NEW legislation introduced into the Legislative Assembly by Attorney General Simon Corbell would see  maximum sentences for serious driving offences increased.

The Crimes (Certain Penalty Increases) Amendment Bill 2011 proposes to increase the maximum penalty for culpable driving causing death from seven years to 14 years and the maximum penalty for culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm from four years to 10 years.

The Bill also raises the maximum penalty for recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm from 10 years to 13 years and the penalty for negligently causing grievous bodily harm from two years to five years.

“Culpable driving offences causing harm or causing death are some of the most serious in the ACT, and the Government has made a decision to increase these penalties following several representations on this particular issue,” Mr Corbell said.

“Concerns have been raised by the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions as well as members of the ACT community, and the Government agrees that higher maximum penalties will adequately reflect the severity of these offences on the ACT’s statute books.

“Increasing these penalties also sends a clear message to the judiciary about what the Legislature sees is a serious offence.”

The Bill also proposes the maximum penalty for the offence of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm increase from 15 years to 20 years.