Campaigning work by the Peterborough Evening Telegraph may be followed by a change in the law.

The paper joined the protests after a man responsible for a road accident, in which Stuart Herd (33) died, walked away from court with a £500 fine and a 12-month driving ban.

Now the Telegraph has learned that a new approach to motoring laws is at the centre of proposed reforms.

This would mean an offence would be judged not only on the quality of the driving at the time, but also its consequences.

The death of Mr Herd in 1997, and the subsequent court case, prompted the Evening Telegraph to expose how the law was allowing motorists who caused fatal accidents to walk free from court, after being charged only with careless driving.

The Telegraph received glowing praise from city MP Helen Brinton. She said: "The Evening Telegraph has waged a fantastic campaign and has stuck with it all the way.

"The paper has campaigned locally and nationally alongside the families of road crash victims and with members of other political parties."

As the news of the law review was revealed this week, the Telegraph told its readers: "The Crown Prosecution Service can only choose between driving without due care and attention or the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving, which is often difficult to prove in court.

"Prosecutors usually opted for careless driving because it was easier to secure a conviction.

"The Evening Telegraph wanted to see a new law with the flexibility to allow punishment of drivers who had been clearly negligent, but also allowed judges to take account truly tragic or unavoidable circumstances.

"We supported the Law Commission's suggestion that a charge of involuntary manslaughter be introduced.

"Following pressure from The Evening Telegraph, campaign group Roadpeace, and the families of road crash victims, the Government is about to take action."

Ministers and civil servants will publish a consultation paper in the next few weeks, which is expected to include an offence such as causing death by careless driving or vehicular manslaughter.

An official announcement is not expected until October.

Back to the campaigns index

Do you have a story for us?
Ring the HoldTheFrontPage newsdesk on
01332 291111 x6022, or e-mail us now