Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Drivers risk jail for using mobile

James Macintyre
Friday 21 December 2007 01:00 GMT
Comments

Motorists speaking or sending text messages on mobile phones while driving a vehicle could be jailed for up to two years and those who cause death by dangerous driving face life imprisonment under new guidelines outlined by prosecutors.

Use of modern gadgets such as satellite navigation devices or MP3 players for music also falls under the new definition of dangerous driving, which carries a potential two-year sentence, as opposed to careless driving, which often means a fine or community order. Mobile use relates to hand-held devices, not to in-built "speaker phones" in cars.

Under the measures, announced in September but unveiled in detail yesterday by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), causing a driver to swerve is an example of dangerous driving.

When the measures were first announced the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald QC, said: "We accept that in cases where there is clear evidence that danger has been caused by [mobile phones] use... then our policy should spell out that the starting point for charging will be dangerous driving."

Meanwhile, a driver causing a death could, in the worst case, face manslaughter charges where the maximum sentence is life in jail.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in