Acting justice minister Stef Blok has told MPs he is preparing draft legislation to increase the penalties for people involved in serious traffic offences.

For example, the maximum penalty for drunk driving is now six months while leaving the scene of an accident is just three months. The new maximum penalties will be decided later, the caretaker minister said.

The measures are being taken in response to research by Groningen University which made a number of recommendations for improvements, Blok said in his briefing.

The minister also wants changes to the official definition of ‘wreckless behaviour’. Although drunk driving and speeding can be considered wreckless behaviour, higher courts rarely accept them as such when handing out punishments.