Drivers convicted of death by dangerous driving could face life imprisonment — as sentencing rules are extended from this week.
Hannah Jones of Churchers Solicitors — which has branches in Ryde, Cowes, Newport and Freshwater — said life sentences will also be available to judges when dealing with those convicted of careless driving if they kill someone while under the influence of drink or drugs.
At the moment the current penalty for each crime is a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
The changes come in to force from tomorrow (June 28) as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.
The new legislation also creates an offence of causing serious injury by careless driving. That means that those who inflict long-term or permanent injuries will also face tougher sentences.
The law changes were first proposed in 2017 and once in effect will apply to offences in England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.
Hannah Jones said:
“This is a significant change to the sentencing powers available to a judge in the crown court. It means that someone who kills while behind the wheel of a car could face the possibility of a life sentence.
“In our experience very few people convicted of these crimes set out to kill someone or to cause serious injury, but it is usually the outcome of recklessness in getting behind the wheel of a vehicle when they are not in a fit state to do so.
"The government said it wanted to ensure "punishments reflect the severity of crimes and the misery killer drivers leave in their wake”.
The government said the Crown Prosecution Service would still charge people with murder or manslaughter where there was evidence that a vehicle was used as a weapon to kill or commit grievous bodily harm.
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