Five years’ jail for careless van drivers who kill

Eating at the wheel: could lead to jail

Don’t drive distracted, says Justice Secretary Jack Straw

New careless driving laws came into force on Monday 18 August.

The new offences will, for the first time, allow courts to imprison drivers who cause deaths by not paying due care to the road, or to other road users.

They are designed to plug the gap in current legislation and so prevent drivers who kill walking away from court with just a fine.Avoidable distractions which courts will consider when sentencing motorists who have killed include:

• using a mobile phone (calling or texting)
• drinking and eating
• applying make-up
• anything else which takes their attention away from the road and which a court judges to have been an avoidable distraction

The new laws will also penalise uninsured, disqualified or unlicensed drivers who kill.

The new offences will carry custodial sentences of:

• up to five years for causing death by careless driving
• up to two years for causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured

Prior to the introduction of these new laws, the maximum sentence for those convicted of causing death by careless, uninsured or unlicensed driving was a maximum £5000 fine and penalty licence points.

Justice Minister Maria Eagle said: “Drivers who kill through carelessness will no longer be able to walk away from court with just a fine.