Killer drivers face life behind bars after Government reveals legal shake-up

The Department of Justice will go ahead with its plans to give a maximum life sentences to those who kill someone if they are using their mobile phone or under the influence of drink and drugs while driving.

A new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving is also going to be introduced following pressure from The Road To Justice campaign, which called on the Government to re-write sentencing guidelines.

Justice Minister Dominic Raab said: “We’ve taken a long hard look at driving sentences, and we received 9,000 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."

On the new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving, Mr Raab added: “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.”

Stephanie Hamilton’s 10-year-old brother Sean was killed by a speeding hit and run driver in Holgate Road, York, eight years ago.

She said the announcement was the best news she could have hoped for after her brother’s killer was locked up for two and a half years.

“It’s brilliant and I couldn’t be happier with that, it has made my day knowing families will now get justice,” she said.

“I’ve always said you should get life for taking a life and the Government has finally listened.

“These people should suffer the consequences of dangerous driving and hopefully more drivers will be safer on the roads.

“I hope it reduces the amount of crime too, because if they know there’s a big punishment waiting for them, drivers will not get away with being idiots.”