Raising the penalty in the UK for causing a death while operating a vehicle, currently a maximum 14-year-sentence, is coming at the hands of new government legislation implemented after a campaign by bereaved families and a cross-party group of members of parliament in London.
According to Dominic Raab, the UK Minister of State for Courts and Justice, the country is establishing the same offense for dangerous driving as for manslaughter in order to crack down on drivers who cause death because of their actions. An overwhelming 70 percent of the 9,000 people who took part in the legislation's consultation expressed support for life sentences for drivers who cause the death of others.
"Based on the seriousness of the worst cases, the anguish of the victims' families and maximum penalties for other serious offences such as manslaughter, we intend to introduce life sentences for those who wreck lives by driving dangerously, while drunk or high on drugs," Raab said, according to the Daily Mail.
To further improve road safety, instead of fines, new penalties for causing serious injury through careless driving will also be established.
Last year, 157 people in the UK were sentenced for killing others through dangerous driving,and 32 percent of those were convicted of killing others under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Official government figures reveal that 93 percent of 653 offenders convicted between 2010-2015 for criminal offenses on the road were sent to prison for seven years or more.
