Labour’s Islwyn MP Chris Evans has put his name to a proposed law to increase the maximum sentence for dangerous driving from two to seven years.
At present, if a defendant pleads guilty in the Magistrates’ Court, a judge is required to reduce this sentence by a third.
The forthcoming Justice Bill proposes to increase the discount for an early guilty plea from one third to 50%, which means that even the worst example of dangerous driving will attract a starting sentence of only 12 months.
Mr Evans said: “I am shocked at some of the horrific injuries that victims of dangerous driving can be left with. Lives can be ruined by dangerous drivers and it is important that the law acts to deter people from committing this very serious crime. The current sentences are not an adequate punishment.
“Some of the sentences handed down by judges leave victims feeling let down by the justice system. When an offender is released from prison after just a few months, by the victims may not even have started to come to terms with the damage that the offender has caused.
“It is simply not right that victims that have been left with terrible injuries often feel invisible or let down following sentencing. It is for this reason that the bill has my wholehearted support.”