What next for speeders?

In a bid to set out measures aimed at the most dangerous drivers, new government proposals announced this week state that drivers who are twice caught breaking the speed limit by a significant margin could be banned automatically from the roads. Ministers and the public have welcomed the proposal and it is likely that the paper will also address formal drug and drive limits, in order to make prosecutions easier. 

As the law currently stands, most of the speeding offences are punished with a fixed penalty notice, a fine and three points.  However, the government wants to introduce more severe punishments for so-called excessive speeders, particularly those who drive in excess of 90 miles per hour on a motorway.  If the proposals are adopted, drivers who do speed will be automatically given six points.  Being caught twice at an excessive speed would incur 12 points, leading to an automatic disqualification from driving for six months. 

There is also some consideration that minor speeders could be looking at receiving only two points where they would have initially received three, for example those caught travelling at over 30mph in a 30mph zone.

Published: 26th November 2008

Satpal Roth

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