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Dangerous drivers to face longer prison sentences

23/12/2009

Motorists convicted of driving dangerously will face tougher jail terms in the future to reflect any serious injuries caused to victims, under plans announced by the Government today.

The current maximum jail term of two years for dangerous driving would increase to five years - giving courts the power to impose greater penalties on those who seriously injure others.

Announcing the change, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: "Dangerous driving can destroy lives and have a devastating impact on the families and friends of its victims.

"We have listened with great care to the innocent victims of dangerous drivers, their families and road safety groups and their experiences have directly informed these changes."

However, Mr Straw warned that the tougher penalties would require legislation and would not come into effect for some time.

The pledge has been welcomed by road safety campaigners, including the parents of Cerys Edwards, the girl left with severe long-term injuries at the age of 11 months after her parents' car was hit by a speeding driver in Sutton Coldfield

The driver convicted of causing the accident by dangerous driving, Antonio Boparan - who was 19 at the time of the November 2006 accident - had been travelling on the wrong side of the road at 70mph in a 30mph zone.

He was sentenced to 21 months in prison, but was released after six. Had one of his victims been killed, Boparan would have faced a term of up to 14 years under the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

The Government's intent to toughen penalties was also welcomed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, which highlighted that more traffic police would be required to enforce the law.

Meanwhile road safety charity Brake said the news was "an important first step" but called for higher penalties and a new offence.

Brake's chief executive, Mary Williams, said: "We urgently need not only an increase in the current penalty for dangerous driving but also a new charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving equivalent to the charge of causing grievous bodily harm."

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