Driving law changes to introduce 'stronger sentences and lifetime bans' for motorists gains mass support

The report warns that the justice system's response to fatal road accidents is "failing" bereaved families, and was published ahead of Labour's planned Road Safety Strategy.

One of the key findings outlined by the report is that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) can fail to bring the most appropriate charges in certain circumstances.

It also found that some accidents which lead to a fatality can be delayed when reaching court, prolonging the grief suffered by families of those impacted.

Concerningly, the report - entitled "Behind the Headlines: Sentencing After Fatal Crashes" - found that lifestime disqualifications are "extremely rare", despite some motorists repeatedly committing crimes.

The Chair of the APPGCW, Fabian Hamilton MP, said driving should be treated as a privilege, rather than a right, with support for lifetime bans and electronic tagging.

The Labour MP for Leeds North East added: "If someone has taken a life through dangerous driving, we have to ask: why should they ever be allowed to drive again?

"Too many repeat offenders show open contempt for the punishments handed down by our courts and yet we still hand the keys back."

The report also set out several key recommendations demanding action from the Government and the justice system to tackle the scourge of reckless motorists on the road.

This includes ensuring that all cases of causing death by driving are tried in Crown Court, as well as redefining "dangerous" and "careless" to close legal grey areas.

The APPGCW and the APPGTS are calling for lifetime bans to be used more often, especially for repeat and high-risk offenders.

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Andy MacNae MP, Chair of the APPGTS, echoed Mr Hamilton's calls, adding that delays, lenient outcomes and "a failure to hold dangerous drivers fully to account" was having a severely negative impact on families.

"This report shines a light on the urgent need for reform. It’s unacceptable that drivers who take lives through recklessness are allowed back on the roads while grieving families are left without a sense of justice," the Labour MP for Rossendale and Darwen said.

Another suggestion included in the report was for tougher licensing requirements for younger drivers, which have been popularised as "Graduated Driving Licences".

The GDL places limitations on drivers who have recently passed their tests to emphasise the importance of road safety, and has seen support for the measures grow significantly in recent years.

Potential restrictions include a ban on same-age passengers for the first two years of having a licence, a zero tolerance drink-drive limit and a nighttime driving curfew.

While the Government has rejected any calls for a GDL system to be introduced in the UK, road safety organisations continue to highlight the benefits and the widespread use of the measure around the world.

A spokesperson for RoadPeace added: "Stronger sentencing, lifetime driving bans for repeat offenders, and consistent investigation standards would not only deliver justice, but also help prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak."

The new Road Safety Strategy is expected to be released within the coming months and will be the first Government-led strategy in more than 10 years.