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We want to hear your views about our prosecution policy and so we conduct consultations to help inform our policy making.

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Driving offences involving death

The main types of driving offences involving fatalities are 'dangerous' driving and 'careless or inconsiderate' driving. The driver's behaviour is what is important, not what the driver believes. Someone may be committing a dangerous driving offence even though they believe they are driving safely.

Find out more about driving offences involving death

Home » News Centre » Press Releases » CPS seeks views on road traffic prosecutions

CPS seeks views on road traffic prosecutions

13/12/2006

The Crown Prosecution Service today launched a public consultation on road traffic offences, seeking views on how offences are prosecuted and the service it offers to victims and witnesses.

Ken Macdonald QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "For most people driving is an everyday activity but a moment of bad, inconsiderate or dangerous driving can have a devastating affect on peoples lives. The way bad driving is dealt with is a matter of great public concern and I am determined to ensure that we offer the best possible service."

Legislation governs the charges open to the CPS for road traffic offences. Within the parameters laid down by Parliament, there are areas where CPS policy can have a clear effect on the way cases are dealt with. The areas on which the CPS is consulting include:

  • What sort of behaviour or actions by drivers should constitute dangerous driving and what should constitute careless driving?
  • What information do victims and victims' families want and when do they want this?
  • How should cases involving the death of a family member or close friend be prosecuted?

Mr Macdonald added: "We apply the law to a wide variety of cases, each of which has its own specific and sometimes tragic circumstances. Incidents can involve a wide variety of people and situations and it is our role to assess the entire incident and apply the law.

"I want this consultation to open up our practices and procedures and to explain how and why we make decisions. Within the legal framework in which we operate I want to ensure that the service we offer takes account of public attitudes and that people have a fuller understanding of, and confidence in, our decisions."

  1. For further details, or a copy of the CPS Bad Driving Consultation, please contact CPS Press Office on 020 7796 8079.
  2. Prosecuting bad driving - A consultation on CPS Prosecution Policy and Practice is available on this website.