REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley has welcomed the launch of the Government's consultation into introducing stricter penalties for dangerous drivers that kill or cause serious injury.

Proposals put forward by minsters include raising the maximum penalties for some of the most serious driving offences and to create a new offence of ‘causing serious injury by careless driving’.

The consultation addresses four main issues: The distinction between ‘careless’ and ‘dangerous’ driving, a perceived “gap in the law” for causing serious injury by careless driving, the maximum penalties for causing death and driving disqualifications.

Mrs Lumley said: "Most of the time, the vast majority of drivers drive well, but there are occasions when even an error of judgment or loss of attention can have devastating consequences.

"There are constituents of mine, one who got in touch with me very recently about her brother who was killed in a road traffic accident, that this affects and I know it devastates families, and so I am very pleased the Government is committed to ensuring the legislative framework that the courts operate within reflects the seriousness of offending and the culpability of the offender."

This consultation is available to be completed at consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/driving-offences-causing-death-or-serious-injury until Wedneday, February 1,2017.