Drivers who kill whilst using mobiles to be charged with manslaughter by default

Rejected 20 signatures

What the petition asks

The increasing ubiquity of mobile phones & social media means people find it hard to resist their use whilst driving. The current charges of Death by Careless / Dangerous Driving do not carry sufficient penalties to act as an effective deterrent. A manslaughter charge is required/more appropriate.

In-vehicle distractions led to 9,012 accidents and 196 deaths between 2010 and 2012.

The Department for Transport said that of 88 deaths caused by distractions in 2012, 17 were due to mobile use – a higher death rate than any other in-car cause.

On 31.10.2016 truck driver Tomasz Kroker was sentenced to ten years for killing a woman and four children whilst distracted by his mobile phone. With good behaviour he will end up serving just 15 months per killing. This is not an adequate deterrent.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

The Government and Parliament don't decide which crimes people are charged with.

If you would like the law to be changed, you could start a new petition calling for the specific change you want to see.

Timeline

1 Nov 2016	Petition opened for signatures
9 Nov 2016	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 20

Status Rejected

Rejected 9 Nov 2016

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