Crackdown on Speeding and Drug-Driving

The AA has responded to the government’s consultation paper on Crackdown on Speeding and Drug-driving.
Following the Government’s announcement of a consultation into tougher penalties for speeding and drink-driving, the AA President Edmund King has stated, “More than two thirds of drivers support the idea of higher penalties for those who break the speed limit by a considerable margin. However, the AA’s main concern is that large drops in the speed limit, for example 60 to 30, are clearly signed.”
King added, “It is bad enough to get three points for failing to see a sign, but many will baulk at six points, especially if the sign is hidden because of poor maintenance. Clear speed limit signing is vital if this change of penalty is to be made.”
The AA is also pleased that £2m is to be spent on extending the THINK! campaign into drug driving, a continually growing road safety problem.
King warned: “Tougher laws and better enforcement methods are also needed, but these need more development to ensure they are fair and have no unwanted side effects. The new fixed penalty for minor careless driving will improve the flexibility of punishments available to the police for lesser offences, and avoid much workload for police and courts. The opportunity for the public to make clear its preference for a lower legal limit and changes to how we enforce drink driving law is also welcome.”
The AA Populus Panel showed that 66 per cent of drivers support a reduction in the legal limit, and 79 per cent support wider breath testing powers.
For more on this story and get the background on what the government are proposing, please read: ‘Tackling The Menace Of Dangerous Drivers article (www.fleetdirectory.co.uk/fleet-news/index.php/2008/11/21/tackling-the-menace-of-dangerous-drivers/)
Simon McBride