OTcwZjFlMmVjZjE5ZWQzMGRmZDYxMmU4ZjhjMjhkMjUyNjMxOGU5NWVmMDZm Punishment for a Death by Dangerous Driving charge. If you believe Wordfence should be allowing you access to this site, please let them know using the steps below so they can investigate why this is happening. where the theft of equipment causes serious disruption to a victims life or business), A greater degree of provocation than normally expected, Youth or age, where it affects the responsibility of the individual defendant, The fact that the offender played only a minor role in the offence. NGM2NTkzZDkxZTAzMGZhZjc3NjIzMGViMWIxNmI0Nzc5ZmU5MTc2NDQ3Yzkw The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Most read in UK. Death by dangerous driving is a very serious offence that can result in a fourteen-year custodial sentence according to the death by dangerous driving sentencing guidelines. The court should consider the time gap since the previous conviction and the reason for it. Prosecutor Gavin Doig, said it was around 4.35pm on Sunday June 20 that Owens was driving his Ford Mondeo on Sulgrave Road, Washington, with 29-year-old Dean in the passenger seat wearing a seat . The Road Traffic Act 1988 defines causing death by dangerous driving as: 'A person who causes death of another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place is guilty of an offence.' MzZkOWNmN2YzNmYwODY1YjZkNTk1MzkwM2FkY2IwYThkN2Q3YzRmZGY1MjAz OGZjNGVhNjlmY2RmNjRkNzE1OTJlZTgzNjYxNjlkZDVhNWExMjAyMjFjNGFm The law exists to protect the public from drivers who put others at risk and so it is an extremely serious offence. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. driving a stolen vehicle, Whether the offender was a close friend or relative of the victim, The circumstances and history of the offender such as any previous convictions and their character, If you are cautioned, charged or being investigated for a death by driving offence or being asked to. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. If a lawyer doesnt want to tell you about their track record or hasnt defended clients in similar situations then it is best to look elsewhere. However, any evidence to show that an offender has previously been an exemplary driver, for example having driven an ambulance, police vehicle, bus, taxi or similar vehicle conscientiously and without incident for many years, is a fact that the courts may well wish to take into account by way of personal mitigation. Allocation, offences taken into consideration and totality, Fraud, bribery and money laundering offences, General guideline and expanded explanations in sentencing guidelines, Health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences, Imposition of community and custodial sentences, Miscellaneous amendments to sentencing guidelines, Offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders or neurological impairments, Disposals for offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders or neurological impairments, Types of sentences for children and young people, Definitive guidelines archive of print editions, General guideline: overarching principles, Reduction in sentence for a guilty plea - first hearing on or after 1 June 2017, Sentencing offenders with mental disorders, developmental disorders, or neurological impairments, Crown Court Compendium, Part II: Sentencing, Chapter 6 of Part 10 of the Sentencing Code, Imposition of Community and Custodial Sentences definitive guideline, Imposition of Community and Custodial Sentences, Ancillary orders Crown Court Compendium, A prolonged, persistent and deliberate course of very bad driving, Consumption of substantial amounts of alcohol or drugs leading to gross impairment, A group of determinants of seriousness which in isolation or smaller number would place the offence in level 2, Greatly excessive speed, racing or competitive driving against another driver, Gross avoidable distraction such as reading or composing text messages over a period of time, Driving whilst ability to drive is impaired as a result of consumption of alcohol or drugs, failing to take prescribed medication or as a result of a known medical condition, A group of determinants of seriousness which in isolation or smaller number would place the offence in level 3, Driving above the speed limit/at a speed that is inappropriate for the prevailing conditions, Driving when knowingly deprived of adequate sleep or rest or knowing that the vehicle has a dangerous defect or is poorly maintained or is dangerously loaded, A brief but obvious danger arising from a seriously dangerous manoeuvre, Failing to have proper regard to vulnerable road users, a prolonged, persistent and deliberate course of very bad driving, consumption of alcohol above the legal limit, consumption of alcohol at or below the legal limit where this impaired the offenders ability to drive, failure to supply a specimen for analysis, consumption of illegal drugs, where this impaired the offenders ability to drive, consumption of legal drugs or medication where this impaired the offenders ability to drive (including legal medication known to cause drowsiness) where the driver knew, or should have known, about the likelihood of impairment, greatly excessive speed; racing; competitive driving against another vehicle, driving at a speed that is inappropriate for the prevailing road or weather conditions, driving a PSV, HGV or other goods vehicle at a speed that is inappropriate either because of the nature of the vehicle or its load, especially when carrying passengers, aggressive driving (such as driving much too close to the vehicle in front, persistent inappropriate attempts to overtake, or cutting in after overtaking), driving while using a hand-held mobile phone, driving whilst the drivers attention is avoidably distracted, for example by reading or adjusting the controls of electronic equipment such as a radio, hands-free mobile phone or satellite navigation equipment, driving when knowingly suffering from a medical or physical condition that significantly impairs the offenders driving skills, including failure to take prescribed medication, driving when knowingly deprived of adequate sleep or rest, especially where commercial concerns had a bearing on the commission of the offence, driving a poorly maintained or dangerously loaded vehicle, especially where commercial concerns had a bearing on the commission of the offence, failing to have proper regard to vulnerable road users. By Astha Saxena. We do not hold data on arrests for driving offences; these are held and published by the Home Office, who can be contacted by email:CrimeandPoliceStats@homeoffice.gov.uk. MDBiOWM4ODI5NWJjNTlhYmZjMDlhZDU4ZGY3YWYxOTJmYmRkNDViOGI0Mzgx Carl Clayton has been jailed for causing the death of his cousin Thomas Clayton by dangerous driving The 24-year-old driver killed his cousin in a Christmas Day crash after a chase with. Our team of specialist driving offence solicitors at Lawtons have the specialist knowledge and experience to help and guide you through this harrowing process. London driving under the influence, causing death by dangerous driving, speeding. A man has been found not guilty of causing the death by dangerous driving of an amateur boxer who was killed when a van crashed into stationary cars and hit a stone wall. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports, Dangerous driver, Aaron Guest has sentence increased. Offences under s.1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 are specified offences for the purposes of sections 266 and 279 (extended sentence for certain violent, sexual or terrorism offences) of the Sentencing Code. Examples of dangerous driving are: speeding, racing, or driving aggressively In 2020/2021, there were 568 cases of death by dangerous driving in England and Wales. Your lawyer will be able to advise you on what is likely to happen in your case and how best to plead. Magistrates: Consult your legal adviser before deciding to sentence to custody without a pre-sentence report. The fact that the victim of a causing death by driving offence was a particularly vulnerable road user is a factor that should be taken into account when determining the seriousness of an offence. NTU5NzhhMmFlZGIxMjBkMTAzYTE5ZTRhYzkyMDNjMWEwOGRhYmZiYzU2ZmYy 3) What is the shortest term commensurate with the seriousness of the offence? Where death of another person inside or outside the vehicle is caused by dangerous driving, the penalties are severe including up to 14 years in prison, two-year disqualification and an extended retest. Where more than one person is killed, that will aggravate the seriousness of the offence because of the increase in harm. When assessing the seriousness of any offence, the court must always refer to the full list of aggravating and mitigating factors in the Council guideline on Seriousness [now replaced by the General guideline] as well as those set out in the guideline table as being particularly relevant to this type of offending behaviour. ZmY0ODFjZGFmYTA5ODZmZjliNjQwZWU5Y2Q4YjlhZDY5NWEyNjRiMGNjMWY3 According to death by dangerous driving sentencing guidelines, it can carry a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Whilst it can be expected that anyone who has caused death by driving would be expected to feel remorseful, this cannot undermine its importance for sentencing purposes. ZmQ0YTUwODk2NGI0In0= you should seek expert legal representation as soon as you are able. ZTJmZmZlY2I0NzhhOTEwOTBmZmU3OTBlMDNhOGM4Y2FlMTU2ODA4ODFmNTUy This may result in a sentence level being identified that is higher than the suggested starting point, sometimes substantially so. 1) How many people were given driving bans each year since 2011 up to the most recent year available. Norwich Criminal justice where does the Council fit? Common examples of each of the determinants are set out below and key issues are discussed below: see, Alcohol/drugs, Avoidable distractions, Vulnerable road users. E+W+S. Manchester The consequence of the dangerous driving i.e. This can include speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, street racing, and more. If you are ever in doubt about whether it is safe to drive, always err on the side of caution and dont take any risks. For example, if the offender was driving at high speeds, had a previous conviction for dangerous driving, or was under the influence of drugs or alcohol then they are likely to receive a harsher sentence. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. This is when they can tell the court how the death of their loved one has affected them. ZDNmZDVlMWVlNDY3MzFhYmU3NTcxNjNlNWRkOTYyNTg3MDNlMTZjNjEwZTUz MGQ5NzQyNzE5OTNjMTNiMzVlZDAyOTBjYWU2NzhhNjdiZjg0NzgzNWJhMjJj Where no offence specific guideline is available to determine seriousness, the harm caused by the offence, the culpability of the offender and any previous convictions will be relevant to the assessment. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Previous convictions of a type different from the current offence. It fulfils the commitment I gave, it fulfils the commitment my Government gave and it fulfils the commitment this Government have . You can change your cookie settings at any time. Disqualification for a minimum . This is why its so important to always follow safe driving practices. If you would like to request this bespoke dataset, please contacthealth.data@ons.gov.ukto discuss your enquiry further. It is defined as driving a vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place which leads to someone's death. Remorse is identified as personal mitigation in Overarching Principles - Seriousness [now replaced by the General guideline] and the Council can see no reason for it to be treated differently for this group of offences. The court should review the total sentence to ensure that it is proportionate to the offending behaviour and properly balanced. In most circumstances, the weighting it is given will be dictated by the circumstances of the offence and the effect should bear a direct relationship to the extent to which the offenders driving was at fault the greater the fault, the less the effect on mitigation; this distinction will be of particular relevance where an offence did not involve any fault in the offenders standard of driving. Brown, from Dorchester Drive, Portadown, is accused of causing the death of 17-year-old Rachael Lowry by driving dangerously on the Coolmillish Road in Markethill on September 24, 2020. See Totality guideline. You will be given a form to complete, which will ask for details of the grounds for your appeal. Generated by Wordfence at Sat, 4 Mar 2023 8:54:39 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. 6) What were the reasons stipulated given for driving bans issued by the court e.g. Reading or composing text messages over a period of time will be a gross avoidable distraction and is likely to result in an offence of causing death by dangerous driving being in a higher level of seriousness. NjI2MzQyYjc3ZDg3ZmIzNGQzZWI1OTQ0YWFhN2NiM2JjMmIzNTE1OTMyZDc3 Jason Evans, 31, was in a . Although concurrent sentences are likely to be imposed (in recognition of the fact that the charges relate to one episode of offending behaviour), each individual sentence is likely to be higher because the offence is aggravated by the fact that more than one death has been caused. defines causing death by dangerous driving as: Racing, going too fast or driving aggressively, Driving when unfit such as with an injury, Being avoidably and dangerously distracted, such as using a mobile phone whilst driving, Flashing your lights to force other drivers to give way, Misusing lanes to gain an advantage over other drivers, Unnecessarily staying in an overtaking lane, A mandatory disqualification for a minimum of one year, Up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both, A mandatory disqualification for a minimum of two years, Up to two years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both, Responsibility of the offender, i.e. The main factor that varies between these offences is how much the offender is to blame. }); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This data will only be used by Caddick Davies for processing your query and for no other purpose. You will be asked to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. An example of dangerous driving actions might be: The underlying cause of death is defined by WHO as: a) the disease or injury that initiated the train of events directly leading to death, or\ b) the circumstances of the accident or violence that produced the fatal injury. Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK's head of . if (window.fbq) { window.fbq('track', 'Lead'); } If you are given a custodial sentence, you will have the right to appeal. Ideally a pre-sentence report should be completed on the same day to avoid adjourning the case. If you are convicted of death by dangerous driving, there are a number of ways in which the sentence can be reduced. NzRkYTY5MWNkZDQ5MzhmZWM0ZmY0NWEzZTNiYTk2NDA5YTYxYzkzODRiZGNk Daniel Beck was locked up for eight years for causing the death of Liam Simpson by dangerous driving. The following guidance should be considered when seeking to determine the degree to which previous convictions should aggravate sentence: Section 65 of the Sentencing Code states that: (1) This section applies where a court is considering the seriousness of an offence (the current offence) committed by an offender who has one or more relevant previous convictions. NDE1YTJlNzA0ODAzMjU2ZjY2MTc5YTBkNGYzZTQwZWQ4YTMyZGQwMTU3ZjNi Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. A man who caused his friends death in a fatal collision, and then tried to frame the victim, has today had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred it to the Court of Appeal. "Although PC Francis has now been sentenced for this . Our criteria for developing or revising guidelines. But how is the final sentence determined? If the offender received a non-custodial disposal for the previous offence, a court should not necessarily move to a custodial sentence for the fresh offence. ZDFjYjlkMGMzMDIxNmViN2UzOGZhYmM5NTM4ZWVlNWQyYWE4Yzk2YWNjYzFh Although Guest was injured, he was able to climb out of the car. 2) Is it unavoidable that a sentence of imprisonment be imposed? He was also already disqualified from driving and subject to a suspended prison sentence for a number of offences, including other driving offences. Melissa Tate was hit by a vehicle in Kenton . The broad offences are: 1. Any avoidable distraction will make an offence more serious but the degree to which an offenders driving will be impaired will vary. Four men have appeared at Lincoln Crown Court jointly accused of causing the death of a 20-year-old woman by dangerous driving. This is because the offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison and so it is essential to have experienced legal representation to give you the best chance of avoiding a custodial sentence. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Denii Reynolds, from Grimsby, was a passenger in a Citroen which was . Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK's head of . The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The level of blame arises from driving when not being allowed to do so. The requirements are identical to those available for community orders, see the guideline on Imposition of Community and Custodial Sentences. Contributor Posts 17137 Registered 25/2/02 Location Silly Suffolk Member Is Offline Photo Archive Building: It is an ex-Locost - it has gone to the IOW! Note: for offences committed on or after 28 June 2022 the maximum sentence is life imprisonment and the minimum disqualification is 5 years with compulsory extended re-test. NjI5ODA4YjE5NDk4MjhiZWMxYWE0MzUxYTA3Y2NkNWQ0YTAzMDliYzlkOWY4 If the death has been referred for Coroner investigation, we can look to see if there are any four-digit ICD-10 codes as the secondary cause (S and T codes), whilst looking at specific circumstances surrounding the death. MGJiY2UwM2IyMzQyZWI4ZGM0MGQxNDBmNGZiMGIwOTkyYzFkYzljZjhlZGY0 In practical terms, separate charges are likely to be brought in relation to each death caused. This is a specified offence for the purposes of sections 266 and 279 (extended sentence for certain violent, sexual or terrorism offences) of the Sentencing Code. 3) How many people have died each year since 2011 from a road traffic accident in which it was deemed that it was not their fault at all. It is not necessary for the prosecution to prove the level of impairment attributable to the drugs or alcohol, due to the low limits that are permissible for such substances. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. *We aim to respond to every enquiry between 9am5pm within 30 minutes. The notable fact about this offence in particular, is that there is no causal connection between whether someone was insured, disqualified or without a licence to the actual causing of the death. The criminal offence of death by dangerous driving is made of four main offences, but all are derived from a non-fatal equivalent, such as the offence of simple dangerous driving. We will guide you through the process and work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for you, so get in touch with us straight away. If there is sufficient supporting evidence, criminal charges will be brought by the police or the CPS. MTU1YjQzNTczZTRjMmVmZTRkMTRjZTNiNTIyN2Q1MDc1NWU4ZWU1ZWVjYzg2 The court will then make a decision and if they agree with you, they will reduce the sentence. Level 2 This is driving that created a substantial risk of danger and is likely to be characterised by: Level 3 This is driving that created a significant risk of danger and is likely to be characterised by: The starting point and range overlap with Level 2 is to allow the breadth of discretion necessary to accommodate circumstances where there are significant aggravating factors. Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The court will then decide whether or not to hear your case. The court must determine having regard to the criteria contained in Chapter 6 of Part 10 of the Sentencing Code whether there is a significant risk of serious harm by the commission of a further specified offence. There is no general definition of where the custody threshold lies. Bradford Where information is available on the context of previous offending this may assist the court in assessing the relevance of that prior offending to the current offence, An intention to commit more serious harm than actually resulted from the offence, Commission of the offence for financial gain (where this is not inherent in the offence itself), An attempt to conceal or dispose of evidence, Failure to respond to warnings or concerns expressed by others about the offenders behaviour, Offence motivated by hostility towards a minority group, or a member or members of it, Deliberate targeting of vulnerable victim(s), Commission of an offence while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Use of a weapon to frighten or injure victim, Deliberate and gratuitous violence or damage to property, over and above what is needed to carry out the offence, An especially serious physical or psychological effect on the victim, even if unintended, A sustained assault or repeated assaults on the same victim, Location of the offence (for example, in an isolated place), Offence is committed against those working in the public sector or providing a service to the public, Presence of others e.g. This Bill, the Death by Dangerous Driving (Sentencing) Bill, is simple. Sentencing flowcharts are available at Imposition of Community and Custodial Sentences definitive guideline. HGV driver jailed for causing death by dangerous driving. 02:10, Thu, Mar 2, . M2YxM2MzZTU5ZDdmYTk5MGI0ZjYxMmI2YzE4YmEyY2ViMmNlOTFlYTE3OGVh Dangerous driving means falling well below the standards expected of a competent driver, and can include driving too fast or aggressively, ignoring traffic signals, driving when unfit and being distracted, such as by a mobile phone. A former US spy has pleaded guilty to causing the death of Harry Dunn by careless driving, following a three-year campaign for justice by the teenager's family. All of this will be explained to you in more detail by your legal team. relatives, especially children or partner of the victim, Additional degradation of the victim (e.g. ZjIxZDJkZTNlYjEwYjMwYThhNjU5ZThhZmFjNDVkOTU4NWQxMDAwMzQwODIx Dangerous driving The offence of dangerous driving is when driving falls far below the minimum standard expected of a competent and careful driver, and includes behaviour that could potentially endanger yourself or other drivers. Causing death by dangerous driving carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment. A mandatory disqualification from driving any motor vehicle for a minimum of two years. The most important thing is you get in contact with us as soon as possible the earlier we can start to build your defence, the better. It amends the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 to increase the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving to life imprisonment. There will have been an obvious risk of danger and clear blame. Caddick Davies is recognised as one of England and Wales leading motoring law firms, offering specialist Speeding Solicitors, Drink Driving Solicitors & Dangerous Driving Solicitors.We provide advice and representation on all motoring offences including speeding, the avoidance of disqualification on penalty points or totting up (exceptional hardship), driving without due care and attention (careless driving), dangerous driving, drink driving, as well as a range of services related to medical revocation of a driving licence. Frequently the police will ask suspects to attend the police station to be questioned on a voluntary basis, with a person being released under investigation afterwards pending the conclusion of the police enquiries and gathering of witness statements. Driving is considered 'dangerous' when it falls far below the standard . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Newcastle 13 January 2023. Causing death by dangerous driving is the most serious driving offence and has severe penalties. Y2ZhMTI2YTkzNTliYmM5ZGQxNTQ3OGRjMzZmNmRmMGVmNDU0MmJkMWM1NTE2 If you are given a custodial sentence, you will be sent to prison immediately. And what should you do if you are facing a charge of death by dangerous driving? Driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Ranked in the top 20 law firms by Trustpilot. MTgxYmQ5YmUzZmRmMTY2ZmQ2YzRkZGE5ZTRmYTdlNTA2YjQzODFkZjE4MTIy Our Partners: Forensic and Investigative Services | Road Traffic Lawyers Glasgow. It replaces the former offence of reckless driving. The best way to avoid getting into legal trouble is to always follow safe driving practices. MDA1NGExNTI5OGRkZWZjNThmODY3NDI2ZTJiMGZkMTMyOGE3OGU0MGMzM2E5 We recognise that even though you may be accused of being at fault, these things are rarely straightforward and dedicated assistance from people that understand is vital. NDBkNjlmN2I1ZTQ2MzNmZGUwYjc4YTU0OGM5ZjJmNGVmMmJjYTlkYWFhZmVl A custodial sentence must not be imposed unless the offence or the combination of the offence and one or more offences associated with it was so serious that neither a fine alone nor a community sentence can be justified for the offence. However, Evans, of Old St Mellons, Cardiff, denies causing death by dangerous driving as well as two counts of dangerous driving and is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court. Select format (Excel or CSV for example) For more historic data, please use our. Guest was originally sentenced in December 2018 to 5 years and 3 months in prison at Worcester Crown Court. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The role of the prosecution in the death by dangerous driving court case is to prove that you did offend so that you can be found guilty and convicted. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This can sometimes be a complex issue if there was a sequence of events or intervening acts leading to the fatality. A fatal road traffic accident is the most serious type of motoring offence. Early Removal of Driving Disqualification, Speed Awareness & Driver Improvement Courses, or call us on 0333 443 2366 for friendly advice, Failing to stop at the scene of an accident, Caught Driving Without Tax Heres What Happens Next, Caught Drink Driving for the 2nd Time? It is distinct from careless or inconsiderate driving. Liverpool When considering the totality of previous offending a court should take a rounded view of the previous crimes and not simply aggregate the individual offences. You have accepted additional cookies. MzdmNjhhNGViOTNhOTIzYWYxNjVjMjdhMWYwNTQzNmM3ODgxZTg5MWJlY2Zh Canada's Criminal Code has equivalent provisions covering dangerous driving (see "Canada" section below). The clear intention of the threshold test is to reserve prison as a punishment for the most serious offences. However, consideration should be given to the circumstances in which the offender decided to drive or continue to drive when driving ability was impaired. Level 1 The most serious offences encompassing driving that involved a deliberate decision to ignore (or a flagrant disregard for) the rules of the road and an apparent disregard for the great danger being caused to others. A person who causes the death of another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place is. Where the actions of the victim or a third party contributed to the commission of an offence, this should be acknowledged and taken into account as a mitigating factor. dangerous driving whilst under the influence, Other offences committed at the same time, i.e. There are a number of possible defences to a charge of death by dangerous driving, depending on the circumstances of the case. The circumstances of the individual offence and the factors assessed by offence-specific guidelines will determine whether an offence is so serious that neither a fine alone nor a community sentence can be justified. YmQ3YjBlZWUwNGFkNmEyMDk0MzFlMTU0ODcwMzY3MzY4ZmIyNWQ5OTNiODFi See "Actions of others" below for the approach where the actions of another person contributed to the collision. iv) When the court suspends a sentence, it may impose one or more requirements for the offender to undertake in the community. The sentence for death by dangerous driving will be determined by a judge based on several factors, including: If you are charged with death by dangerous driving, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Please tell us if there is an issue with this guideline to do with the accuracy of the content, how easy the guideline is to understand and apply, or accessibility/broken links. Where the current offence is significantly less serious than the previous conviction (suggesting a decline in the gravity of offending), the previous conviction may carry less weight. Chelmsford All the conditions mentioned on the death certificate are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Only the online version of a guideline is guaranteed to be up to date. The Road Traffic Act 1988 defines causing death by dangerous driving as: A person who causes death of another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle dangerously on a road or other public place is guilty of an offence..