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Road Crime: UK drivers who kill will face life in prison

Drivers who kill as a result of dangerous or careless driving will now face life imprisonment, after UK the government agreed on plans for a shake-up of UK driving laws

Causing death by dangerous driving or careless driving will carry a life sentence in the UK if the guilty party was over the drink-drive limit or under the influence of drugs.

Deaths caused by drivers using a mobile phone, racing or speeding will also carry a prison term in line with that for manslaughter, raised from a maximum of 14 years to a life sentence.

A new category of offence has also been introduced of causing serious injury through careless driving.

UK Justice minister Dominic Raab said: “We will introduce a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving, punishable by imprisonment, to fill a gap in the law and reflect the seriousness of some of the injuries suffered by victims in this category of case”.

The legislation must be passed by parliament, however the UK's Ministry of Justice said that the review was “part of government action to make roads safer for all and stop devastation caused by dangerous drivers and cyclists”

UK cyclists are still campaigning to ask the UK Government to introduce minimum passing distances to further protect cyclists as they have in other European countries. Tasmania was the latest country to introduce minimum safe passing distance laws.

Road Crime: UK drivers who kill will face life in prison