Mark Hunter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average (a) fine and (b) custodial sentence was for convictions for motor offences which resulted in (i) injury and (ii) death in the last 10 years. [320162]
Claire Ward:
The available information is provided in the following table.
Average fine and average sentence length for motor offences which resulted in death, 1998 to 2008
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
404
Causing death by dangerous driving( 1)
Total fined
9
6
4
4
6
1
3
1
2
3
3
Average fine (£)
620.0
1958.3
425.0
562.5
750.0
1200.0
3833.3
300.0
625.0
1250.0
1133.3
Total given immediate custody(4)
169
136
166
193
199
217
221
238
210
214
206
ACSL
38.0
34.3
37.1
39.0
39.2
43.0
44.4
44.8
43.7
44.1
48.8
Total sentenced
203
173
193
226
228
233
241
254
223
233
221
406
Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs
Total fined
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
Average fine (£)
200.0
-
-
500.0
-
-
-
1000.0
-
1500.0
-
Total given immediate custody
58
45
49
48
61
58
59
62
64
65
45
ACSL
37.1
41.7
38.3
43.4
40.9
44.0
43.4
42.4
40.8
39.2
46.6
Total sentenced
63
46
53
51
66
60
62
66
65
67
46
408
Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving( 5)
Total fined
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
Average fine (£)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
875.0
Total given immediate custody
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
ACSL
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
Total sentenced
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
5 Mar 2010 : Column 1459W
5 Mar 2010 : Column 1460W
409
Causing death by driving - unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers( 6)
Total fined
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
Average fine (£)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
Total given immediate custody
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
ACSL
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
Total sentenced
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
804
Causing bodily harm by furious driving( 2)
Total fined
3
0
2
0
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
Average fine (£)
650.0
-
400.0
-
250.0
375.0
-
250.0
-
-
-
Total given immediate custody
1
6
5
4
8
5
7
2
4
0
4
ACSL
6.0
7.5
11.6
11.5
8.7
14.4
11.5
11.0
9.5
-
11.2
Total sentenced
9
11
12
7
13
11
13
8
7
5
11
3701
Aggravated taking where, owing to the driving of the vehicle, an accident occurs causing the death of any person( 3)
Total fined
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Average fine (£)
-
-
250.0
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total given immediate custody
12
3
8
8
8
11
8
8
6
8
4
ACSL
36.6
34.9
36.5
39.0
38.3
42.0
42.7
43.5
42.1
42.1
47.5
Total sentenced
19
7
11
11
11
14
11
23
11
18
4
(1) Road Traffic Act 1988. (2) Offences against the Person Act 1861. (3) Theft Act 1968 as added by Aggravated Vehicle-Taking Act 1992. (4) Excludes life and indeterminate sentences. (5) 408 Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving, (Road Traffic Act 1988 s.2B was added by the Road Safety Act 2006) commenced in August 2008. (6) 409 Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers, (Road Traffic Act 1988 S.3ZB was added by the Road Safety Act 2006) commenced in August 2008. Note:
1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
2. These data have been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. These data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.
