A West Lothian man was sentenced this week for causing the death of a friend by driving dangerously, reports the Daily Record.
The incident occurred on 1st January this year when Richard Whiteford, who was driving at 78mph in a 30mph zone, crashed into a tree, resulting in the death of passenger Stefan Sakatiuk.
According to the Daily Record, Whiteford was, at the time, disqualified from driving for a period of three years, and was driving without insurance.
He was sentenced to five years and seven months imprisonment and banned from driving for a period of ten years.
In general terms a prosecution for dangerous driving is brought where it is alleged that someone’s driving fell far below what would be expected of a ‘competent and careful’ driver.
To succeed in such a prosecution, the Crown must prove not only that the particular episode of driving fell far below that standard but also that it would have been obvious to a careful and competent driver that driving in that way was dangerous. Such prosecutions are brought under Section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
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