Fuel Card News Motoring Updates: Speeding fines to go up to £90

Fines for motoring offences such as speeding should be increased from £60 to £90, says a government consultation.

Mike Penning, the Transport Minister, feels that current fixed penalty notices belie the seriousness of the offences which motorists are committing.

“We need to make sure that the penalties for a wide range of fixed penalty motoring offences are set at reasonable levels, consistent with the potentially severe consequences of some infringements,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

In future, the government also hopes to punish ‘careless driving’ with fixed penalty notices rather than the current system which requires drivers being taken to court. It is thought police officers may avoid this route because of the “heavy burden of paperwork".

This means anti-social driving, such as tailgating, braking suddenly, or passing a vehicle on the nearside could become punishable with an on-the-spot fine.

Drivers responsible for more serious examples of careless driving, such as those involving collisions, would not be given fixed penalty notices.

However, Claire Armstrong, of the campaign group Safespeed, condemned the 50 percent hike: "It appears to show nothing more than milking the motorist and lining the pockets of the ever growing pockets of the speed camera industry.

"In no way will this improve road safety."

Back in April, the government proposed this increase would act as a cash boost to the fund for victims of crime and witness support. However, research by the Institute of Advanced Motorists found 80 percent of drivers would be happier if the money went into improving road safety rather than towards victim support.

In other news, the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, says the government should use the automotive sector as a model for success to grow other British industries.

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