Speeding is one of the most dangerous acts a driver can do, so the results of a recent poll are not particularly surprising.
A recent survey has found that 80 per cent of British drivers would want harsher punishments for those caught speeding and similar offences, with 85 per cent also saying there should be stricter enforcement of traffic laws and the Highway Code.
Current punishments can see fines up to £2,500 if a case of speeding is taken to court, but most motorists found driving over the speed limit or other similar offences will receive a £100 fixed penalty notice and three points on their license.
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However, with the public seemingly behind much more stringent driver penalties for offences, England’s Police and Crime Commissioners road safety leader Alison Hernandez – who commissioned the survey – thinks that minimum penalties for drivers should increase.
As less dangerous wrongdoings, such as littering, can receive fines of around £150, Hernandez believes that minimum fines should be raised to £130 to dissuade people from trying to break the speed limit.
Hernandez said:
“Far too many lives are being risked or ruined due to inconsiderate, dangerous drivers who have a blatant disregard for their own safety and that of others when they ignore the law.
“The results of this survey send a clear message that road safety is important to our communities and they want to see more rigorous enforcement of our traffic laws.
“Also, the level of fixed penalty notice fines for some offences is out of kilter with the harm caused.
“The penalty for those caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving doubled to a £200 fine and six points last year, and the maximum fine for those admitting littering from a car rose to £150 – yet the fixed penalty charge for speeding remains at £100 and three points.
“As Police and Crime Commissioner, I am calling for the fixed penalty fines for some traffic offences to be increased to act as a greater deterrent and, importantly, that this additional revenue is passed directly onto local road safety measures, with a priority given to enforcement.”
88 per cent of those asked in the Commissioner’s survey also backed having a portion of the money being put back into law enforcement.
