15.06.12
Government proposes higher driving fines
Fixed penalty notice fines for motorists could rise from £60 to £90, the Government has proposed. A consultation on the changes is now open to the public.
The document suggests that fines of £60 could create the perception that an offence is minor.
“If the FPN [fixed penalty notice] is set at a level lower than £90, there is a risk that the offence would be perceived as trivial and inconsequential,” the consultation document warns.
Other proposals include making careless driving a fixed penalty offence, with an option for drivers to receive remedial training. Drivers caught tailgating, braking suddenly or passing a vehicle on the nearside could also face notice fines or have the option to take an educational course.
This could save the judiciary £5.53m, the police £2.91m in administration costs and £9.5m in frontline costs over the next ten years. However, the revenue to the exchequer could fall by £4.4m over this period as fewer drivers will face prosecution and fines, the Government predicts.
The under-secretary for transport, Mike Penning, said: “These measures will play an important role in improving road safety for all road users as well as maintaining compliance with motoring laws.”
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Image c. Dave Dugdale