Crackdown on drivers talking on cell phones

London: Motorists who kill while talking on a mobile phone could face up to 14 years in jail under a crackdown on bad driving.

Drivers who cause non-fatal crashes while using mobiles and other electrical equipment, and those who injure cyclists and pedestrians, will also face more serious charges.

Prosecutors will be told to bring manslaughter charges - carrying a possible life sentence - whenever they can.

The policy was announced by Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken Macdonald after consultation with victims, police and motoring groups. More detailed guidelines will be published later.

It follows concern about lenient punishments given to motorists who kill or cause serious injury.

Law flouted

Despite fines and three penalty points for using a mobile, many drivers still flout the law, sometimes with fatal consequences.

Trinity Taylor, 23, from Aldershot, died in 2005 after lorry driver John Payne ran into her car on the M3 in Basingstoke while using his mobile. Payne, 31, of Chesham, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for four years.

Changes are designed to ensure more offenders are charged with dangerous rather than careless driving. At the moment, most are charged with careless driving, because to prove the driving was dangerous it must be shown to be "far below" what a reasonable person would expect, or involved a substantial mistake.