According to a BBC News report, the police will be given powers to fine careless drivers on-the-spot, rather than taking them to court, as part of the government’s new road safety framework which will be unveiled today (11/5/11).
Ministers say motorists who tail-gate, undertake or cut others up often go unpunished and that introducing instant penalties will be more efficient. Offenders would get a fine of at least £80 and three points on their
licence.
The BBC report says that this new approach is likely to be introduced in 2012 in England, Scotland and Wales.
Philip Hammond, transport secretary, will give a written statement to MPs today (11/5/11) outlining the new road safety framework for England, Scotland and Wales.
The framework is expected to include a crackdown on drug-driving and closing loopholes that allow people to escape drink-driving charges.
Disqualified drivers will have to undergo retraining, and possibly take another test, before they got their licence back. Courts will be encouraged to make more use of their powers to seize vehicles for the most serious offences.
Ministers say the new approach will try to target genuinely reckless motorists rather than those who normally follow the rules but make an inadvertent mistake.
There will be support for new drivers who need to hone their driving skills, and wider range of retraining and education courses for cases of less-serious offences.
A DfT spokesman said: "The strategy will focus on cracking down on the really reckless drivers through more efficient enforcement.
"By giving the police the tools to deal with those who present the greatest danger to others we can make our roads even safer.
"While seeking to do everything possible to tackle the most dangerous drivers, the strategy will also help the responsible majority to improve their driving. "This is the government’s twin approach to improving road safety."
Click here to read the full BBC News report.
Surely, if one is to concentrate on the really reckless drivers their driving is going to be so far below that of a normal competent driver that it becomes dangerous, and not careless? I’d rather drivers were actually prosecuted for the actual offence they had committed, and not the one that is easiest to convict for.
David, Suffolk
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Only really worthwhile if there’s actually enough traffic officers on the streets to see the offence and issue the ticket though.
Dave, Leeds
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