MOTORISTS who cause death by dangerous driving could be jailed for seven years under tough new guidelines.
Persistent bad driving, drugs, drinking or even the use of a mobile phone will now act as indicators of a case being eligible for the new ruling across England and Wales.
Although the new rules sounds strict, there is still some room for careless drivers to slip through the net. If it is agreed that there has been a case of “momentary inattention” then the Sentencing Guidelines Council has said that the driver should not be jailed.
The Council has also been at lengths to remind courts that driving bans would only be effective as long as they are set to run for longer than the custodial sentence handed out.
The maximum sentence for death by dangerous driving will be set at 14 years.
The council's chairman, Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips, said: "Sentencing in cases where death results from the misuse of a car on the road are among the most difficult for judges and magistrates.
"The harm is the greatest anyone can inflict - the death of a victim - but the level of culpability can range from a flagrant disregard of the safety of other road users to a terrible moment of inattention.
"This guideline is designed to support sentencers in making the very difficult decisions that face them in these cases."
