RESEARCH has revealed that motorists believe penalties for serious road offences are currently too lenient.

In a study by Green Flag Motoring Assistance, more than threequarters (76 per cent) of drivers said motorists convicted of speeding or dangerous driving, that resulted in death or serious injury, should be sent to prison for five years to life.

The results demonstrate motorists' support for new recommendations, published by the Independent Sentencing Advisory Panels that drivers who cause fatal accidents through mobile phone use or drowsiness should face up to five years’ imprisonment.

Green Flag spokesman Nigel Charlesworth said: “Our research shows that the motoring public feels penalties for irresponsible driving are not strong enough at present and that there would be widespread support for the tougher punishments being introduced.”

Drivers responsible for causing death and injury on our roads through drowsiness were, until recently, treated leniently and defences such as driver fatigue were considered mitigating factors. The survey also revealed that 70 per cent of drivers would take more care if the penalties were more severe.