Tough new laws for drivers causing death
"Causing death by careless driving" to feature in new Road Safety Bill
Motorists involved in fatal car crashes could be charged with causing death by careless driving and face up to five years in prison under tough new driving offence laws.
The Road Safety Bill which will apply to Scotland, England and Wales - with minor changes in Scotland to accommodate Scots law - will also create a new offence of causing death when driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured. If found guilty, offenders could be sentenced to up to two years in prison.
Motoring organisations have said the new offences will be easier to prove in court than driving dangerously.
Criminal Justice Minister Fiona Mactaggart said that the bill would deal with poor driving standards. The government wants to reduce deaths and injuries on roads by 40% by 2010.
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