Killer ‘text drivers’ may be jailed for life

DRIVERS who cause death because they were distracted by using a mobile phone could face life imprisonment under tough new laws being drawn up by the Government.

Under the plans – part of a move by Ministers to make ‘text-driving’ as socially unacceptable as drink-driving – motorists who cause death by speeding or while using a phone would be put on a par with culpable homicide suspects.

It means the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving would rise from 14 years to life.

And in a move timed to coincide with the Christmas season – when incidents of drinkdriving are most prevalent – Justice Minister Sam Gyimah is considering also raising the maximum sentence for careless drivers who kill while intoxicated from 14 years to life. At the moment, the average sentence applied to killer drivers is less than four years.

There have been a string of recent deaths caused by what the RAC describes as an ‘epidemic’ of motorists texting, calling and checking emails or social media websites while at the wheel.

On Friday, Keith Mees was jailed for six years after his lorry ploughed into a queue of traffic and crushed two men to death just seconds after he sent a message dumping his girlfriend. Mees, 49, had been using Facebook, streaming YouTube clips and chatting on the phone moments before killing Marian Olteanu, 35, and Ion Calin, 42.

But while social stigma means only a minority of motorists now drink-drive, recent research showed that a third of drivers have used a hand-held phone to make a call while driving and half have used their mobile while in stationary traffic.

Mr Gyimah, who will put the ideas out to consultation tomorrow, is also considering creating a new offence of ‘causing serious injury by careless driving’ which would carry a maximum sentence of three years.

The move comes after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced in September that the punishment for being caught using a mobile behind the wheel would be doubled to a six-point penalty on drivers’ licences, meaning they would hit the 12-point threshold for an automatic ban after two offences instead of four.

In addition, on-the-spot fines for illegally using a phone while driving will rise from £100 to £200, while young motorists with under two years’ experience would have their licence revoked after being caught just once.

Mr Gyimah said: ‘Killer drivers ruin lives. 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. My message is clear – if you drive dangerously and kill on our roads, you could face a life sentence.’