Drug driving: how has new legislation been working? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted September 6th, 2016 in dangerous driving, drug abuse, fines, medicines, news, sentencing, statistics by sally

‘In March 2015 new legislation was introduced to specifically tackle drug driving. Prior to that date it had been an offence to drive a vehicle whilst unfit to do so through drink or drugs and this offence remains. Whilst this offence still remains the prosecution would need to prove that driving was impaired. The new legislation made it an offence to drive with eight prescription medications above a prescribed limit and with eight illegal substances. In order to assist police in implementing this offence “drugalysers” were also introduced making it possible for police to test for cocaine and cannabis at the road side using a saliva test. The detection of all other substances requires a blood sample to be taken.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 5th September 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Drunk driver with ‘gun in lap’ in east London jailed – BBC News

Posted August 31st, 2016 in alcohol abuse, dangerous driving, disqualification, firearms, news, sentencing by sally

‘A drunk driver who fell asleep in traffic with a loaded gun resting on his lap has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 30th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Driver jailed for crashing car while inhaling laughing gas – The Guardian

Posted August 31st, 2016 in dangerous driving, disqualification, drug abuse, news, sentencing by sally

‘A motorist who crashed her car while inhaling a laughing gas balloon has been jailed for 20 months.’

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The Guardian, 30th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Wyton driver Danny Warby guilty over police officer crash death – BBC News

Posted August 5th, 2016 in dangerous driving, news by tracey

‘A lorry driver has been convicted over a crash he caused after opening a text message which resulted in the death of an off duty police officer.’

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BBC News, 4th August 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Motorist banned for driving at ‘staggering’ 154mph – The Guardian

Posted August 3rd, 2016 in dangerous driving, news, road traffic offences, sentencing, speed cameras by tracey

‘A driver clocked speeding at 154mph has been banned from the roads for 56 days, Suffolk police said.’

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The Guardian, 2nd August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man jailed over Oldham carjacking of woman, 78 – BBC News

‘A man has been jailed for 11 years after he stole an elderly woman’s car and ran her over with it.’

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BBC News, 19th July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Speeding driver jailed after smash threw woman out of bath – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2016 in dangerous driving, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A speeding motorist who drove his car straight through the wall of a house – throwing the tenant out of her bath – has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Drink and drug-drivers who cause fatal crashes should be charged with manslaughter and face life sentences, nine in 10 people think – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 11th, 2016 in alcohol abuse, dangerous driving, drug abuse, homicide, news by sally

‘Drink or drug-drivers who cause fatal crashes should be charged with manslaughter and should face life sentences in prison, nine in 10 people think.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th July 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Skip hire firm boss jailed for injuring 21 people when his Mercedes careered into charity ball marquee – Daily Telegraph

‘A wealthy businessman who drunkenly ploughed his new Mercedes into a marquee at a charity ball injuring 21 people has been jailed for more than a year.’

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Daily Telegraph, 10th June 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man jailed for 150mph car chase on A1 with girl, 3, in back seat – BBC News

‘A drug dealer who drove at speeds of up to 150mph with a three-year-old girl in his car during a police chase has been jailed for two years and eight months.’

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BBC News, 10th June 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

M4 fatal crash driver jailed after falling asleep at wheel – BBC News

‘A van driver who killed three passengers in a crash on the M4 after falling asleep at the wheel has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.’

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BBC News, 6th June 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Drug driving arrests soar to nearly 8,000 in England and Wales – The Independent

Posted June 2nd, 2016 in dangerous driving, drug abuse, drug offences, medicines, news, statistics by sally

‘As part of new legislation, police in England and Wales can use road-side tests to determine drug levels in dangerous drivers.’

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The Independent, 1st June 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge calls for elderly drivers review after woman, 80, mows down schoolgirls – Daily Telegraph

‘A judge has called on the Government to “urgently review” the law on elderly drivers as he spared jail for an 80-year-old motorist who mowed down eight schoolgirls.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st June 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Driver Andrew Nay jailed for paralysing sisters in road rage crash – BBC News

Posted May 27th, 2016 in dangerous driving, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A driving instructor who left two young sisters paralysed after a road rage crash in Northamptonshire has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.’

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BBC News, 27th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Death driver’s drug levels ‘highest police had seen’ – BBC News

Posted April 18th, 2016 in dangerous driving, drug abuse, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

‘A driver who had a “staggering amount” of drugs in his system when he killed a passenger in a car crash has been jailed for two years.’

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BBC News, 15th April 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dangerous drivers should not be allowed to choose trial by jury – The Guardian

Posted April 8th, 2016 in dangerous driving, judges, juries, news, trials by sally

‘It might seem an unlikely thing for a QC to advocate – but this is about justice: jurors are too ready to acquit drivers who cause death or injury to pedestrians and cyclists.’

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The Guardian, 8th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Clayton Williams convicted of PC Dave Phillips’s manslaughter – BBC News

‘A car thief has been found guilty of the manslaughter of a policeman by running him over in a stolen pick-up truck during a chase.’

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BBC News, 21st March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cerys Edwards death: CPS could press criminal charges against driver – The Guardian

Posted March 17th, 2016 in children, dangerous driving, news, personal injuries, prosecutions, sentencing by tracey

‘Prosecutor reviewing whether motorist should face new charges after girl dies nine years after crash left her paralysed.’

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The Guardian, 16th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Driver who used Bond-style smokescreen to escape police chase avoids jail – Daily Telegraph

‘A speeding driver who deployed a James Bond-style smokescreen device in a bid to shake off police has been spared jail.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17 February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Identical twin found ‘not guilty’ of charges after DNA tests unable to determine which brother committed crime – The Independent

Posted February 10th, 2016 in dangerous driving, DNA, evidence, news, offensive weapons by sally

‘A man has been cleared of two charges after prosecutors were unable to provide evidence to disprove claims his identical twin brother was the real offender.’

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The Independent, 9th February 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk