Dangerous Driving, Deterrence, Disqualification and a missed opportunity to address Destructive Behaviour: the new Sentencing Guidelines for Motoring Offences

Abstract

[Opening paragraph] On 28 June 2022, sections 86 and 87 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 came intoforce, raising the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving (CDDD)1 and causingdeath by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs (CDCDUI)2 from 14 years to lifeimprisonment, and creating a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving.3 This changefollowed years of campaigning from victim and road safety groups and was welcomed by them, butinitially caused some problems in the Crown Court given that existing guidelines4 provided guidancebased on the previous maximum.5  On 15 June 2023 the Sentencing Council published its newguideline, on which it had consulted up until October 2022, and it came into effect on 1 July 2023.</p