Tory MP calls for all dangerous drivers who kill to get lifetime ban

Dangerous drivers who kill should be banned for life to stop “whoops, I killed somebody” guidelines, a Conservative MP has said.

Ben Obese-Jecty, the Tory MP for Huntingdon, has called for changes to the Sentencing Bill to prevent dangerous drivers from getting their licences back.

Speaking in the committee stage of the Bill on Tuesday, he said there were hundreds of convictions for causing death by dangerous driving last year, but “fewer than 1% of those drivers were given a lifetime ban”.

Mr Obese-Jecty put forward an amendment which would see anyone who causes death by dangerous or careless driving handed a lifetime ban, saying the current sentencing guidelines allow for a “whoops, I killed somebody” narrative.

Addressing the Commons, he said: “There is something badly wrong with our approach to justice when the guidelines consider life to be as cheap as is reflected in the current guidelines.

“Consider that the threshold for dangerous driving is high – it is excessive speeding, drink driving, dangerous and erratic overtaking manoeuvres – it is the type of driving that leaves you horrified.

“Now consider that if the outcome of that driving is that someone is killed, the minimum disqualification period is five years, an inconvenience. It speaks to a narrative of, ‘whoops, I killed somebody’.”

Mr Obese-Jecty said the reluctance to use lifetime disqualifications is “priced into the guidelines,” which states there is an “increased risk of breach and the possibility of hindering rehabilitation prospects”.

While Mr Obese-Jecty said he was sure all drivers have been unlucky or had “close shaves”, families of victims are left feeling that dangerous drivers get “little more than a slap on the wrist” and insisted his amendment was not “draconian” but “robust”.

He said: “It would mean that those who have already proved themselves to be fatally unsafe behind the wheel would never again be in a position to take another life or destroy any further lives.”

Sarah Russell, Labour MP for Congleton, said she agreed that these offences are not being dealt with “with sufficient severity” but could not support the amendment, suggesting it would go too far.

She said: “Where he’s talking about a death, I’m not suggesting for a moment that that should go unpunished, but a potential full lifetime driving ban, if someone’s made a momentary lapse of concentration at 19 and still couldn’t drive at 55, doesn’t feel proportionate.”

Justice minister Jake Richards said he was “shocked” at the statistics read out to the Commons, but the Government would not support the mandatory ban.

He said: “This is something I am determined to look at alongside my colleagues at the Department for Transport.”

The minister added that there is “certainly more we can do”.

Mr Richards said: “I’m going to be looking at these measures. We can strengthen driving bans on an interim and permanent basis for the most reckless offenders.”

The amendment was defeated by 167 votes to 330, majority 163.