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Dangerous Driving

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lonedad | 18:48 Wed 24th Oct 2007 | Criminal
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I was involved in a RTC on the M6. I was approaching a queue of traffic in the class 2 vehicle I was driving that day, on cruise control at 55mph. As I saw the traffic information board advise a queue caution, and that I could see vehicles in my lane (the nearside lane) slowing down for a junction...I decided to change lanes as the middle lane was moving freely and I also was not leaving at the approaching junction. Because a car was overtaking me, I waiting for him to pass and attempted to take the cruise control off with the brake pedal. I believe the cruise control did not deactivate. My vehicle would not slow at all. I kept applying the brakes but nothing happened. I then prepared to move my vehicle into the hard shoulder to stop it with the crash barrier, after first checking that the hard shoulder was empty and free off obstructions. Next thing I know a blue car was in front of me, behind the white van, and I hit it as I steered my vehicle onto the hard shoulder. My vehicle then came to a stop about 500 yards from the impact site.
The vehicle is impounded for police checks which, i believe, have been done and no fault found. The occupants of the car I hit have serious injuries. One is still in Hospital with back injuries and the other has been discharged with serious arm injury. I attended a Police Station to give a statement under caution. I have been told that I am being investigated for Dangerous Driving.
I am now caring for my new born daughter full time as a lone parent. The mother my child, my ex, is mentally ill and unfit to look after her. If I go to prison, she will no doubt go into care. I am so worried about this
Id like to ask: Am I going to prison? Would CPS drop the charges or go for a lesser charge? Where do I stand? has anyone else had a phantom fault with cruise control before?
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Even if you are charged with dangerous driving you are unlikely to go prison on the facts you have set out. You will be sentenced for your degree of carelessness not for the consequences of the accident. You will have told that you will be reported for dangerous driving because this leaves options open for the CPS to decide on the level of charge. If the Police had told you that you would be reported for careless driving then you could not then be charged with the more serious offence of dangerous driving.
In any event even if you are charged with dangerous driving the court can always bring in an alternative verdict of careless.
The main thing is dont worry I doubt if you would go to prison for this
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Thanks for your answer. The reason that Im so worried about going to prison is that they have found no fault with the vehicle. I know there was a fault but this is going to make out that I'm lying
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After nine months of waiting for CPS to make their minds up about what they're going to do, I got a call today from my solicitors who have said that CPS are waiting for a report from the vehicle manufacturer. It seems that they are going all out to prosecute me.
My solicitor has suggested that I may have hit the accelorator instead of the brake. This stems from the mechanics report. Although this is possible, I am adamant it didnt happen and dont want to admit to something that Im not 100% about. It also seems that CPS are going to go with this theory too.
Im more worried about this than ever because I have read about people still going to prison for this mistake. Afterall, it is a mistake made out of panic in the end.

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Dangerous Driving

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