A new proposal calling for harsher punishments for dangerous drivers is to be introduced under an amendment of the Government's sentencing bill.
A new offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving is planned that will carry a maximum sentence of five years as well as a fine, and it will be triable in crown and magistrates' courts.
Currently, the maximum sentence for dangerous driving is two years, unless it results in a fatality, in which case the maximum jail term is 14 years.
But with more than 2,000 dangerous driving convictions happening every year, road safety campaigners want harsher sentences for those who leave their victims seriously injured.
A spokeswoman for the road safety charity Brake said: "As a charity that supports bereaved and seriously injured victims of road crashes, we repeatedly see victims' families being grossly let down by the justice system, which only adds to the terrible trauma they must endure.
"This new offence finally means that serious injury is recognised within the title of the offence, and this recognition is vitally important to victims and their families.
"It also means that dangerous drivers who inflict serious injuries can expect to see higher sentences to better reflect the terrible trauma and injuries they have caused."
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke stated that road safety is a priority for the Coalition Government since five people died every day on Britain's roads last year.
He said: "We have listened to the victims of dangerous drivers, their families, MPs, judges and road safety groups and their experiences have directly informed these changes."
The proposed law has been welcomed by victims of dangerous driving and their families.
Cerys Edwards was just 11 months old when she was hit by a Range Rover doing 70mph in a 30mph road.
Driver Antonio Singh Boparan received a 21-month jail sentence after he was convicted of dangerous driving in April this year.
Cerys was left needing 24-hour care and on life support and is now paralysed. Her mother Tracey joined the fight to change the law.
She said: "There was no justice for Cerys and it's changed her life completely - all of our lives completely. Serving six months for what he's done to a one-year-old little girl I think is disgusting, and obviously that's why we went to Parliament to get the law changed and to try and increase the sentence.
"Technically he has killed her because obviously she's on a life support machine, but if he'd had actually killed her on that evening of the accident then obviously he'd have been facing 14 years. But the maximum sentence at the time for dangerous driving was two years."
Related links:
Read more on the story (BBC)
Read 'Your rights as a crime victim' (FindLaw)
Find local motoring solicitors throughout the UK (FindLaw)
