Aiming to stop 'just fines' for killer drivers

11:52am Tuesday 7th October 2008

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New laws which recognise the severity of killing someone while being distracted at the wheel have come into effect across the UK.

Motorists causing death by careless driving now face up to five years in prison under the Road Safety Act 2006.

The new legislation has been introduced in an effort to plug the gap in existing legislation and to prevent drivers who kill through driving carelessly receiving just a fine.

Avoidable distractions which Courts will consider when sentencing motorists include: z using a mobile phone (calling, texting, browsing the net, taking photographs etc); z drinking and eating; z applying make-up; z shaving; z anything else which takes a driver's attention away from the road and which a court judges to have been an avoidable distraction.

The new laws will also penalise uninsured, disqualified or unlicensed drivers who kill.

A driver found guilty could receive up to two years imprisonment.

Prior to the introduction of the new laws, the maximum sentence for those convicted of causing death by careless driving was a £5,000 fine and penalty points on their driving licence.

Driving requires full concentration at all times.

A moment's distraction can make a difference between life and death.

Careless drivers put themselves and others at risk every time they get behind the wheel of a car. Despite good progress in recent years to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the UK's roads, more can always be done to prevent the unnecessary loss of life.

The introduction of this legislation will drive home the message that driving is a hazardous activity that requires total concentration.

Allowing distractions to affect your standard of driving is not acceptable and will now be more appropriately punished under the law.

To business! Can you help with any of these incidents across the area?

Please call the police, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. You can also log on to www.mostwanted-uk.org.

SatNav equipment was stolen from a van which was parked in Kimpton. Sometime overnight on Saturday, 28 September, thieves smashed the driver's window of the van which had been left near Littleton Cottage.

The Route Finder equipment was then taken from the windscreen.

A window was broken at a house in Andover after a stone was thrown at it.

Lunctime on Sunday, the occupants of the house in Camelot Close heard a loud bang and discovered that an upstairs window had been smashed.

Several windows were smashed by vandals in Over Wallop.

Windows at St Peter's Church Hall in Station Road were broken, and will cost hundreds of pounds to replace.

The incident happened late on Sunday evening.

Remember - please DO call if you can help us with any information on any crime.

The number is 0800 555111. Your call is free, no one will know you phoned and you may earn a cash reward.