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<p>Severe maximum penalties, of 14 years imprisonment, are available for those who
cause death through dangerous driving or under the influence of drink or drugs and
statistics show that the overwhelming majority of those convicted for these offences
receive lengthy custodial sentences. The maximum penalty for causing death by careless
driving is 5 years imprisonment and for causing death by disqualified, unlicensed
or uninsured driving is two years imprisonment. We are keeping the law in this area
under review. If any changes are needed, we will bring forward proposals.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance
to the judiciary is produced independently of Government, by the Sentencing Council.
This is in line with the principle that, whilst the Government decides what maximum
penalties should be, the courts are responsible for deciding what sentence to impose
within those limits.</p><p> </p><p>The sentencing guideline on Causing Death by Driving
was published by the Sentencing Guidelines Council in 2008. It covers the offences
of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving as well
as causing death by dangerous driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs
and causing death by driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured. Last year, the
Justice Secretary wrote to the Sentencing Council (as it now is) to ask them to review
the death by driving guideline and they have agreed to include this in their programme
of work.</p><p> </p>
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