Road death drivers may get life

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Motorists who cause death on the roads could be jailed for life under plans from the Crown Prosecution Service.

The CPS has suggested the worst offenders, currently prosecuted as death by dangerous driving, should instead be tried for manslaughter.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald QC, said the way bad drivers are tried needed to be modified in line with the public's changing attitude.

Tailgating and holding mobiles may also become classed as dangerous driving.

Such offences are currently treated as careless driving under the law.

The move would mean a much broader range of poor driving behaviour would carry a prison term.

While the offence of dangerous driving carries a two-year maximum prison sentence, careless driving can only be dealt with by a community order or a fine.

Due care and attention

Mr Macdonald said: "We have strong feelings that public views have moved along at a pace in recent years and we want to make sure our policies reflect public views.

"The test is if you were standing on the pavement and saw something would you think 'That's bloody dangerous'?

"If you thought it was dangerous, would you prosecute it as dangerous driving?

"Do people regard as dangerous types of driving that they would not have regarded as dangerous five or 10 years ago?

"My feeling is that public attitudes have moved on," he said.

Brigitte Chaudhry founded the road crash victims charity, RoadPeace, after her son Mansoor, 26, was killed when a van driver hit his motorcycle after going through a bank of 12 red traffic lights in Lambeth, south London.

The driver pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and was fined £250 and given eight penalty points.

She said: "It is high time. Members of the public not affected by this would be shocked to know that death and injury on the roads has been treated so shabbily."

The CPS consultation paper, which applies to England and Wales, also asked for views on the current policy of generally not prosecuting a motorist whose driving led to the death of a close relative - providing no other people were endangered in the incident.