Don’t ‘downgrade’ careless driving

The Department for Transport said fixed penalty notices for careless driving will give police greater flexibility in dealing with “less serious careless driving offences - such as tailgating or middle lane hogging - and freeing them from resource-intensive court processes”.

The Institute of Advanced Motoristssaid it is concerned that fixed penalty tickets for careless driving downplays the seriousness of the offence.

“Careless covers a wide range of poor to reckless driving behaviour that often merits further investigation,” said IAMdirector of policy and research Neil Greig.

He said the new powers could free up traffic police time and allow them to maintain a higher profile.

“But without traffic cops out on the road to enforce this new approach it will have little impact on road safety,” he said.

The fixed penalty will also enable the police to offer educational training as an alternative to endorsement. Drivers will still be able to appeal any decision in court.

In addition, existing fixed penalty levels for most motoring offences - including using a mobile phone at the wheel and not wearing a seatbelt - will rise to £100 to bring them into line with the penalties for similar non-motoring fixed penalties.

Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said:

“Careless drivers are a menace and their negligence puts innocent people’s lives at risk.

“That is why we are making it easier for the police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fixed penalty notice rather than needing to take every offender to court.

“We are also increasing penalties for a range of driving offences to a level which reflects their seriousness and which will ensure that they are consistent with other similar penalty offences.”