Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wants to close an archaic legal hole which means riders who kill pedestrians like Charlie Alliston (pictured) can be jailed for a maximum of only two years.
Ministers are poised to announce a travel ban from Brazil and a number of other South American countries following concern over a new coronavirus variant.
The government s
COVID-19 operations committee met at lunchtime to discuss the issue - and the ban came into effect at 4am on Friday.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted that arrivals from the following South American countries would be banned: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Travel form Portugal is also suspended given its strong travel links with Brazil , but there is an exemption for hauliers travelling from there to allow the transport of essential goods.
The measure also does not apply to British and Irish nationals and third country nationals with residence rights - but passengers returning from these destinations must self-isolate for 10 days along with their households.