A ROAD group today said it was "shocked and disappointed" that an uninsured driver who caused a serious accident had been fined just £233.

And Brigitte Chaudhury, of national campaign group Roadpeace, called for a change in the law so that uninsured drivers who caused injury to others were dealt with more severely.

The call came after jobless Kurdish refugee Hernin Azad, 20, admitted driving without due care and attention, with no insurance and no licence, on Barden Lane last October 29.

Burnley magistrates heard two motorists were injured when Azad came out of a side street without stopping and smashed into one of them.

The court was told Karen Riley suffered torn tissues and ligaments and whiplash after her 4x4 vehicle was hit by Azad's Honda Civic and tipped over on its side.

A second victim involved in the three vehicle pile-up, Pamela McCauley, was also taken to hospital while Azad was trapped by the legs.

The defendant, of Grey Street, was told to pay £233 in fines and compensation and was banned from driving for nine months.

Mrs Chaudhury, a spokesman for Roadpeace, which works for road safety and supports people injured or bereaved in road accidents, said: "This is just another example of the casual attitude to injury on the roads and is completely inappropriate.

"Unfortunately, the routine response to cases like this is a fine, which cannot be right.

"We have been campaigning for more than 12 years for a change to how traffic accidents are treated, but there are no plans for the government to look at injury accidents.

"That means people like Mr Azad will continue to be charged with a minor offence and dealt with by lay magistrates.

"We are not surprised by this case, but we continue to be shocked and disappointed."

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has said the Government is considering introducing new penalties of up to five years in prison for unlawful drivers involved in fatal accidents.

But there are no similar plans for non-fatal accidents where victims suffer serious injury.

Elizabeth Read, prosecuting, said Mrs Riley was driving past a junction when the defendant came out of a side street at speed, making no attempt to stop or slow down at the Give Way sign.

He hit her vehicle which spun round and tipped over. Mrs Riley had to be helped from the wreckage.

Mrs McCauley's car was also struck in the collision and she suffered torn ligaments.Azad 's vehicle was badly damaged and he was bleeding from a head wound.

The defendant told policehe had no insurance or licence but had an Iraqi licence.

Philip Turner, defending, said Azad had been in this country three years and was a refugee from the previous regime in Iraq.

He spoke no English when he arrived but had been to college and had made good progress.

Until the incident, Azad was a machinist. He had had an international driving licence but after 12 months ought to have applied for a UK licence.

The defendant had been insured but was going to sell the car and cancelled the policy four days before.

He had taken a neighbour's child to school and had thought the woman in the four wheel drive had flashed him out of the junction.

Mr Turner said Azad had lost his job because of time off work after the accident and his vehicle was written off. He was sorry for injuries.

He added: "He says it was a mistake, nothing sinister."