I read news today about the governments intentions to increase the penalties for speeding so that motorists could loose their license after two speeding offences instead of four.
Under the proposals that were outlined toady, motorists who are caught doing 45 mph in a 30 mph zone could receive a £100 fine and six points on their license as opposed to the current £60 and three points.
Currently motorists are allowed twelve points on a licence over a three year period, but this increase in penalty points alters how many offences one licensee can commit over that period of time.
The increased penalties will also apply to drivers who commit speeding offences in higher speed zones. Drivers doing 70 mph in 50 mph zones and 94 mph in 70 mph zones will also receive the increased penalties under the proposals.
In a reversal the government shelved plans to lower the penalty for drivers who are caught speeding just over the limit. 
I know people will say the bottom line is don’t speed, but as founder of safespeed.org says . . .
“A speed limit is nothing more than a weak proxy for the desired behaviour. Drivers will rightly be concerned that they will be faced with losing their licences for six months after two perfectly routine cases of driving safely. We all know that exceeding the speed limit isn’t automatically dangerous.”
I would be surprised if anybody can honestly state that when it is safe they don’t speed, even if by a few mph. I support any action that is put in place to make the road safer, such as speed cameras in accident black spots, but increasing driving penalties in such a way will only increase the estimated 4.5 million drivers who have points on their license and 21% of drivers who are only three points off a six month ban already.
Recent Comments