Plan to jail careless motorists who kill

Tough new proposals to clamp down on killer drivers were being revealed by the Government today.

Motorists convicted of causing death by dangerous driving currently face up to 14 years in jail but for those convicted of causing death by careless driving the maximum penalty is a fine of £2,500.

Today's proposals are expected to give courts the option of a jail sentence in such cases, and make it easier to bring manslaughter charges if a driver kills another road user. It follows consultation with police, judges, and safety campaigners.

The maximum sentence for dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking will also rise from two to five years.