UK Drivers Who Kill Could Face Life Sentences Following Law Changes

Killer drivers in the UK are set to get much harsher sentences, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.

Causing ‘death by dangerous driving’ or ‘death by careless driving’ while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can now result in a life sentence in some cases.

Meanwhile, anyone who causes a fatal crash while using a mobile phone, street racing or speeding could now face prison sentences to the equivalent of manslaughter - in other words anything up to 14 years. There’s also a new offence for ‘causing serious injury by careless driving’.

The changes follow a public consultation launched in December 2016, which garnered some 9000 responses by the time it closed the following February. 70 per cent of people who responded agreed that the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving should be upped to life imprisonment.

Speaking about the changes, justice minister Dominic Raab said:

“We’ve taken a long hard look at driving sentences, and we received 9000 submissions to our consultation. 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.”