Behind the Headlines – Sentencing After Fatal Crashes

PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS WARNS THAT JUSTICE SYSTEM IS FAILING FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED IN ROAD CRASHES

Report recommends that all cases of causing death by driving are tried in the Crown Court

MPs call for greater use of lifetime driving bans, with repeat offenders electronically tagged

Group seeks change in law to give police powers to act against drivers touching a phone at the wheel, even in a cradle

London, 20th October 2025 

A new joint report published today by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety (APPGTS) warns that the justice system’s response to fatal road crashes is failing bereaved families and outlines some key recommendations aimed at improving outcomes and road safety. 

The report comes as the Government is urged to provide detail of its upcoming Road Safety Strategy, the first in over ten years. Every death on the road is a tragedy and should be taken seriously, both to ensure that the families and friends of victims feel that justice is done, and to learn lessons to improve road safety for the future. This report represents an important initial step in increasing understanding and transparency of the criminal justice process following road deaths. 

The inquiry, ‘Behind the Headlines: Sentencing After Fatal Crashes’, examined over 200 cases across England and Wales and found that while sentencing guidelines are generally followed, potential inconsistencies in charging decisions and court practices mean that some dangerous drivers are not being held properly to account for their actions. 

Key Findings

Charging inconsistencies: 

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is at times failing to bring the most appropriate charge.

Delays in justice: 

Some cases take years to reach court, compounding the trauma for bereaved families and undermining public trust.

Driving bans underused: 

Lifetime disqualifications are extremely rare, even for repeat offenders who pose an ongoing threat to the public.

Key Recommendations

The APPG calls for urgent action from government and the justice system, including:

  • Redefining “dangerous” and “careless” driving to close legal grey areas.
  • Ensuring all cases of causing death by driving are tried in the Crown Court. 
  • Greater use of lifetime driving bans for repeat and high-risk offenders.
  • Stronger licensing requirements for young drivers to prevent avoidable tragedies.
  • Amending the law to give police powers to act against drivers touching a phone at the wheel, even in a cradle.
  • Resourcing Serious Collision Investigation Units to reduce unacceptable delays.

Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling & Walking said: 

“If someone has taken a life through dangerous driving, we have to ask: why should they ever be allowed to drive again? Too many repeat offenders show open contempt for the punishments handed down by our courts and yet we still hand the keys back.

‘’It’s time we treated driving as the privilege it is, not a right without consequence. Lifetime bans and electronic tagging should be on the table to protect the public and make sure those who have already proved they can’t be trusted behind the wheel play by the rules.”

Andy Macnae MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Transport Safety said:

“Every road death represents a devastating loss, and yet our justice system too often compounds that tragedy with delays, lenient outcomes, and a failure to hold dangerous drivers fully to account.

This report shines a light on the urgent need for reform. It’s unacceptable that drivers who take lives through recklessness are allowed back on the roads while grieving families are left without a sense of justice.”

Sally Moore, joint head of the personal injury department at law firm, Leigh Day said: 

“Every fatal crash is devastating, and this report highlights the need for sentencing which reflects the seriousness of these tragedies and makes roads safer for everyone. 

“We know from our work with bereaved families and victims of serious collisions that justice must go beyond punishment and offer recognition and deterrence. To achieve this, it is vital that victims are heard throughout the legal process, and that whichever police force they speak to, they are met with consistent and compassionate communication. 

“We hope this report marks a vital step toward meaningful change.”

A RoadPeace representative, from the national charity for road crash victims, said:

“Every day we hear from families whose lives have been shattered by dangerous drivers — and who then face a justice system that too often fails to recognise the gravity of what’s happened. Losing a loved one in a road crash is not an ‘accident’; it’s a life taken, and the response should reflect that.

We welcome this report’s call for reform. Families deserve a process that delivers real accountability and lasting change. Stronger sentencing, lifetime driving bans for repeat offenders, and consistent investigation standards would not only deliver justice, but also help prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak.”

To download a PDF copy of the report, please click here. Plain text versions are available upon request.