Tougher penalties for reckless drivers
From: AAP November 30, 2005

SOUTH Australia’s most dangerous drivers are facing up to life in jail, with State Parliament approving new penalties for the most serious offending, including hit and runs. The new laws, approved overnight, represent a 15-fold increase in the penalties for some offences.

People who cause death or serious injury in a crash risk having their offence declared aggravated – a fare more serious offence – if they try to escape police, are driving under the influence of drugs, are driving while disqualified or if they are exceeding the speed limit by more than 45kph.

In such circumstances they face a maximum penalty of life in jail.

Even for a non-aggravated offence a reckless driver who maims or kills faces a maximum penalty of 15 years for a first offence or life for any subsequent offence.

Premier Mike Rann said public tolerance of those who recklessly cause death and serious injury by dangerous driving had hit an all-time low.

“We want South Australians to be reassured that these type of offences will be treated the same as manslaughter,” Mr Rann said. “In some hands, a car can be as dangerous as a weapon such as a gun or knife.”

The new penalties follow the controversial Eugene McGee case, in which the prominent Adelaide lawyer ran down and killed a cyclist and then failed to stop but escaped without a jail term. His case was subject to a royal commission to determine if it was handled properly by authorities.