The Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, has announced plans to change the penalties that dangerous drivers who seriously injure people receive.

Currently, the maximum jail term for dangerous driving is two years, though if someone is killed through dangerous driving the jail term is up to fourteen years.  The new plans will see drivers who cause serious injury by driving dangerously facing up to five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

The Justice Secretary said he recognised that there was gap in the law between the offences of dangerous driving and death by dangerous driving, and the changes came in response to concerns raised by victims and their families and road safety campaigners.

He added: "Making our roads safe is a priority - five people died on our roads each day last year, so we need to do everything we can to further improve safety."

Road safety groups have welcomed the proposals with Andrew Howard, the head of road safety at the AA saying: "Dangerous drivers should face the consequences of their actions.  These law changes should make sentences more proportionate to the devastation dangerous driving causes."

Full story - BBC News 07/10/11