Disjointed law allows dangerous drivers back on the road immediately after prison release – Murphy

Dangerous drivers who serve prison time for motoring offences should not be allowed drive again immediately after their jail release, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Michael Murphy said jailed motoring offenders should serve driving bans after they are released from prison. Currently, driving bans are served while the offender is behind bars.

The Tipperary South TD wants the legislation changed to ensure driving bans imposed by our courts only come into force when the offender is released from prison.

Deputy Murphy, who is Chairperson of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, said there is an immediate need for a review of the legislation which allows driving disqualifications to run concurrently with custodial sentences. He also says that the maximum penalty for people convicted of dangerous driving causing death must be increased.

“A person who has been convicted of a serious driving offence can receive both a prison sentence and a driving ban. But as the law stands, the driving disqualification becomes active as the prison sentence begins. This means that while the person is serving their prison sentence, their driving ban is active. They aren’t driving while locked up in Mountjoy or Portlaoise so the ban is redundant.

“In reality, once a person has completed their prison sentence, their driving ban may have run its course, meaning that person is free to get behind the wheel of a car as soon as they exit the prison gates.

“Prison is a punishment for the offence committed, while a driving disqualification is a road safety measure designed to protect the public. There is a strong argument that these should not automatically run concurrently in serious cases,” he pointed out.

“Alongside this, there is a need to review custodial sentences handed down to dangerous drivers whose actions result in the death of a person or persons. Currently, anyone convicted of this dreadful act will only serve a maximum of 10 years in prison. In the Nort, the maximum sentence is 14 years. We need to align more closely what that.”

Deputy Murphy has raised these matters with Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Seán Canney, who has indicated that the Road Traffic Act will be reviewed with appropriate changes made.

“This is ultimately about public safety and maintaining public confidence in our road traffic laws. Proper penalties must operate in a way that is both effective and understandable to the public,” concluded Deputy Murphy.