12:27pm Thursday 7th December 2006
The grieving families of Halesowen youngsters killed tragically on the roads have welcomed new legislation which they hope will bring justice for future victims.
The Road Safety Act has created a new offence of Causing Death by Careless Driving which campaigners hope will lead to motorists who kill being jailed.
Protestors say many have gone unpunished because the offence of death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum sentence of 14-years, is difficult to prove.
The majority of drivers who cause fatal crashes are charged with Careless Driving, which does not take into account the fact someone died, and only carries a fine, leaving families feeling cheated of justice.
Norman Neal, from Cradley Heath, whose 20-year-old son Sam was left for dead in a hit and run smash, by a driver who was fined £7,500 and banned from driving for two years, welcomed the new legislation.
He said: "It should have an impact on drivers who kill as a result of careless driving.
"It helps fill a gap in the law where if there wasn't enough evidence for an offence of dangerous driving the prosecution had to go with careless driving, which was never linked with the causation of death.
"I am cautiously waiting for a few outcomes of cases "It's a step in the right direction and I hope it will act as a deterrent to dangerous drivers to prevent future tragedies."
Halesowen youngster Lucy Mills, aged 18, was mowed down on the A456 by a driver who was banned from driving for a year and fined £750 after he admitted careless driving. Lucy's grandmother Beth was pleased the new act had come into effect.
She said: "It's been a long time coming. I hope it means families will get justice - there's been so many cases and there's no justice done. In a tiny little way it does help if you think justice has been done."
Sylvia Heal MP, who worked to get the legislation, said: "It was the tragic deaths of Sam Neal and Lucy Mills that spurred me to look into this issue.
"It is crucial laws are passed to prevent the sad and tragic experiences all too many people have suffered in Halesowen and Rowley Regis.
"The Road Safety Act 2006 will, I believe, be seen as a turning point in traffic safety and justice for victims of road accidents and their families. "
The Act, in effect now, contains a raft of new measures to reduce casualties on the road by tackling bad driving and clamping down on the menace of uninsured and irresponsible driving.
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