At 9.30pm on Friday 12th August 2016 my cousin, Maria Smith, 48 years old and the mother of three young daughters, was killed in a sudden, brutal and devastating manner in a hit and run car crash together with her long term partner, Richard Lewis-Clements. The driver of the other car was speeding at twice the speed limit, was drunk, and was 16 times over the legal limit for drugs. His car smashed into theirs at such a speed that their car was almost crushed into half its size. He ran away from the scene of the crash, unharmed.

Less than three weeks later the driver of the car received two 6 year sentences, to be served concurrently. With good behaviour he is likely to be a free man in 3 years. He also received an 8 year driving ban. The maximum sentence is 14 years but the sentencing guidelines are so prescriptive that between 2004 and 2012* not one single person received the maximum sentence.

This is not good enough. Not because we want the driver to suffer. Not because we want revenge. We simply want an end to drivers being given free reign to drive like maniacs on our roads without consequences. If three years in jail is the most a driver who kills receives, what deterrents can there possibly be for people caught speeding or drink driving?

We therefore request the Secretary of State for Justice, Elizabeth Truss MP and the government to,

1. Introduce permanent lifetime bans for all drivers convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. No driver who kills through such negligence should ever have the opportunity to be behind the wheel of a car again.

2. Review the sentencing guidelines to ensure that judges have the power to impose the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving where they see fit, and amend sentence limits to match those of manslaughter.  The general public cannot see any clear reason why this crime should be treated any differently from manslaughter charges.

3. Introduce stronger penalties for other driving offences such as careless driving, dangerous driving, significant speeding, drink driving, and driving under the influence of drugs. These should include lifetime driving bans and longer prison terms for repeat offenders.  

Without stronger deterrents we will never see a significant decrease in the number of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads through dangerous and careless driving. Why wait until people kill before we take action?

Please sign our petition to make this happen.

The family and friends of Maria Smith and Richard Lewis-Clements.

Thank you. 

 *pending updated figures from the Ministry of Justice.