Tougher speeding penalties planned

Those caught driving at 45mph or above in a 30mph limit are likely to receive a fixed penalty of six points, an increase on the flat rate of three points, it has been suggested.

It could mean drivers who speed excessively would quickly get a six-month driving ban for accumulating 12 points within three years.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the Government would be launching a consultation on the proposals shortly. He said: "We all know that speed kills - over the past two years some 800 people have died in accidents which involved speeding. That's why we want to improve respect for speed enforcement and as a result drivers' compliance with speed limits.

"As a result we will consult on a different way of penalising speeding. We know that a large number of motorists are good and responsible drivers, so we want to look at whether it is right to reduce the existing punishment from three points to two for those who stray over the limit by a small amount - like someone driving at 75mph on a motorway.

"But at the same time we will also ask respondents to seriously consider tackling the worst offenders, who put lives at risk by speeding excessively, by introducing a tough new six-point penalty."

Mr Fitzpatrick told Sky News that someone who "just drifts over the speed limit on the motorway, doing 75mph due to a temporary lapse of concentration, just crossing that threshold ... that is a different offence to someone speeding at 50mph in a 20mph zone."

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, The Times 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."

Neil Greig, director of the IAM Trust (formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists), said: "Excessive speeding is selfish, dangerous and harms the environment. The new Government consultation is welcome and we look forward to seeing the resulting benefits translated into safer and less stressful motoring."