Adelaide Advertiser: Hit-run widow in law plea – 31 July, 2006

The widow of cyclist Ian Humphrey has welcomed tough new penalties for dangerous drivers, but says it highlights the need for a law reform commission. Di Gilcrist-Humphrey, whose husband was killed after being hit by lawyer Eugene McGee, says the new laws are “a case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted”. “Ian was certainly not the first victim of a hit-run death,” she said. “The tragedy is that previous governments have allowed this heartless act to be treated as a minor offence within the courts.”

The new laws, which came into affect yesterday, were introduced as a result of the Kapunda Road Royal Commission – which centred on Mr Humphrey’s death. Under the laws, motorists who kill or seriously injure someone in aggravated circumstances would face a maximum life sentence. An offence of dangerous driving becomes aggravated if a driver attempts to escape police, has a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or higher, drives while disqualified, or exceeds the speed limit by 45km/h or more.

Anyone involved in an accident where a person was killed or injured must now report to police within 90 minutes, and submit to a breath test up to eight hours later. Ms Gilcrist-Humphrey described the legal system as “archaic, inefficient and, in many circumstances, unjust”. “Reform is only achieved through a tail chasing process,” she said.

“For this reason, I believe that South Australia requires a law reform commission. One that is representative of all aspects of the legal system, victims included.” South Australia is the only state not to have a law reform commission.