IAM response to changes in dangerous driving penalties

Please find below IAM’s response to the Justice Secretary’s announcement about tougher penalties for dangerous driving.

IAM spokesperson Vince Yearley said: “Dangerous driving can result in anything from near misses to serious injuries. But the maximum jail term for dangerous driving must relate to the driving offence – not the consequences, however awful.”

The following figures represent the number of accidents caused last year by various types of dangerous driving activity (Department for Transport statistics):

• 18,803 accidents were caused by careless, reckless or hurried driving.

• 3,862 accidents were caused by aggressive driving.

• Aggressive, careless, reckless or hurried driving caused at least one death a day.

• 5,858 accidents were caused by drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol, resulting in 160 deaths.

• A significant 32,525 accidents were caused by illegal manoeuvres such as exceeding the speed limit, illegal turns, disobeying traffic signals and disobeying rules pedestrian crossings.

• 14 deaths and 139 serious accidents involved a stolen vehicle.

Tags: dangerous driving penalties, IAM response