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Drink drivers who kill face life in prison from today
The legislation change will also see those who cause serious injury with their driving face tougher sentencing
Dangerous drivers who kill will face life sentences from today as part of changes coming into force this week.
The current penalty for dangerous drivers who kill and careless drivers who kill while under the influence of drink or drugs is fourteen years.
However, thanks to an impending change to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, judges will be able to increase these sentences to life sentences.
The new legislation will also create an offence of causing serious injury by careless driving, meaning those who inflict long-term or permanent injuries will also face tougher sentences.
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This law change – first announced back in 2017 – will only apply to offences committed in England, Wales and Scotland, with Northern Ireland having its own road safety laws.
The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to charge people with manslaughter or murder where there is evidence that a vehicle was used as a weapon to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said on the new legislation, as per the BBC: “Those responsible will now face the possibility of life behind bars.
“Too many lives have been lost to reckless behaviour behind the wheel, devastating families.”
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Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, added: “Drivers exhibiting the worst behaviour on the roads are a danger to us all.
“Those who behave with disregard to the risk they pose deserve the stiffest penalties when their actions rob others of their lives.”
He added: “Involuntary manslaughter already carries a maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment so it is hard to argue that killing someone with a car doesn’t warrant a possible sanction of similar severity.”
The legislation change will come into effect today, Tuesday June 28th.