Drivers who cause an accident resulting in death because they were texting on their mobile phone should face seven years imprisonment.
Such is the recommendation of the Sentencing Guidelines Council, which has warned that these actions should be treated particularly seriously by the courts and should result in lengthy custodial sentences.
Commenting on the proposals,
car insurance provider the AA has said that government and insurers should support the new rules.
"We're not surprised that such a strict sentence has been brought in and insurance companies are quite rightly taking an equally dim view of such offences," the company said in a statement.
Research from the group found that the average premium increases by £40 when someone receives a conviction for using their mobile while they are behind the wheel.
The company advised that as well as being aware of the risks such actions pose to others, drivers should also be mindful of the financial consequences too.
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