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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Careless drivers set to face jail | Careless drivers set to face jail |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Sue Littlemore BBC social affairs correspondent | By Sue Littlemore BBC social affairs correspondent |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| What happens when you drive distracted | What happens when you drive distracted |
| Drivers are being warned against distractions such as receiving text messages, eating, and fiddling with satellite navigation systems, ahead of new tougher laws. | Drivers are being warned against distractions such as receiving text messages, eating, and fiddling with satellite navigation systems, ahead of new tougher laws. |
| A new offence of causing death by careless driving comes into force across the UK next week. | A new offence of causing death by careless driving comes into force across the UK next week. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYIf you are driving a car you are responsible for your safety and the safety of othersDoug, UKSend us your comments | |
| It means motorists who kill while avoidably distracted could for the first time face prison. | It means motorists who kill while avoidably distracted could for the first time face prison. |
| Historically, careless driving has only been punishable with a fine, whatever the consequences. | Historically, careless driving has only been punishable with a fine, whatever the consequences. |
| Careless distractions? | Careless distractions? |
| The new offence means UK motorists, who kill after allowing themselves to lose concentration, can be imprisoned for up to five years. | The new offence means UK motorists, who kill after allowing themselves to lose concentration, can be imprisoned for up to five years. |
| So what sort of distractions might count against a driver who causes a fatal crash? | So what sort of distractions might count against a driver who causes a fatal crash? |
| The Ministry of Justice gives these examples: reading a text message, glancing at a map, eating, drinking, tuning a radio, putting on make up. | The Ministry of Justice gives these examples: reading a text message, glancing at a map, eating, drinking, tuning a radio, putting on make up. |
| The Transport Research Laboratory in Berkshire has a wealth of experience in analysing driver behaviour. | The Transport Research Laboratory in Berkshire has a wealth of experience in analysing driver behaviour. |
| I was invited by government officials to visit the laboratory for a test to see how various distractions would affect my driving. | I was invited by government officials to visit the laboratory for a test to see how various distractions would affect my driving. |
| To summarise the results: my driving got worse. But was it dangerous? | To summarise the results: my driving got worse. But was it dangerous? |
| Jason Ness was killed by a careless driver who was fined £575 | Jason Ness was killed by a careless driver who was fined £575 |
| According to Dr Nick Reed, who analysed my test, it depends when the distraction occurs: | According to Dr Nick Reed, who analysed my test, it depends when the distraction occurs: |
| "If it happens at the wrong time, it could cause a serious accident and the fact that you were distracted at the time could mean the difference between serious injury and a fatal accident. " | "If it happens at the wrong time, it could cause a serious accident and the fact that you were distracted at the time could mean the difference between serious injury and a fatal accident. " |
| Last year the number of people killed fell below 3,000 for the first time since records began in 1926. But, still, eight people die on the roads each day. | Last year the number of people killed fell below 3,000 for the first time since records began in 1926. But, still, eight people die on the roads each day. |
| Alongside careless drivers, the new laws will also penalise uninsured, disqualified and unlicensed motorists who kill. | Alongside careless drivers, the new laws will also penalise uninsured, disqualified and unlicensed motorists who kill. |
| According to Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick, it is hoped the number of deaths will be reduced even further. | According to Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick, it is hoped the number of deaths will be reduced even further. |
| "The government is committed to continually improving safety on Britain's roads," he said. | "The government is committed to continually improving safety on Britain's roads," he said. |
| "Under the Road Safety Act we have already brought in tougher penalties for drivers who use hand-held mobile phones at the wheel and the introduction of these new offences today is the latest step to tackle bad driving and further improve safety on our roads." | "Under the Road Safety Act we have already brought in tougher penalties for drivers who use hand-held mobile phones at the wheel and the introduction of these new offences today is the latest step to tackle bad driving and further improve safety on our roads." |
| To the distress of many families of victims, fatal crashes caused by careless driving have tended to lead to penalties no more severe than a fine. | To the distress of many families of victims, fatal crashes caused by careless driving have tended to lead to penalties no more severe than a fine. |
| Only offences where the higher threshold of dangerous driving can be applied have carried a potential prison sentence. | Only offences where the higher threshold of dangerous driving can be applied have carried a potential prison sentence. |
| From next week careless driving in the UK could lead to prison too. | From next week careless driving in the UK could lead to prison too. |