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Speeding drivers to face ban after two offences

Drivers could be banned from the roads after two speeding offences under safety measures to be announced.

By James Kirkup and Andrew Porter
Last Updated: 11:10PM GMT 19 Nov 2008

Comments 31 | Comment on this article

The proposals would see motorists given six penalty points for breaking the speed limit by a significant margin. A driver with 12 points on their licence is disqualified automatically.

The excessive speeds could be defined as more than 50mph in a 30mph zone, 70mph in a 50mph zone or 90mph on a motorway. Ministers will consult, however, before determining the exact thresholds.

Under current laws, most motoring offences are dealt with by a standard fixed penalty notice of a fine and three penalty points.

Motorists are only taken to court if police feel that a stiffer sanction is necessary, because only a court can impose a penalty of more than three points for a speeding offence.

The new system would see drivers receiving six-point penalties without a court hearing.

The plans are detailed in a consultation document, published on Thursday, in which the Government proposes a "sliding scale" of punishments for speeding offences. This would also see "borderline" cases, where a driver only exceeds the speed limit by a few miles an hour, incurring only two penalty points.

Four minor speeding offences would therefore no longer automatically add up to a disqualification.

Laws permitting a sliding scale for fixed penalty notices were passed in 2006 but ministers did not enact the system because they feared it would be politically controversial.

Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, is understood to have concluded that a more flexible approach to speeding was now required, allowing the police to focus their attention on the most dangerous drivers. Motoring groups estimate that around 40 per cent of motorists have had penalty points for speeding. Department for Transport figures show that there were 2,946 road deaths in 2007, with speed a factor in many of them.

The Government will also announce that it has backed away from lowering the drink driving limit, which will remain unchanged.

Britain has one of the highest limits in Europe at 80mg of alcohol to 100ml blood. Doctors and road safety campaigners had backed a cut to 50mg, enough to put someone over the limit after a single drink.

However, ministers want to concentrate on the small number of people who drive while well over the legal limit. "It's the people who are at 100mg and more who are the real danger here; that's who we have to target," said a source.

As part of the shift in emphasis, ministers will expand the "High Risk Offenders Scheme" targeting a hard core of persistent drink-drivers.

This could see friends, neighbours and colleagues encouraged to inform police about those who frequently drive while drunk. These drivers would get warning letters from their local force telling them to seek help and change their ways. They may also be followed while driving and subjected to spot-checks.

Such targeting schemes have been used successfully in Canada. Lothian and Borders police began a similar initiative this summer.

Vince Yearly of the Institute of Advanced Motorists said the sliding scale for speeding penalties could be a useful contribution if it was accompanied by more use of "driver education courses" as an alternative to punishment.

"A sliding scale for fixed penalty notices – if it is also used alongside more education for drivers – may send the right message that this is about educating drivers instead of automatically penalising them," he added.

Cathy Keeler of Brake, the road safety campaign group, welcomed the prospect of increased penalties for the worst speeders.

But she said that she was worried about a two-point penalty, because it could reduce the punishment for speeding in built-up areas.

The new system would see drivers receiving six-point penalties without a court hearing.

The excessive speeds could be defined as more than 50mph in a 30mph zone, 70mph in a 50mph zone or 90mph on a motorway.

The new system would see drivers receiving six-point penalties without a court hearing.

This could see friends, neighbours and colleagues encouraged to inform police

They may also be followed while driving and subjected to spot-checks

It seems that this government is totally anti driver, so in my opinion, everyone who owns a vehicle or drives a vehicle for work should not vote for them in the next election, let's see how several million lack of voters makes them feel about their policies.

True, 6 points for going as fast as everyone else does in L3....

This would also see "borderline" cases, where a driver only exceeds the speed limit by a few miles an hour, incurring only two penalty points.

odd that no one mentioned this



can the thread be renamed banned after six offences