Careless drivers now face jail

Date: Monday, August 18, 2008

Drivers found guilty of causing death while texting on their mobile phones, reading a map, fiddling with a sat nav or eating/drinking at the wheel now face a possible jail sentence under laws that came into force on 18 August. The Sentencing Guidelines Council announced the changes to law in July this year.

Under the legislation for the new offence, causing death by careless driving, motorists who kill while distracted could be imprisoned for up to five years. Prolonged use of a mobile phone to send and read texts could carry a sentence of up to seven years.

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