Death by dangerous driving

[Dunworkin69]

Although this may sound political it definitely isn't. The following link - http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Banned001/ has been posted on the number 10 website. It's well worth a look and if you agree it costs nothing to sign up.

[Rolebama]

I cannot sign that petition, as I do not agree with it. I do not think that people who drive dangerously set out to kill, and although I believe some punishment is justified in such circumstances, I believe a prison term is a more suitable punishment. I think that parameters for punishment should be broadened and a life ban could be an either/or option, but I think taking away the option of a prison sentence would be seen as lessening the offence.

[Loony]

I agree with Rolebama.
also the petiton says........Imprisonment not only punishes the person who committed the crime but also of their family who are more often than not innocent parties.
Well if you take away there right to drive members of the family still suffer eg there loss of work/job,driving family members about etc.

[MrDanno]

Not a well thought out petition in my mind. I would not sign it. Studies have shown that people with a lifetime ban just continue to drive anyway. Crushing their car if caught is not such a problem they just get another old car and carry on.

Like has been said, I don't think anyone of sound mind goes out driving with the view of killing someone. For example, Mr smith goes out and is driving at 32mph - A person at the bus stop jumps out right in front of him so close he could never stop in time. Is he this monster criminal? I think not. It can never be black and white. there always is some areas of grey.

[wagolynn]

The law certainly needs a review, as already stated, drivers rarely set out to kill. In the majority of incidents (in general) that I have heard about or have actually witnessed, the cause is not often black and white, both parties could, if driving, cycling or walking, paying due attention, could have avoided the incident

[MrDanno]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

The law certainly needs a review, as already stated, drivers rarely set out to kill. In the majority of incidents (in general) that I have heard about or have actually witnessed, the cause is not often black and white, both parties could, if driving, cycling or walking, paying due attention, could have avoided the incident

Exactly, It really annoys me when they say it is always the driver of a car or lorry at fault. What ever happened to being responsible for your own safety when you are a pedestrian or cyclist? When our local college finishes in the afternoon the students just 'jay walk' in the main road out side.

[98selitb]

I don't agree for another reason: people who have been wrongly or unfairly convicted of the offence. There are miscarriages of justice every day in this country and in all countries of the world. There will always be people languishing in prison or facing driving bans when they have done nothing wrong. Priority should be on making sure no innocent people are punished, rather than setting out to catch all the wrongdoers and picking up a few innocent people along the way and not worrying about it.

Having personally been arrested, charged, convicted and then fully acquitted of a crime I did not commit due to the police deliberately fabricating evidence against me, I would not agree to such a lifelong punishment because there is always the possibility that that person is innocent. At least if you are punished for something you didn't do but the punishment ends after a certain time, you can try and move on. This would not be able to happen if you got a life ban.

The petition says anyone convicted of the offence should get the ban. Well many people are convicted of things they have not done. Just because someone is convicted and found guilty, it does not mean they have committed the offence. I envy that naivety of thinking everything is that simple and black-and-white.

[smudger]

I suppose its the same principal as first or second degree murder and manslaughter, the line between them is very thin?

Our justice system sometimes gets it wrong, and that can surprise us!

[wagolynn]

Originally Posted by 98selitb

I don't agree for another reason: people who have been wrongly or unfairly convicted of the offence. There are miscarriages of justice every day in this country and in all countries of the world. There will always be people languishing in prison or facing driving bans when they have done nothing wrong. Priority should be on making sure no innocent people are punished, rather than setting out to catch all the wrongdoers and picking up a few innocent people along the way and not worrying about it.

Having personally been arrested, charged, convicted and then fully acquitted of a crime I did not commit due to the police deliberately fabricating evidence against me, I would not agree to such a lifelong punishment because there is always the possibility that that person is innocent. At least if you are punished for something you didn't do but the punishment ends after a certain time, you can try and move on. This would not be able to happen if you got a life ban.

The petition says anyone convicted of the offence should get the ban. Well many people are convicted of things they have not done. Just because someone is convicted and found guilty, it does not mean they have committed the offence. I envy that naivety of thinking everything is that simple and black-and-white.

Not a pleasant experience 98selitb. I am always surprised by the contributors to this site who are in favour of trial by the police, media, mob rule and the principle of guilty until proven innocent.

[Watcher]

I couldn't possibly sign it - far too illogical and unnecessary (existing law is quite sufficient - whether it is applied correctly is another matter) and it has been proven time and time again that driving bans acheive nothing.

And what has it got to do with our "Prime" Minister anyway?