Hit-and-run victim's family calls for tougher sentencing

This appalling case is not the first involving a hit-and-run driver where the more serious charge of manslaughter looks to be more appropriate as the initial charge. If it can be demonstrated that any delay in notifying the emergency services had a significant impact on the victim's chances of survival.

Killing someone while drive while above drink limit should automatically result in maximum sentence and don't understand while it should be any penitence against that person. 

Having said that I really struggle to understand how traffic laws are enforced in the UK. I didn't take the driving  licence in the uk and I have 20 year of driving experience, I commute mainly by bicycle (5000km per year between commuting and weekend rides) and motor bike. I consider  myself a careful and competent driver I even take my soon to school on a motor bike (5 min on residential road). My  driving record was immaculate until I was sent on a driving awareness course (instead of going to court risking 3  to 9 points.) for riding my bike "without due care and attention".  The  alleged offence  was to stop at a traffic light on a marked area (not a bike box) Another guy I know (a respected professional family man with kids) also got three points on the licence for driving his scooter "without due care and attention" allegedly for failing to visibly slowing down when passing a green light. Another  guy attending the driving course with me was there for  having one of the tyres semi deflated. He claimed that he just had  small puncture and as the tyre was deflating slowly he didn't notice. I am inclined to believe it but again for the law "driving without due care and attention!

I am not arguing with the law but it seems that on paper me my friend and the lady in the article are all on the same level. I am sorry but I don't feel this is he case.

It seems that minor and more serious offences are all mixed up in the same pot with no differentiation. For a Instance even talking on a mobile phone is drive without due care and attention while in my view this is a very serious offence. Passing a cyclist dangerously close is not an offence while it could be a deadly manoeuvre!

In my country leaving some one to die on the road (even if you were not responsible for he accident) it is a penal offense and you do time in jail. Talk on the phone  and they take your license away. Drink and drive  and they take the license away. 

Here it seems there is this catch it all definition which cover the most minor offenses till the most  serious. The problem is that this diverts resources from more serious problems on the road.

Oh my god! She set up a petition, to blame the poor man she killed, when she was drink driving???! Fucking idiot, excuse my french! And so utterly heartless.

There's not a lot of point requiring drivers to carry mandatory insurance if they can drive away from the scene of a collision with relative impunity.

the rates of "running" after a hit and run are, I believe, quite a bit higher here in the UK than in many more civilised parts of the world.  The Swiss, for example, wouldn't dream of doing it.

A 14 year sentence seems like a very long time to me, and would be an enormously significant deterrent.  Not lax at all.

She won't get that long though, having pleaded guilty.  But if she is currently being remanded in custody, then a substantial prison sentence seems almost inevitable.

It isn't the lax prison sentencing that is the problem in my view. I am doubtful that this actually makes much difference, beyond a certain point. It is the lax driving ban that is the problem. I would wager my mortgage on this driver NOT getting a lifetime ban - I can't think of a single case where a killer driver has actually been given a lifetime driving ban. The review should focus on the pitifully short  driving bans, and the way this reinforces that driving is a right and not a privilege.

That will be this lady then https://www.change.org/p/public-make-it-law-for-a-cyclist-to-wear-a-helmet

Disgraceful

Dear Laura Laker - I don't wish to seem pedantic, but the article appears to say that the Kia was being driven by a woman who was herself being driven by Maria Sutton. I'm sure that wasn't the case.  

So so sorry to hear this, sure I speak for all on passing sincerest condolences to family, friends and the wider community in general.

As ever we can only pray that yet another senseless loss can be given some value by urgent judicial review and the introduction  of a punishment that becomes deterrant for those around us who refuse to behave.

Second degree murder, what possible good was ever going to come by operating such a vicious machine whilst intoxicated. No excuses where lives are taken or destroyed.

Petition signed of course, shame on government yet again.