Fatal-accident drivers face five years' jail if on phone

Published on Friday 4 February 2005 02:00

MOTORISTS who cause fatal crashes could be jailed for up to five years if it is found they were using their mobile phone at the time.

A new offence of causing death by careless driving - unveiled by the government - would plug a loophole in the law which at the moment sees drivers escape with a fine.

Currently, anyone who kills on the road and is charged with careless driving can only be handed a fine of up to 2,500.

The Home Office also proposed another offence of death resulting from driving while disqualified or unlicensed - which would also carry a five-year sentence. If passed, these changes to the law would apply across the UK.

At the same time, a consultation paper said some less serious motoring offences such as driving while disqualified should carry community punishments, not jail.

Handing offenders a sentence of electronic tagging or community work may be more effective than prison, it said.

The proposals were welcomed by campaign groups, but the Conservatives said that anyone who killed while using a mobile should be charged with causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 14 years.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said it supported the moves.