DANGEROUS drivers are being slapped on the wrist while speeding motorists face the full force of the law.

That is the claim of road accident victim Susan Murdoch who suffered multiple injuries when her car was flipped onto its roof after being struck by another vehicle at a Bury roundabout.

Police said the other driver was "sufficiently blameworthy" to justify action and he was offered the chance to attend a driver improvement course rather than face prosecution in court. Under the scheme a driver would pay £145 and successfully complete a one-and-a-half day course. No points would be added to the driver's licence.

Now Mrs Murdoch of Wash Lane, Bury, believes dangerous motorists are being given better treatment than those caught on speed cameras who may be only slightly over the speed limit.

She said: "A friend of mine was caught driving two miles per hour over the speed limit and was automatically fined £60 and had three penalty points put on their licence.

"The driver who crashed into my car was, I believe, driving at excessive speed, not using the rules in the Highway Code regarding the use of roundabouts and was so obviously driving without due care and attention.

"Yet, he has escaped a fine, a conviction and penalty points which, when they are accumulated, can and do result in disqualification.

"I strongly feel that prosecution by the courts would have acted as a far better deterrent than attending a driving course."

A letter from Greater Manchester Police's judicial support unit to Mrs Murdoch explained the decision not to prosecute the offending driver after the accident in Rochdale Road in June.

It stated: "Experience in recent years has shown these courses to be a positive and productive option, with proven benefits to road safety.

"While there is sufficient evidence in this case to justify a prosecution, there is no provision in law for a magistrate to order such retraining, and the imposition of a fine and penalty points will not do anything to correct poor driving habits."

Inspector Andy Hudson, head of Bury police's traffic unit said he sympathised with Mrs Murdoch but supported the decision to offer the driver the chance to retrain.

He said: "When people attend these intensive retraining courses they emerge as better, safer drivers.

"With regard to motorists who are caught speeding, they are probably more of a danger to other road users. They are aware of the speed limits but they take a calculated risk."