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Death driving offences announced

Drivers who cause death by careless driving could face five years in prison as a result of new offences tabled as amendments to the Road Safety Bill.

The measures also propose a new offence of 'causing death when driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured', which will carry a sentence of up to two years.

Under current law, someone convicted of death by dangerous driving can be sentenced to 14 years in prison, while the penalty for careless driving has a maximum penalty of a £2,500 fine.

"The problem is, if you kill someone when you've only driven carelessly, then you can't be sent to prison - you can only have a fine," said Tom Symonds , BBC transport correspondent. "This new offence will make it a lot more difficult for people to get away with that lower level of penalty."

The offence of causing death when driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured means an illegal motorist could be convicted if, for example, they hit and killed a pedestrian through no driving fault of their own.

"Under the new proposals, a driver on the road illegally would be liable if, but for his or her presence on the road, the accident and consequent death wouldn't have occurred - even if his or her standard of driving is not at fault," a Home Office spokesperson said.

The new measures also include a statutory definition of careless driving.