Maximum jail terms to be raised for danger drivers

Maximum jail terms for dangerous drivers who seriously injure others are to be increased by the Government following months of lobbying by a Yorkshire MP.

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke will today announce the creation of a new offence of “causing serious injury by dangerous driving” carrying a prison sentence of up to five years.

Dangerous driving cases in which no one is killed currently carry a maximum sentence of two years, but Hull East MP Karl Turner introduced a Private Members Bill in May calling for this to be raised to seven.

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Mr Turner lobbied Ministers on the behalf of constituent Katie Harper, who suffered severe injuries in a collision caused by a dangerous driver.

He said: “Judges need to have the headroom to give a sentence that reflects the horrific consequences of this crime.

“Victims should be at the heart of our judicial system and this new law goes some way to achieving that.“

The changes form part of the Government’s Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

Mr Clarke said: “Five people died on our roads each day last year, so we need to do everything we can to further improve safety.”