Drivers who kill could be sentenced to life in prison
Dangerous drivers who kill when behind the wheel could be sentenced to life in prison if new laws proposed by British ministers are passed.
The law changes would rank drivers who kill when speeding, using their phone or racing on the roads in line with manslaughter offenders.
Drivers who kill when under the influence of drink or drugs could also be handed life sentences, removing the current cap of a 14-year sentence for these crimes.
“Killer drivers ruin lives,” said justice minister Sam Gyimah. “Their actions cause immeasurable pain to families, who must endure tragic, unnecessary losses. While impossible to compensate for the death of a loved one, we are determined to make sure the punishment fits the crime.”
Additionally, drivers who cause serious injury by dangerous driving could also face up to three years in prison.
In 2015, 122 people in Britain were sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving, with 21 more convicted of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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