British Drivers on Mobiles Face Harsh Penalties

American lawmakers don't seem to want to punish drivers on cellphones, but in Britain, motorists on mobiles caught driving dangerously face a two-year jail sentence. The Daily Mail says drivers fiddling with navigation systems, MP3 players, or texting while driving now face stiffer penalties. Drivers caught using their mobile while driving face a £60 fine and three point penalty. Should prosecutors deem their driving as careless, drivers face a £2,500, and even a two year sentence in jail.

Under the new law, drivers like Rachel Begg (currently serving a four year sentence after killing a 64-year old woman) and John Payne (also facing four years after killing a 23-year old woman) would've been facing up to 14 years in prison. Thousands of Americans are killed every year on the road by drivers talking or texting on their mobiles, and I think it's time they face stiffer penalties too. In Colorado, a teen checking a text message on his phone, struck and killed 63-year old cyclist Jim Price, and only got 9 days in jail, 4 years probation, and 300 hours of community service. That's hardly fair, even if it was an accident.

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