20th December 2007
'Worst' mobile phone drivers to face prison
Drivers who use mobile phones will in the future be more likely to face two-year jail term.
Under new policy guidelines announced by the Crown Prosecution Service, prosecutors will use the charge of 'dangerous driving as the starting point for offences where there is clear evidence that a driver's mobile phone use has caused danger.
Previously, prosecutors have been instructed to first consider the lesser offence of 'careless driving when prosecuting drivers for mobile phone use, a charge that tends to lead to a fine and penalty points.
The new rules mean that the worst mobile phone offenders may face jail terms of up to two years.
Sheila Ranger, head of campaigns at the RAC, said that the charge was "entirely appropriate" for the most extreme circumstances.
"This is for people who are doing the most outrageous acts [while] on their phone," she said. "We still see terrible crashes where people have been texting, driving into the back of stationary queues because they haven't seen them."
Under new policy guidelines announced by the Crown Prosecution Service, prosecutors will use the charge of 'dangerous driving as the starting point for offences where there is clear evidence that a driver's mobile phone use has caused danger.
Previously, prosecutors have been instructed to first consider the lesser offence of 'careless driving when prosecuting drivers for mobile phone use, a charge that tends to lead to a fine and penalty points.
The new rules mean that the worst mobile phone offenders may face jail terms of up to two years.
Sheila Ranger, head of campaigns at the RAC, said that the charge was "entirely appropriate" for the most extreme circumstances.
"This is for people who are doing the most outrageous acts [while] on their phone," she said. "We still see terrible crashes where people have been texting, driving into the back of stationary queues because they haven't seen them."
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