The Government is proposing increasing the current two-year maximum jail term for dangerous driving to five years.
Justice minister Jack Straw's proposal has been welcomed by road safety charity Brake.
'Brake welcomes this news as an important step forward,' Mary Williams, Brake chief executive said.
'However, one of the many reasons that people are calling for an increase in the dangerous driving penalty is because of the lack of any charge for seriously injuring through dangerous driving.
'The maximum penalty for death by dangerous driving is 14 years and yet the only charge available to the courts for causing paralysis, brain damage and loss of limb is dangerous driving.
'We urgently need not only an increase in the current penalty for dangerous driving but also a new charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving equivalent to the charge of causing grievous bodily harm.
'We would advocate a maximum penalty for a new charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving that is similar to the penalty for causing death by dangerous driving.'