Number of drivers prosecuted for using a mobile phone at the wheel plummets amid ‘decline in traffic officers’ – The Independent

Posted February 12th, 2018 in news, police, prosecutions, road traffic offences, statistics, telecommunications by tracey

‘The number of people found guilty of using a mobile phone at the wheel has plummeted, prompting warnings from the RAC that a drop in traffic officers means fewer offenders are being caught.’

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The Independent, 11th February 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Drug-driving cases dropped over forensics – BBC News

‘Around 50 drug-driving prosecutions have been dropped because original test results may have been “manipulated”.’

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BBC News, 21st November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Killer drivers to receive life sentences in law change – BBC News

‘Drivers who kill someone in the most serious cases of dangerous and careless driving will now face life sentences.’

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BBC News, 15th October 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Petition started to change law over reporting of cat deaths on Britain’s roads – BBC News

Posted September 26th, 2017 in animals, news, road traffic offences, roads by sally

‘A woman has started a petition to make it the law to have to report the death of a cat on Britain’s roads.’

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BBC News, 25th September 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police chase laws to be reviewed amid fears officers are unable to tackle moped-riding criminals – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 26th, 2017 in careless driving, dangerous driving, motorcycles, news, police, road traffic offences by sally

‘Police chase laws are to be reviewed by the Government amid fears that officers are unable to effectively pursue and apprehend moped-riding criminals.’

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Daily Telegraph, 25th September 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mother-of-two jailed for leading police on 120mph car chase – Daily Telegraph

‘A speeding motorist has been jailed after leading police on a car chase where she exceeded 120mph, with the judge branding it as the worst case of dangerous driving he had ever seen.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th August 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Tougher speeding penalties for UK drivers welcomed by motoring groups – The Independent

Posted April 24th, 2017 in fines, magistrates, news, penalties, road traffic offences, sentencing by tracey

‘The introduction of tougher punishments for the most serious speeding offences has been welcomed by motoring groups.
Drivers caught at speeds excessively above legal limits face higher penalties in England and Wales from Monday.’

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The Independent, 24th April 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Changes to fine levels for speeding – Sentencing Council

Posted April 21st, 2017 in fines, press releases, road traffic offences, sentencing by tracey

‘New sentencing guidelines for magistrates come into force on 24 April 2017 following their publication earlier this year.’

Full press release

Sentencing Council, 20th April 2017

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Driver who threatened Jeremy Vine jailed as police say it should serve as a ‘warning’ to road rage drivers – Daily Telegraph

‘A driver who threatened BBC presenter Jeremy Vine has been jailed as police say it should serve as a “warning” to road rage drivers.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th April 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Road Traffic Liability: stick to your own side of the road … and that means cyclists too – Zenith PI Blog

Posted April 5th, 2017 in appeals, bicycles, negligence, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘One cold, dull January morning (at about 8am) C and a friend, R, were riding their bicycles on a single carriageway road. They were both overtaking a stationary line of traffic on their nearside. There was an area of the road which had flooded and C cycled onto the opposing carriageway in an attempt to avoid a large puddle. In doing so, he collided with D’s car travelling on the opposite side of road. R had managed to cycle through the puddle and avoided going onto the opposing carriageway.’

Full story

Zenith PI Blog, 4th April 2017

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Fewer prosecutions for death crash drivers – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2017 in charities, homicide, news, police, prosecutions, road traffic offences, statistics by sally

‘Prosecution and conviction rates for drivers who cause fatal road crashes are lower than they were five years ago, new figures show.’

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BBC News, 2nd April 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cosmetic practice owner who crashed her car while drunk spared ban after claiming she accidentally drank vodka and orange for breakfast – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 22nd, 2017 in alcohol abuse, magistrates, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘A cosmetic practice owner who crashed her car while drunk has been spared a driving ban after claiming she accidentally drank her son’s vodka and orange for breakfast.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st March 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

New drivers caught using phones to lose licence – BBC News

Posted March 1st, 2017 in news, penalties, road traffic offences, telecommunications by sally

‘Drivers caught using a phone within two years of passing their test will have their licence revoked under new rules in England, Scotland and Wales.’

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BBC News, 1st March 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Motorist with 62 penalty points legally allowed to drive – BBC News

Posted February 23rd, 2017 in disqualification, driving licences, news, recidivists, road traffic offences by sally

‘A driver who clocked up 62 points on his licence is still allowed to drive, the BBC has learned.’

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BBC News, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Untraced Drivers Agreement in force after 1st March 2017 – Park Square Barristers

‘If an injured person cannot identify the fault driver of another vehicle, this is the agreement which governs their rights to compensation. In many instances, this is because the accident was a classic “hit and run”; indeed the MIB have stated that 12% of accidents in which the accident was reported to the police and a person was injured were such “hit and run accidents”. (That statistic is not as significant as it would seem at first blush; the majority of relatively minor road traffic accidents are not reported to police; the reason that such accidents are reported is that the other vehicle has made off without stopping so to a certain extent it is a self-selecting criteria). No details of the fault vehicle or the driver tend to have been obtained or recorded so an injured person’s only option would be the Untraced Driver’s Agreement.’

Full story

Park Square Barristers, 8th February 2017

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Society challenges government’s ‘concern’ for road accident victims – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Plans to increase the small claims limit will create difficulties for road accident victims, the Law Society has warned, as the government begins considering more than 9,000 responses to its proposals for tougher punishment for dangerous drivers.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd February 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Worst speeding drivers to face harsher fines starting from 150pc of weekly income – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 24th, 2017 in fines, news, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

‘rivers responsible for the most serious speeding offences are set to face harsher penalties under new sentencing guidelines for magistrates.’

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Daily Telegraph, 24th January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sentencing changes may raise speeding fines but relax TV licence penalty – The Guardian

‘Motorists convicted of speeding will face higher fines related to their income while people who fail to pay their TV licences could avoid financial penalties in future, under new sentencing guidelines introduced for magistrates.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Thousands of drivers caught in mobile phone crackdown – BBC News

Posted January 23rd, 2017 in fines, news, police, road traffic offences, telecommunications by sally

‘Almost 8,000 drivers were caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel during a week-long crackdown by police.’

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BBC News, 23rd January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Beautician jailed for paying stranger £300 to take her speeding points after she revealed ploy on Facebook – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 6th, 2017 in guilty pleas, news, perjury, road traffic offences, sentencing by tracey

‘A beautician was jailed after she paid a stranger to take her speeding points and revealed the ploy on Facebook.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk