Driverless cars – the top 10 legal issues – Technology Law Update

Posted December 9th, 2014 in data protection, insurance, news, road safety, road traffic, road traffic offences by sally

‘The UK government’s announcement last week of the results of its competition for driverless car testing is an exciting development. We expect an announcement of the results of a review of the regulatory regime to follow shortly. As we wait for these results, we identify the top ten areas where we think the law will need to be updated to allow this important technology to move forward.’

Full story

Technology Law Update, 8th December 2014

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

‘Dog sat on my accelerator’ speeding driver is jailed – BBC News

‘A driver who claimed his excessive speed during a police chase was due to his dog sitting on the accelerator pedal has been jailed for 13 months.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Secret trial: Erol Incedal claims he was plotting robbery not terror attack – Daily Telegraph

‘The law student denies terrorism offences, saying he had contemplated committing an armed robbery or buying heroin or a gun instead’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

A1(M) wrong-way police car collision driver jailed – BBC News

Posted November 3rd, 2014 in dangerous driving, news, police, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

‘A motorist who drove for eight miles in the wrong direction on the A1(M) motorway before colliding with a police car has been jailed.’

Full story

BBC News, 31st October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chris Huhne loses legal costs appeal – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2014 in appeals, costs, news, perverting the course of justice, road traffic offences by sally

‘Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne has lost a challenge against an order that he must pay £77,750 costs from his prosecution for passing speeding points to his ex-wife.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chris Huhne challenges court costs for points case – BBC News

Posted October 28th, 2014 in costs, news, road traffic offences, trials by sally

‘Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne is challenging a court order for £77,750 in costs relating to his prosecution for passing speeding points to his former wife.’

Full story

BBC News, 28th October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pop-up courts for speeding fine cases – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 27th, 2014 in courts, criminal justice, fines, magistrates, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘Ministers are considering introducing “pop up” courts for people who challenge speeding fines to be held in their own communities.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Minibus driver jailed for five years for cyclist’s death – BBC News

Posted August 29th, 2014 in dangerous driving, homicide, news, road traffic offences, sentencing by tracey

‘A minibus driver has been jailed for five years for killing a cyclist, whom he hit while looking at photographs on his mobile phone.’

Full story

BBC News, 28th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The 13 obscure UK laws you didn’t know you were breaking – The Independent

‘Forget the urban myths about dying in Westminster or eating mince pies on Christmas Day: these are real rules you could be breaking without even realising it’

Full story

The Independent, 26th August 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bite Size RTA Case Law Update – Zenith Chambers

Posted August 7th, 2014 in accidents, duty of care, negligence, news, road safety, road traffic offences by sally

‘Road traffic accidents are notoriously fact specific, but looking at those cases which go to trial can be helpful in terms of understanding what judges think is important. Here I look at three very different recent cases. In Jade Christian v. South East London & Kent Bus Co.the court reiterated that appellate courts have to exercise the greatest restraint before overturning findings of fact made at first instance. In Gray v. Botwright the Court of Appeal went against the general principle that drivers are entitled to assume that no traffic will be crossing against a red light. In Gupta v. Armstrong & Anor a coach driver who was carefully executing a manoeuvre and failed to see a pedestrian who was trying to flag him down to board was not found to have been negligent to any degree.’

Full story (PDF)

Zenith Chambers, 22nd July 2014

Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk

How many people will get £10,000 fines for speeding? – The Guardian

Posted June 16th, 2014 in fines, news, road traffic offences, sentencing, statistics by sally

‘The maximum financial penalty that magistrates courts can impose has been increased fourfold, although the data shows that only a few will have to pay much more.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Magistrate court fines ‘may rise 300%’ under new plans – BBC News

Posted June 10th, 2014 in fines, magistrates, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘Maximum fines imposed by magistrates are set to rise dramatically under new proposals for England and Wales.’

Full story

BBC News, 10th June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police photograph motorists capturing images of crash scene on their mobiles – The Independent

Posted May 19th, 2014 in accidents, news, photography, prosecutions, road traffic offences by sally

‘Motorists who use their mobile phones to take photographs of crash scenes while driving could face prosecution, police have said.’

Full story

The Independent, 18th May 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ex-minister Chris Huhne ordered to pay £77,750 in legal costs – BBC News

‘Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne has been ordered to pay £77,750 in legal costs relating to his prosecution for passing speeding points to his ex-wife.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tougher sentences for banned drivers who cause deaths – BBC News

‘Tougher sentences for banned drivers who cause death on the roads and a new offence of causing serious injury while disqualified are to be introduced.’

Full story

BBC News, 6th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cox (Appellant) v Ergo Versicherung AG (formerly known as Victoria) (Respondent) – Supreme Court

Cox (Appellant) v Ergo Versicherung AG (formerly known as Victoria) (Respondent) [2014] UKSC 22 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 2nd April 2014

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

Drug driving limits announced – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 28th, 2014 in drug abuse, drug offences, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘Legal limits to prevent drug driving have been set out for the first time by ministers in new laws which will come into force this autumn’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Constance Briscoe faces retrial over alleged lying in Chris Huhne case – The Guardian

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in news, perverting the course of justice, retrials, road traffic offences by tracey

‘Jury fails to reach verdict after three-week trial of part-time judge accused of perverting course of justice in speeding points case.’

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Castle v Crown Prosecution Service – WLR Daily

Posted January 30th, 2014 in law reports, road traffic offences, ultra vires by sally

Castle v Crown Prosecution Service [2014] WLR (D) 33

‘A traffic order permitting the imposition of variable speed limits, which had been signed by an employee of the Highways Agency acting as the alter ego of the Secretary of State, was not ultra vires section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.’

WLR Daily, 24th January 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Sheppey crossing crash drivers offered alertness course – BBC News

Posted January 20th, 2014 in accidents, news, prosecutions, road safety, road traffic offences by sally

‘Drivers who would have been prosecuted over the Sheppey crossing crash that injured more than 200 people are being offered a course instead, police said.’

Full story

BBC News, 20th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk