British teen imprisoned after texting caused death

The Post Chronicle reports that Rachel Begg, 19, has been sentenced to four years in prison for causing the death of Maureen Waites, 64, last year.

Waites was driving to Newcastle airport to pick up a relative when she was rear ended by Begg on a rain slicked road. The accident caused Waites to spin out of control and to crash into a crash barrier where she died at the scene from neck injuries.

Crash investigation has shown that Begg was travelling at 70mph when the accident occurred and phone records show that she had used to her cell phone in the fifteen minutes prior to the crash.

The preceding judge told the courts that “To send a text message is even more perilous at night in a darkened car.”

The incident proves that the tougher mobile phone laws that were introduced in February were required, but should the government go one step further and ban the use of mobile phones in vehicles if they're not completely hands-free? Share your thoughts with us in the forums.