Police are to be given the power to fine careless drivers rather than taking them to court as part of the government’s initiative to improve safety on the road network.
Drivers who display reckless and irresponsible behaviour such as tail-gating, undertaking and cutting other road users up will face a fine of £80 - £100 and three points on their licence.
Police officers will have three courses of action available to them depending on the severity of the offence: no endorsement and a fine, endorsable with three points and a fine, and prosecution. Drivers will, however, have the chance to appeal.
Transport secretary Philip Hammond said “We’re talking about the use of fixed-penalty notices of the type which have been used for years for speeding offences, but broadening out that very narrow focus on speed alone”. Mr Hammond went on to claim that the objective is to improve road safety rather than punish road users.
These new proposals are likely to come into force in 2012.
