OUR campaign has been launched to get justice for seriously injured victims of dangerous drivers.

Drive For Justice is calling on the Government to increase the maximum tariff for dangerous drivers who cause serious injury.

The Bolton News has launched the appeal for victims such as Devon Foster, the 14-year-old seriously injured by drinkdriver Christopher Marr.

Under existing laws, courts have only two maximum sentences that can be imposed.

Dangerous driving carries just a two-year sentence, while death by dangerous driving has a maximum 14-year prison term imposed.

Road safety charity Brake has added its backing to Drive For Justice.

Spokesman Katherine Hartley said: “Brake fully supports the call for an increased maximum penalty for dangerous driving.

“It is an outrage that dangerous drivers who cause devastating injuries can get away with little more than just a slap on the wrist — this is nothing short of injustice for the victims and their families.

“We need a tariff for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, with a maximum penalty similar to that for causing death by dangerous driving.”

But when The Bolton News approached the Ministry of Justice, the Government department insisted sentencing was a matter for the courts and refused to comment on the issues raised by our campaign.

A spokesman said: “The maximum sentence for dangerous driving is two years’ imprisonment.

“Where poor drivers cause death, the options for sentences range up to a maximum of 14 years for causing death by dangerous driving, or for causing death by careless driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Sentencing in individual cases is rightly a matter for the courts to consider based on the facts of the particular case.”

But sentencing Marr, Judge Steven Everett, said he would be sending transcripts of the case to Prime Minister David Cameron, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke and the Lord Chief Justice as he called for the Government to increase the maximum tariffs for dangerous drivers.

A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron also declined to comment on the campaign, saying they would only confirm when they received the statements from Judge Everett.

Nick Ross, of Russell and Russell solicitors who represented Marr, said: “It’s highly unusual the judge has made this request.

“For it to go to the Prime Minister, the Lord Chief Justice and the Ministry of Justice is quite unprecedented in my 20-years plus of experience.”

Mr Ross said, as a parent, he understood why there was a sense of injustice.

He added: “I very much understand the outcry with this case.

“People can make up their own minds.

“It will be a matter for the Government as to whether or not they take this campaign on board.”

Last year, former Justice Secretary Jack Straw proposed increasing the current two-year maximum jail term for dangerous driving to five years.

It followed a campaign for an increased tariff by the parents of a toddler who was paralysed by a car travelling at more than 70mph in a 30mph zone in Sutton Coldfield.

Driver Antonio Singh Boparan was jailed for 21 months but served just six.

Labour MP Mr Straw said reckless drivers who leave victims with serious injuries should get tougher punishments but warned that it takes a long time to introduce new laws.

But the proposals are believed to have been sidelined by the new Con-Dem coalition government following the General Election.