Speed twice - get banned twice as fast
November 9th, 2007
New government plans revealed recently could mean that speeding motorists get six points (and a £100 fine) instead of the current three points (and a £60 fine). This increased tariff could mean drivers being banned after just two instances of driving over the speed limit - having duly accumulated 12 points.
Is this a good thing? Will it help drive home the message that ‘thou shalt not speed’? Or, are we just going to see thousands of perfectly safe drivers banned, fined and forced to pay increased insurance premiums?
It’s a hard one to answer: on one hand there is the argument - forwarded by motoring campaign group Safe Speed -that going over the speed limit does not automatically make you a dangerous driver, yet, on the other hand there is the simple arguement that rules are rules - break them and pay the consequences.
It is worth noting that amidst the furore, and ahead of the planned government consultation, Jim Fitzpatrick the Transport Minister did note that the six point punishment was intended only for those who are excessively speeding - not just drifting over the limit, but way beyond it, so say 45mph in a 30mph zone, 70mph in a 50 zone, and 94mph in a 70mph zone. On this basis, the proposal does seem to have merit: at these speeds we are surely not talking about careful drivers but ones with no heed for the legal limits, who presumably believe it to be safe, or else a worthwhile or acceptable risk, to drive way over the limit. Surely, were this to be introduced, this could only help make our roads safer? Let’s see what emerges from the consultation…
3 Comments Add your own
1. Ian | November 13th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
I have experience of being banned for speeding (108mph on a deserted motorway on a sunday morning) and though I felt badly done to I accept that the law is there to protect us all and took my punishment. What I dont like is when a police officer, who is supposed to be an example of how the law works, is then allowed to take a car he had no authority to drive (Taken without owners consent) and speeds on a motorway far in excess of anything I was doing and crashes that car,osting all of us money through our taxes, and he is then allowed to keep his licence and his job. This is where the public then have a right to say that the law is an ass and ask why should I be forced to slow down if even the police dont agree with the law?
2. Peter Waine | November 24th, 2007 at 3:35 am
And when the public get used to driving at 20mph and then revenue starts to drop will they make a case for 10mph zones to stiff the motorist yet again? It’s all a big scam like yellow lines everywhere (miles outside of towns now) to force you onto the council parking lots knowing damned well most people are pre occupied with shopping that they forget their parking time is up and BINGO a £30 fine with what is in affect a demand of money by menace that if you don’t pay within 30 days you will be charged £60. Got us by the short and YOU KNOW WHAT and everyone’s cashing in that’s including the insurance companies I am afraid. The motorist is just a money pig.
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