A German court has sent a stern message to speeding drivers by sentencing a driver to 18 months for causing an accident which killed a young mother and infant.
The conviction of Rolf Fischer, 34, is a warning to thousands who drive at up to 180 mph on autobahns, flashing lights and blaring horns to force slower cars out of the way.
"The ruling makes clear that speeders and those who tail-gate dangerously will face harsh punishment," Iris Gleicke, deputy transport minister, told German TV. "Drivers who use cars as weapons should no longer be given just a slap on the wrist with small fines," said Rene Wassmer, head of the VCD German motoring club. "All our EU neighbours have limits on motorways, and they've been waiting for Germany to make concessions so that Europe can harmonise safety," he added.
The dead woman's car was forced to change lanes by Fischer in his car last July. She lost control and collided with a tree, killing herself and her two-year-old daughter instantly.