Two strikes and you're out threat for speeding drivers

Published on Thursday 20 November 2008 22:30

DRIVERS will be banned if they are caught twice speeding at 15mph over the limit, under proposed new laws.

Fines for not wearing seat belts will be doubled to 60, while there is a possibility of lowering the drink-drive limit.

A raft of proposals by ministers to tighten up motoring laws published yesterday also included new moves against drug driving, while more average-speed cameras have been signalled.

The crackdown on speeders will focus on those breaking 20mph and 30mph limits, because they risk the most pedestrian casualties.

Drivers caught above a certain speed in a 20mph zone would have six penalty points added to their licence, compared with three at present. Drivers reaching 12 points lose their licence.

Six points would be imposed at either 35mph or 40mph, depending on the responses to the consultation. The threshold in 30mph zones would be 45mph or 50mph, and 90mph or 95mph on 70mph roads. It would be set at 20mph above the speed limit elsewhere.

Ministers said there was evidence that drivers slowed down after clocking up at least six points. They said higher fines were a less effective deterrent, so the standard 60 penalty would remain unchanged.

However, previous plans to cut penalties for motorists caught just over the speed limit have been abandoned, because ministers said this would send the wrong message to drivers.

The AA cautioned on the introduction of extra penalty points. Edmund King, its president, said: "More than two-thirds of drivers support the idea of higher penalties for those who break the speed limit by a considerable margin. However, our main concern is that large drops in the speed limit, for example 60mph to 30mph, are clearly signed."

Jim Fitzpatrick, the UK road safety minister, pledged a "very serious discussion" over the drink-drive limit but confirmed the government did not propose to cut the 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood level to the European level of 50mg.

He said there was no conclusive evidence that it would reduce drink-driving.

However, Stewart Stevenson, the Scottish transport minister, who is campaigning for the reduction, said it would make a "significant contribution to road safety." The British Medical Association said: "The science is clear – a 50mg limit would lower the number of road crashes, deaths and serious injuries on our roads."

Other proposals include a new offence of driving after taking a drug "which is both illegal and impairing".

The government also said average speed cameras had a "clear potential" to cut casualties, especially on rural roads.