidelines so that this loophole is removed. While most drivers are responsible on the roads, a minority are not – I urge everyone to think carefully before getting behind the wheel.”
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