DfT considers £90 penalty for careless driving offence
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By Roger Brown
THE DEPARTMENT for Transport (DfT) is considering making careless driving a £90 fixed penalty offence.
Under the proposals – out to consultation – a fixed penalty would be accompanied by three points placed on the driver’s licence, although drivers could appeal the decision at court. The fixed penalty would also enable the police to offer educational training as an alternative to endorsement.
The most serious examples of careless driving would continue to be heard before a judge, where offenders could face higher penalties.
The government is also consulting on whether to increase the payment levels for many motoring fixed penalty offences, such as speeding, not wearing a seat belt and using a mobile phone while driving, from £60 to £90.
In addition, it is looking at increases to other fixed penalties – non-endorsable offences such as vehicle defect and insurance breaches, as well as graduated fixed penalty offences covering things like drivers’ hours regulations.
Road safety minister Mike Penning says: “Careless driving is a major public concern and a cause of deaths and injuries on our roads. These changes support both police enforcement and, for some cases, the associated offer of edu cational training for motorists unaware of the full, potential consequences of driving carelessly. We also need to ensure that the penalties for a range of fixed penalty motoring offences are set at reasonable levels, consistent with the potentially severe consequences of some infringements.” Neil Greig, director of policy at the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), says: “We are unconvinced that making careless driving a fixed penalty notice offence will improve road safety. The IAM strongly supports driver re-education courses and these could still be handed out through courts.” The consultation will close on 5 September and details can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/ consultations/dft-2012-25/