A GROUP campaigning for better safety measures on the A34 has backed moves to hand killer drivers longer sentences.
The Oxford Mail’s Drive for Justice campaign is supporting Government proposals that could see those convicted of death by dangerous driving jailed for life.
In recent months there have been a number of high profile crashes on the A34, including when lorry driver Tomasz Kroker killed four members of one family near East Ilsley.
Kroker was later jailed for 10 years.
Cathryn Millward (pictured) of the A34 Action Group said tougher sentences were a move in the right direction.
She said: “If people kill through poor driving, then yes they should get longer in jail.
“There should absolutely be tougher sentences.”
But she added that longer jail terms would only act as a deterrent if they went alongside better enforcement and safety measures.
She said: “There is no way of catching bad drivers on the A34, there are very few speed cameras.
“The Government needs to put money into things such as average speed cameras as a way of slowing people down.”
Last weekend the Government announced a consultation on bringing the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving into line with manslaughter.
This would increase it to life from 14 years, and could also apply to those convicted of death by careless driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs.
A new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving could also be created.
- To have your say visit consult.justice.gov.uk.
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