A backbencher’s bid to make failing to help after a serious or fatal crash a standalone criminal offence has won the support of the Infrastructure Minister, who wants to see deterrents increased.

If Deputy Catherine Curtis’s proposal gets the backing of the States Assembly today, Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan has pledged to write to the Bailiff to seek a review of current sentencing guidelines.

Deputy Catherine Curtis had originally put forward a proposition to create a new offence for failing to stop and report an accident following a serious or fatal injury – with a lifetime driving ban as the maximum penalty.

“Driving is not a right but a privilege, and justice is not served for victims left to die, or for their families, when the person responsible is allowed to drive again,” she said.

No family or close friends of a victim of a serious road traffic accident should have to see the perpetrator driving a vehicle at a future date

DEPUTY CATHERINE CURTIS

It later emerged that the offence which Deputy Curtis was seeking to create was already in law, so the St Helier Deputy suggested an amendment to include a failure to provide assistance to anyone injured in a collision in the proposed new legislation.

The amendment, which will be debated alongside her main proposition today, also adds in the requirement for consultation prior to making any change.

Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan confirmed his support for the proposition as amended.

Actions is needed to make Jersey’s roads safer

infrastructure minister andy jehan

“I believe we have arrived at a position where this proposition now requests that work takes place towards meaningful and worthwhile change,” he said.

“Action is needed to make Jersey’s roads safer,” he continued, adding that this action “will include legislative change, and increasing deterrents”.

“We have seen too many tragic incidents on our roads and examples of poor, sometimes reprehensible behaviour. Such acts need to be actively combatted,” he said.

The Minister added: “I have committed to Deputy Curtis privately, and now place on public record, that if this proposition is adopted, I will write to the Bailiff, as Chief Justice, requesting him to consider a review of sentencing guidelines in this respect to take place alongside the work to implement the legislative change,” he said.