Failing to stop and report a road accident that causes death or serious injury could become a specific offence in Jersey.
Deputy Catherine Curtis will ask the States to agree to new penalties, including a lifetime driving ban.
She says the relatives of road fatalities should not ever have to see the perpetrator behind the wheel again.
Her proposal to the States Assembly requests that the Home Affairs Minister:
"create a new offence under the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 for failing to stop and report an accident following a serious or fatal injury with the penalties for such an offence to include, but not be limited to, a lifetime driving disqualification and to bring any necessary legislation to implement such offence before the Assembly."
Deputy Curtis says Jersey has the highest road casualty rate in Britain - an alarming statistic that was confirmed in government data last summer.
In the past five years there have been nine fatalities and 242 serious injuries on the island's roads.
The Deputy says:
"Driving is not a right but a privilege, and justice is not served for victims left to die, or for their families, when the person responsible is allowed to drive again.
"No family or close friends of a victim of a serious road traffic accident should have to see the perpetrator driving a vehicle at a future date"
There is currently an offence of causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum 10 years in prison and a minimum two year disqualification from driving. The penalty for failing to stop and report an accident is up to six months in prison and a fine.
Deputy Curtis says those punishments are not enough of a deterrent, and do not afford enough justice to victims' families.
"Considering the exceptionally high number of road casualties in Jersey, there is no time to be lost in implementing measures to reduce serious injuries or death, and a lifetime ban for those who cause serious injury or death by dangerous driving and who fail to stop and report the incident, may assist in reducing numbers while affording greater justice to victims and families."
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