Drivers Causing Death By Careless Driving Could Escape PrisonJanuary 9th, 2008
It has been reported that the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SCG) are to re-evaluate the sentences received by motorists who are found guilty for killing someone by careless driving. It is said that prison may not be the correct punishment for these reckless drivers!
Currently, there a driver who is convicted of death by dangerous driving can be given 14 years in prison with a maximum penalty charge of £2,500. The new laws mean that there will be a maximum of just a five-year sentence for death by ‘careless driving’ cases but the minimum penalty will be non-custodial in favour of community service penalties instead.
This means that, if a motorist with a clean driving record kills someone after what is agreed to have been a slight misjudgement or mistake, the SGA will recommend a community sentence. Sounds bad so far? Well, it gets worse. The offence is said to cover drivers who are distracted by Sat Nav equipment.
Motorists who forget to renew their car insurance may also ‘benefit’ from these new laws and may escape custody. There is also another new offence, ‘causing death when driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured’, which carries a two-year prison sentence.
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