I think this will definitely save lives - watch as grieving mum backs new law after partner was killed by drink driver
“This will definitely save lives. The person who killed my partner was able to drive for nearly two years before he appeared in court, despite being tested and being over both the drink and drug drive limits”
The words of Carol King whose partner Richard Jordan was killed after the car he was travelling in, which was being driven by Mark Thompson, crashed into another vehicle on the A19 after reaching speeds of 120mph.
Recalling that horrific day on August 4, 2019, Carol said: “Richie was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been thrown so far from the car that it took the police a significant period of time to find him.
“The collision happened in the early hours of the morning but it was 10.30am when the police knocked at my door to tell me what had happened to Richie.”
After being tested at the scene, Thompson blew 118mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood which is one and a half times the limit and also tested positive for a type of cocaine.
Richie, 33, was a talented local footballer who played for Sunderland RCA and Ryhope CW, and at the time of his passing left behind his daughter Quinn.
Carol added: “I found out 11 days after Richie’s funeral that I was expecting his second child who I called Gray after Richie’s middle name.”
Despite the positive tests, Thompson was able to drive for a two year period before his case eventually got to court in August 2021 and he was jailed for six years and eight months after admitting causing causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Following Thompson’s conviction, Carol contacted her local MP Bridget Phillipson and the pair embarked on a campaign to bring about a change in the law.
Carol, who lives in East Herrington, said: “Mark Thompson tested positive for drugs and was over the drink driving limit which both carry an automatic ban from driving. He also had a history of driving offences. Despite this, once he was out of hospital he was able to drive for nearly two years before the case got to caught.
“It just doesn’t make sense that he was allowed to drive during this period.”
After being approached by Carol, Ms Phillipson raised her case in Parliament, wrote to senior ministers in the then Conservative Government calling for change, and arranged for Carol to meet with the then minister for transport.
After Labour came into power in 2024, Carol once again travelled to London with her MP to meet with the current Government minister for transport Heidi Alexander.
After listening to Carol’s concerns over the current legislation, as well as other victims of drink and drug driving, including families who’d lost loved ones to drink and drug drivers waiting to go to court, the Government this week announced their new Road Safety Strategy.
The 12-week period for the consultation strategy was launched this week, including new legislation which would see the lowering of the drink drive limit to align with Scotland and Europe and an automatic revoke of drink or drug driver’s licence before they appear in court, not as it currently stands, after.
One of the key areas of the consultation is whether the driver is to be banned from the time of a positive breath test, positive blood test returned, or at the point of officially being charged.
Responding to the new strategy Carol said: “Banning individuals like Thompson from the roads straight away will definitely save lives. There are other families out there who suffered fatalities from repeat offenders waiting to go to court and hopefully this can help to prevent other people having to deal with the catastrophic situation I did.
“Drink and drug driving carries an automatic ban and so this is just a common sense approach and I can’t understand why it has taken so long to come in.
“All I ever wanted to do was to open a conversation about this issue and I feel I’ve been listened to and I’m confident this new ruling will become law.”
Houghton and Sunderland South MP Bridget Phillipson said: “I’m delighted the Labour Government have listened to Carol and her campaign and that bringing forward her proposal is part of our new Road Safety Strategy consultation.
“Carol has shown real bravery and courage and it has been such a privilege to work alongside her and I’m delighted ministers have listened and are going to take action.”