Careless drivers face £100 spot fines

3rd June 2011

Drivers caught tailgating, ignoring red lights or ‘undertaking’ could all be caught with an on the spot fine of up to £100.

The proposal was set out in the new Strategic Framework for Road Safety.  It also sets out the government’s plans to:

• Require offenders to pass a test before they regain their licence after a serious disqualification.
• Make greater use of powers to seize vehicles to keep the most dangerous drivers off the roads.
• Increase the level of fixed penalty notices for traffic offences from £60 to between £80 and £100 and penalty points.
• Improve enforcement against drink and drug driving.
• Increase the use of police-approved educational courses that can be offered in place of fixed penalty notices to encourage safer driving behaviour.
• Launch an annual road safety day.

In separate plans to be announced later this year, the speed limit on motorways could be raised to 80mph, if it is found to benefit the economy.  Meanwhile, the limits on some rural roads could be cut, in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents.