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Killer drivers will face life behind bars in a ­major purge to cut the number of tragedies on our roads.

The death by dangerous driving penalty is to be raised from the 14-year maximum to deter speeders and people who use their mobile phones at the wheel.

And careless drivers who kill while on drink or drugs will also face life.

The move comes after government ministers were deluged by 9,000 submissions from victims, bereaved families and road safety campaigners calling for tougher sentencing.

Many were furious the maximum was rarely imposed.

(Image: SWNS +44 (0)1179066550)

Latest figures show 157 motorists were convicted of causing death by dangerous driving last year, and 32 of causing death by careless driving while drunk or drugged.

Now the offences will be put on a par with manslaughter. Justice minister Dominic Raab said: “We’ve taken a long hard look at driving sentences. Based on the seriousness of the worst cases, we intend to introduce life sentences for those who wreck lives.”

Following the high profile death of mum-of-two Kim Briggs, 44, death by dangerous driving could also apply to cyclists. Mrs Briggs was knocked over by cyclist Charlie Alliston, 20, in East London last year.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

His fixed-wheel track bike had no front brakes.

He was cleared of manslaughter but sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders’ institution under an obscure 19th century law.

There will also be a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving which will carry a prison sentence.

Under existing law, careless driving carries a maximum penalty of a fine. The results of a Ministry of Justice consultation will be published tomorrow.

The new sentences will come into force as soon as ministers can find Parliamentary time.

(Image: PA)

Roll call of shame on our roads

Majid Malik and Kaiz Mahmood, both 28, were each jailed for eight years for death by dangerous driving after a pedestrian was killed in a “madcap” hit-and-run.

James Gilbey, 25, was hit by a car while crossing Stanningley Bypass in Leeds in July, 2015. Malik, above left, and Mahmood were racing in separate cars at the time.

James’s father called the sentence a “kick in the stomach” and handed a 12,000-name petition to No10 calling for the pair to face manslaughter charges.

A teenager who boasted on social media of driving at 142mph on the M62 was jailed for six years when he killed a man in a high-speed crash the next day.

Addil Haroon, 19, above, said he drove from Leeds to home town Rochdale in 11 minutes in a hired Audi A6. A day later he did 80mph on a street in Rochdale before killing Joseph Brown-Lartey, 25.

Banned driver Nicholas Lovell, 38, left, was jailed for 10 years for killing a couple when he knocked them off their tandem bike while being pursued by police.

Ross Simons, 34, and wife Clare, 30, died at the scene in Hanham, Bristol, in January 2013. Lovell fled the crash scene.

Amin Aminullah, 40, left, received a £1,400 fine and four-year ban after his car went through a red light and hit a teenager on a pelican crossing on New Year’s Day, 2014.

Miriam Parker, 18, was in a coma for a month after the collision in South Croydon, London, and will need care for life.

Boy racer Samuel Etherington, 20, left, took ketamine and mephedrone before his Honda hit two girls, killing them both.

A judge jailed for him for nine years and said he was “a menace at the wheel”.

Jasmine Allsop, 14, and Olivia Lewry, 16, died in Gosport, Hants, in November2014.