Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[kris9128]

ITN - 1 hour 40 minutes agoA new law introducing prison terms for motorists who kill while using a mobile telephone at the wheel will come into force next week.


The Ministry of Justice announced that the long-awaited new measures - designed to plug a hole in current legislation - will be brought in on Monday.

The new offence of causing death by careless driving will carry up to five years' imprisonment.

It toughens the penalties for motorists who kill because they were "avoidably distracted", which could include calling or texting on a mobile phone, drinking or eating, adjusting a satellite navigation system or car stereo, applying make-up or reading a map.
However, under guidance for judges published by the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) last month, drivers convicted of the offence - even in the medium category of seriousness - could escape with a community sentence.

Another new offence will come into force which penalises uninsured, disqualified or unlicensed drivers who kill, carrying up to two years' imprisonment.

The Ministry of Justice said it expected about 150 motorists a year to be jailed after being convicted of the "death by careless" offence, and about five a year for the "uninsured" offence.

Under previous laws, the maximum punishment faced for similar crimes was a £5,000 fine and points on your licence.

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

"Neither should uninsured or unlicensed drivers who deliberately flout the law. Driving requires full concentration at all times. A moment's distraction can make the difference between life and death."

....................................................................................................

so you can get 5 years if you kill someone whilst using your phone, sat nav, stereo. but only upto 2 years if you kill someone when you have no insurance or liscence. surley you should get the same length sentence for both cases ( life would be a good starting point ).

can somebody please explain this to me.

[Andy B]

You seem to be confusing common sence & the law!  :-?  

[kris9128]

true. just winds me up how these cock knockers who are running this country into the ground come up with this stuff.

[Martin_1962]

What do you expect from this shite government?

[bappy]

The only way to look at it without getting annoyed is to ignore it. just make sure you drive carefully and make sure you're insured and YOU will be fine.

[Varche]

At least they are changing them in the right direction.

I saw a young woman here have a crash into a pile of pallets while trying to text and drive over a juction. The pallets could have easily been a human.

varche

[Big Fra]

What do you expect from this shite government?

[/highlight]

HEAR HEAR!

Bring Clarkson to power, he might not have much sense of politics, or sensible ideas, but he is funny and will fight for the motorist!