Liz McInnes welcomes tougher sentences for causing death by dangerous driving

Liz McInnes, Labour Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton

Liz McInnes, MP Heywood and Middleton, has welcomed the government announcement of new tougher sentences for causing death by dangerous driving.

Ms McInnes said: “I am hugely relieved that the government have announced their intention to change the law so that drivers who cause death by speeding, racing, being intoxicated or using a mobile phone could face life in prison.

"Far too many families have had to suffer the devastating loss of a loved one in a road traffic accident only to then suffer the insult of the killer serving a derisory prison sentence of just a few years.

"My constituent Joseph Brown-Lartey was killed in 2014 by a driver speeding at 80mph in a 30mph zone. His killer was sentenced to just six years in prison and is expected to serve just half of that. Sadly, Joseph’s family are not alone in suffering such an injustice.

"The announcement is a victory for Joseph’s parents, Ian and Dawn, and for all those families who have similar experiences, and credit goes to all those who have campaigned so hard, for so long, to make the government listen.

"I sincerely hope that now we finally have sentencing that fits the crime we might start to see a reduction in deaths caused by dangerous driving. My hope is that more severe sentences might cause drivers to think twice before getting behind the wheel of a car with the intention to speed, race, or drive whilst intoxicated."