A driver has escaped losing his licence by claiming that without his car he would be unable to walk his dogs because the nearest park was one mile from his home.
Howard David McGill, aged 50, was clocked speeding in his Bentley. Points from the conviction would have resulted in disqualification under the totting up procedure reports the Northampton Chronicle. However, McGill kept his licence paying instead £120 in fines, £119 in prosecution costs and a surcharge to fund victim services.
Over 10,000 drivers continue to drive legally despite having accrued more than 12 penalty points. Every day, careless and dangerous drivers are stopped by the police and prosecuted by the CPS, but then treated so leniently by magistrates that they continue to offend – thereby causing further work for the police, not to mention a continuing peril to other road users. Drivers with 12 penalty points are ordinarily required by law to be disqualified for at least six months or more by the courts.
However, 10,000 drivers around Britain who are legally permitted to drive with 12 or more points on their licence. One driver, has racked up a total of 62 penalty points on his licence for speeding, but continues to escape a ban.
Sentences of disqualification from driving have collapsed by 62% in ten years, exceeding the drop in serious motoring offences recorded over the same period. Increasing numbers of people are being allowed to continue driving when they reach 12 points.
Streets no longer seen as safe for children
Little wonder that streets are no longer seen as safe for children to play in.
“We need to look at why we’ve created a society where it’s not seen as safe for children to play in their own streets because of motor vehicles, it’s not seen as safe to ride a bike – normal, enjoyable activity – because of the risk of motor vehicles injuring people, so we need to change that lens and look at the source of road danger rather than say ‘what did the victim do wrong'”
Stop Killing our Children examines how road danger damages us all, whatever our age and however we travel, and questions our collective blindness to both its cause and remedy.The 40-minute, crowdfunded film is narrated by the BBC’s John Simpson and features interviews with Chris Boardman, Dr Rachel Aldred, Dr Ian Walker, George Monbiot and the founders of the Stop de Kindermoord movement amongst others. Please help turn the tide against road danger. Please watch the full-length film below and share
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance, breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
Vincent Edwards
Perhaps he could sell his Bentley and buy a small hatchback. Cheaper to run and to insure. With the money saved he could pay a dog walker.
David Curran
Given the need to get the message to change sentencing laws accepted by the majority of MP’s, we all need to write to our local MP. There are, as the article states, currently 10,000 drivers on our roads who should have been banned. We can surely get 10 protests for each one of these motorists by supporting the campaign by Duncan Dollimore over at Cycling UK (cyclinguk.org – click on Campaigning / Take Action).
I have used this link to email my MP twice to date on this matter – please do join Duncan in his campaign to get this terrible injustice put right.
John Fletcher
It would be interesting to know if he and the magistrates shared a dodgy handshake…
David Beacham
The dog could get a longer walk and it would do them both good!
Maddie
A 50 year old man should be able to walk one mile to a park and back. If he can’t, he shouldn’t have dogs. The dogs would enjoy the extra exercise.
Anyway he should have thought of the consequences before he committed the crime! No other criminal can be let off because the punishment might impede their chosen lifestyle.
Tim Earl
Where can we all register our displeasure at this decision?
Anne Damerell
As the purpose of the excursion is exercise, he should walk to the park (carrying a dog poo bag).
Sarah Marsh
I am sure the dogs would appreciate the extra mileage. He could get more exercise