Harsher penalties for negligent driving causing death or serious injury

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
Trisha Mabley
10 Ann Street
EAST BUNDABERG QLD 4670
Total Signatures - 4,015
Sponsoring Member: Stephen Bennett MP
Posting Date: 20/9/2017
Closing Date: 19/3/2018
Tabled Date: 20/3/2018
Responded By: Hon Mark Bailey MP on 19/4/2018
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House that a legislative gap exists between the Queensland Criminal Code offence of Dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (TORUM) charge of Careless driving.  This is the observation by Coroner David O'Connell, who, following an Inquest into the death of Audrey Anne Dow, noted that Queensland, unlike some other Australian jurisdictions, has no charge of negligent driving causing death.  Therefore the Coroner handed down recommendations to amend the law by introducing a new mid-range driving offence between the existing Criminal Code S.328a Dangerous Driving Offence, and the TORUM s.83 driving without due care and attention offence, to include a circumstance of aggravation for offending drivers who cause death or grievous bodily harm. To date, these recommendations have been ignored by the State Government.

 

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to immediately implement 'Walkers Law' to ensure harsher penalties apply for negligent driving causing death or grievous bodily harm, bringing Queensland law into line with other interstate laws. This would enhance road safety by ensuring the penalties for certain driving offences more appropriately reflect the seriousness of those offences.