Nearly 630 drivers dodge jail in last five years despite being found criminally responsible for death crashes
An average of ten a month are given community service orders, suspended sentences or fines instead of being sent to prison for triggering killer car crashes.
By MATTHEW DAVIS
Published: 22:00 GMT, 10 January 2026 | Updated: 01:43 GMT, 11 January 2026
Nearly 630 killer drivers have avoided jail in the past five years despite being found criminally responsible for fatal crashes.
An average of ten a month are given community service orders, suspended sentences or fines instead of being sent to prison for triggering killer car crashes.
The latest Ministry of Justice figures show the proportion of motorists being sent to prison for causing death by careless driving has fallen to just 25 per cent.
Yet Glenn and Rebecca Youens persuaded the Government to increase jail sentences for danger drivers after their daughter Violet-Grace, four, was killed in 2017 by a driver in a stolen car doing 80mph in a 20mph zone in St Helens, Merseyside.
The driver was jailed for nine years. But he was freed on licence halfway through his sentence.
Mr Youens said: ‘If you are driving unacceptably it is as dangerous as somebody who has gone out with a knife or a gun. If you kill somebody with a car in those circumstances it should be the equivalent of taking somebody’s life with a weapon.’
Mrs Youens said: ‘Why should these killers get a second chance at life? My girl didn’t even get a first chance.’
From 2020 to 2024, 1,731 drivers were sentenced for causing fatal car crashes. Of those, 1,102 were jailed while 417 got suspended sentences.
Violet Grace, aged 4, died in hospital at the end of March 2017 in her mothers arms when she was killed by a motorist driving at more than 80mph in a 20mph zone
Aidan McAteer pleaded guilty to causing the death of Violet-Grace Youens by dangerous driving - he was jailed for nine years but he was freed on licence halfway through his sentence
Two more avoided an immediate jail sentence. A further seven had absolute or conditional discharges, 16 were fined and 187 were ordered to do community service.
For the more serious offence of death by dangerous driving, around 95 per cent of convicted motorists are sent to prison.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘While independent judges decide sentences, we are making sure the courts have the sentencing powers to ensure punishments fit the severity of the crime.’
The Government recently changed the law so that those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving could face a life sentence.