New sentencing guidelines come into force

Drivers who cause death while sending or reading text messages at the wheel could face up to seven years in jail under new sentencing guidelines.

Judges are being urged to impose tougher sentences now the guidelines issued for England and Wales have come into force.

The most serious cases where drink, drugs, or persistent bad driving are factors could be liable for jail terms up to the maximum of 14 years, the Sentencing Guidelines Council said.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Ensuring drivers who cause death on our roads through bad driving are suitably punished is essential if justice is to be done and people maintain their support for the criminal justice system.

"That's why the Government welcomes the firm guidelines published by the independent Sentencing Guidelines Council."

The Ministry of Justice spokesman added: "Justice ministers want to see two new offences of causing death by careless driving and causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured, introduced at the earliest opportunity and will make an announcement later."

The council said the guidelines meant that judges and magistrates are given a "clear message" that driving offences that result in death are serious offences and should receive appropriate sentences.

It said lengthy custodial sentences are recommended for cases involving "prolonged, persistent and deliberate" bad driving or where drivers are drunk or under the influence of drugs.

The use of mobile phones is also treated "robustly" the SGC said, with advice that if an offender is distracted by a hand-held mobile phone when the offence is committed it will be treated as "particularly" serious.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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