Extra speeding penalties proposed

It is understood that motorists caught driving at 45mph or above in a 30mph limit are likely to receive a tougher fixed penalty of six points and a £100 fine, an increase on the flat rate of three points and a £60 fine.

The Times said that the plans aim to send out a message that excessive speeding would lead more quickly to a six-month driving ban for accumulating 12 points within three years.

The higher penalty is also thought likely to apply to drivers caught at 57mph or above on a 40mph road and 94mph or above on a 70mph road.

But the newspaper reported that the Government is planning to drop a previous proposal to introduce a lower fixed penalty, of two points and a £40 fine, for driving only a few miles per hour over the limit.

Road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick said that introducing a lower penalty of two points would undermine the Government's message that small breaches of the limit can be deadly.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: "It would be counter-productive and against everything we are saying to tell someone 'you were doing 35mph so you should only only get two points'. The big message we are putting out is that it's 30 for a reason."

The Department for Transport is due to publish a consultation document before Christmas, it was reported.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "We welcome measures where people who are grossly above the speed limit get tougher penalty points.

"It is not getting at the ordinary motorist. It is getting at those who flagrantly break the speed limit."