14-year sentences for killer motorists

Dangerous drivers who kill are to face tougher jail sentences of up to 14 years, the Home Office has announced.

The move is part of a package of new traffic penalties to crack down on bad drivers at a time when more than 3,400 people a year die on Britain's roads. The package will also see longer jail terms for people who kill while driving carelessly after using drink or drugs. Key recommendations include:

? Maximum penalty increased from 10 years to 14 for causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs; and causing death by aggravated vehicle taking

? A new two-tier fixed penalty system for speeding offences to ensure greater consistency in the courts and a higher level of fines for more serious offenders

? More demanding community sentences instead of fines for motorists convicted of offences such as careless driving and uninsured driving

? Automatic bans for motorists caught more than once using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

The Government is also planning to offer convicted drivers a deal to have driving bans reduced by 20 per cent or three points knocked off their licence if they agree to attend, at their own expense, a driver retraining and improvement programme. The proposals would not come into force before next summer at the earliest.

Announcing the plans, Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth said the Government was "not interested in penalising the ordinary, law-abiding motorists".

He added: "The message we are sending out is clear: dangerous driving kills and those found guilty can expect to be severely punished."

A total of 189 motorists were convicted of causing death by dangerous driving last year. This January, Gary Hart was jailed for five years for causing the deaths of 10 people in the Selby rail disaster after falling asleep at the wheel. Several relations of the victims spoke of their disappointment at a sentence they said amounted to only six months for each death.