Tougher driving laws welcomed by Knight

9:59am Tuesday 19th August 2008

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SOUTH Dorset MP Jim Knight today welcomed new laws that will see careless motorists who kill sent to prison.

Mr Knight campaigned for the Road Safety Bill after three young people lost their lives in Dorset and is celebrating the laws which came into effect yesterday.

The maximum sentence for causing death by careless driving was previously a fine but now motorists face up to five years in prison.

Mr Knight said: "I'm extremely pleased that these changes are finally being implemented.

"We made the amendment in Parliament and persuaded the Labour Party at the last election.

"It's a demonstration to those families that the political process can work for them.

"We have to hope and make sure the courts use the sentences available to them to make sure that people face their responsibilities while on the road.

"It's a result of a campaign that I fought with three families in Dorset to get the law changed."

In 2002 James Boffey, 22, from Liverpool, was fined £200 and disqualified for two years for driving without due care and attention after his speeding car knocked down and killed 15-year-old cyclist Anthony Wakelin in Wool.

Until now drivers had to be convicted of causing death by dangerous driving to face prison - meaning their driving had to be "far below" competent driving and giving rise to an obvious risk of injury.

But now motorists who kill while "avoidably distracted" at the wheel - doing anything that takes their attention away from the road - face a custodial sentence.

Using a mobile phone, eating, drinking or applying make-up can result in a custodial sentence for those convicted of the offence.

Prior to the changes there was no existing offence that recognised a death is caused by a person who is driving on the road illegally.

The maximum sentence for those convicted of causing death by careless, uninsured or unlicensed driving was a £5,000 fine and penalty licence points.

The new offences will carry a custodial sentence of up to five years for causing death by careless driving and up to two years for causing death while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured.