Drivers who kill while distracted by their mobile or sat-nav face five years in jail

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The new offence of causing death by careless driving toughens the penalties for motorists who kill because they were ‘avoidably distracted’.

This includes fiddling with a car stereo, texting on a mobile phone, adjusting a satellite navigation system or reading a map.

Risk: The offence previously carried a maximum punishment of a £5,000 fine

Those who cause fatal accidents while uninsured, disqualified or unlicensed could get up to two years’ imprisonment, according to the offences set out by the Ministry of Justice.

The measures will be brought in on Monday. Previously, the maximum punishment for similar crimes was a £5,000 fine and points on your licence.

However, under recommendations issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council, those whose offence involved ‘momentary inattention’ could escape with a community sentence.

The most serious lapses in concentration should always incur jail terms up to a maximum of five years, it added.

Road safety charity Brake described the SGC’s guidelines as ‘woefully lenient’.

Road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: ‘Where carelessness - or an uninsured, disqualified or unlicensed driver - causes a death it is right that the driver should face tough penalties.’