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| Killer drivers to receive life sentences in law change | Killer drivers to receive life sentences in law change |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Drivers who kill someone in the most serious cases of dangerous and careless driving will now face life sentences. | Drivers who kill someone in the most serious cases of dangerous and careless driving will now face life sentences. |
| Causing death by dangerous driving, or death by careless driving while drunk or on drugs, will carry the top-level punishment. | Causing death by dangerous driving, or death by careless driving while drunk or on drugs, will carry the top-level punishment. |
| Jail terms in cases involving mobile phones, speeding or street racing will now be the equivalent of manslaughter, the Ministry of Justice said. | Jail terms in cases involving mobile phones, speeding or street racing will now be the equivalent of manslaughter, the Ministry of Justice said. |
| Road safety charity Brake said it was a "major victory" for victims' families. | Road safety charity Brake said it was a "major victory" for victims' families. |
| The move follows criticism that sentences for those convicted over road deaths were too lenient. | The move follows criticism that sentences for those convicted over road deaths were too lenient. |
| Barrister Matthew Scott told BBC Radio 5 live the change would not increase road safety. | Barrister Matthew Scott told BBC Radio 5 live the change would not increase road safety. |
| Announcing the change, justice minister Dominic Raab said: "Based on the seriousness of the worst cases, the anguish of the victims' families, and maximum penalties for other serious offences such as manslaughter, we intend to introduce life sentences of imprisonment for those who wreck lives by driving dangerously, drunk or high on drugs." | Announcing the change, justice minister Dominic Raab said: "Based on the seriousness of the worst cases, the anguish of the victims' families, and maximum penalties for other serious offences such as manslaughter, we intend to introduce life sentences of imprisonment for those who wreck lives by driving dangerously, drunk or high on drugs." |
| A new offence of causing serious injury through careless driving is also to be created. | A new offence of causing serious injury through careless driving is also to be created. |
| The changes follow a public consultation in December 2016 which generated 9,000 responses. | |
| Of them, 70% backed increasing the maximum sentence for death by dangerous driving from the current 14 years to a life term. | Of them, 70% backed increasing the maximum sentence for death by dangerous driving from the current 14 years to a life term. |
| Death by careless driving carries a maximum term of five years, increasing to 14 years if alcohol or drugs are involved. | Death by careless driving carries a maximum term of five years, increasing to 14 years if alcohol or drugs are involved. |
| Last week a man who killed a nine-year-old boy while driving at more than double the speed limit was jailed for four years. | Last week a man who killed a nine-year-old boy while driving at more than double the speed limit was jailed for four years. |
| Atif Dayaji, 27, had admitted death by dangerous driving after hitting Adam Imfal-Limbada while travelling at about 67mph (108kph) in a 30mph (48kph) zone in Blackburn, Lancashire, in August 2016. | Atif Dayaji, 27, had admitted death by dangerous driving after hitting Adam Imfal-Limbada while travelling at about 67mph (108kph) in a 30mph (48kph) zone in Blackburn, Lancashire, in August 2016. |
| Department for Transport figures show that while three in five killer drivers are jailed, the average sentence is four years. | Department for Transport figures show that while three in five killer drivers are jailed, the average sentence is four years. |
| In 2016, 157 people were sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving and 32 were convicted of causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence, the MoJ said. | In 2016, 157 people were sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving and 32 were convicted of causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence, the MoJ said. |
| 'Grossly inadequate' | 'Grossly inadequate' |
| Brake has argued that penalties faced by drivers who kill and injure are "grossly inadequate" and cause added anguish to their families. | Brake has argued that penalties faced by drivers who kill and injure are "grossly inadequate" and cause added anguish to their families. |
| Jason Wakeford, Brake's director of campaigns, said: "We applaud the government for at last recognising that the statute books have been weighed against thousands of families who have had their lives torn apart through the actions of drivers who have flagrantly broken the law." | Jason Wakeford, Brake's director of campaigns, said: "We applaud the government for at last recognising that the statute books have been weighed against thousands of families who have had their lives torn apart through the actions of drivers who have flagrantly broken the law." |
| Mr Scott argued that the announcement was a "crowd-pleasing gesture" and that life sentences "should be reserved for the most serious offences". | Mr Scott argued that the announcement was a "crowd-pleasing gesture" and that life sentences "should be reserved for the most serious offences". |
| He told BBC Radio 5 live: "Bad though it is and wrong though it is, taking out a mobile phone while driving without any intention to case death, I don't consider that is the sort of behaviour that could possibly justify a life sentence." | He told BBC Radio 5 live: "Bad though it is and wrong though it is, taking out a mobile phone while driving without any intention to case death, I don't consider that is the sort of behaviour that could possibly justify a life sentence." |