| Previously if someone caused death by careless | | | | custodial sentence because they are not meant |
| driving then they could not be handed down a | | | | to be on the road, therefore the incident would |
| custodial sentence. This not only denied the | | | | not have happened if they had obeyed the law. |
| aggrieved families justice for the wrongful death | | | | The same principle is applied to people who do not |
| of their loved ones, it also made it much harder | | | | use hands free phones, as if they had obeyed |
| to implement restrictions on improper driving | | | | legislation regarding hands free phones the |
| practice such as dialling and driving. Hands free | | | | accident would not have happened. |
| phones are so readily available now that the | | | | This legislative change has been described as |
| negligent practice of dialling and driving has been | | | | overdue by many and the Ministry of Justice has |
| re-evaluated and now qualifies under a new law | | | | listed the number of unacceptable distractions as |
| which can hand out custodial sentences to those | | | | non hands free phones, texting, drinking and |
| who cause death or serious injury by careless | | | | eating, adjusting CPS or stereo, applying make-up |
| driving. | | | | or reading a map, the list has also been extended |
| The current legal system can deliver a sentence | | | | to using a smart-phone or BlackBerry. It is |
| of up to 14 years for someone convicted of | | | | estimated that 40 percent of drivers will still use |
| dangerous driving however until recently if | | | | phones without hands free phone kits whilst |
| someone caused death by careless driving then | | | | operating a vehicle and road safety groups are |
| they would simply walk away with a fine. The | | | | hoping that this step in the right direction will act |
| case of a 14 year old Brit is a perfect example; | | | | as a deterrent to dial drivers. |
| Jessica Leigh was killed by a motorist speeding at | | | | Hands free phones are available from a multitude |
| 60mph in a 30mph speed limit and the convicted | | | | of providers and range in style and cost. Most can |
| killer driver pled not guilty. Despite being convicted | | | | only accommodate incoming calls whilst driving, as |
| of death by careless driving the driver was | | | | to make a call you still need to dial which will |
| 300GBP and 6 penalty points. | | | | cause a distraction. Some new technology |
| This would also cover drivers who neglect to use | | | | provides hands free phones with voice dialling |
| hands free phones or drive while unlicensed even | | | | capabilities, this enables you to dial by just saying |
| if there was no fault with driving. So an unlicensed | | | | a name which is pre-recorded and linked to your |
| driver who kills a pedestrian will be subject to a | | | | address book. |