Response: IAM comment on Government’s new road safety measures
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "We welcome the proposal to give novice drivers extra training. Many young drivers crash simply because they lack driving experience. Extra training with in-depth coaching and more hours behind the wheel will prevent accidents and save lives. We will work with the government and the insurance industry to make this new approach a reality.
"A strategy that punishes deliberate bad driving while allowing those who make simple human errors to improve has our full support. But we are concerned that issuing spot fines for careless driving could downgrade the offence and we will be monitoring the impact carefully."
New measures
The Department for Transport have announced the police now have the power to hand out on-the-spot fines for careless driving such as tailgating, undertaking or cutting up other drivers of reportedly up to £100, rather than being taken to court.
Current loopholes on drug-driving and loopholes, which have in the past allowed people to get off drink-driving charges will be closed and disqualified drivers will be forced to retrain and possibly have to take another test before they regain their licence.
The courts will also be encouraged to call on their powers to seize vehicles for the most serious offences.
In a written statement to MPs, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond will also announce a new approach to drivers who make genuine mistakes on the roads with a wider range of retraining and education courses on offer for low-level offences and newly passed drivers.
Novice drivers will be able to take additional qualifications to reassure insurers and hopefully reverse the steep upward trend in premiums for less experienced motorists.
Convictions for offences related to bad driving fell from 125,000 in 1985 to 28,900 in 2006, suggesting that many cases are going unpunished, said the DfT.
A DfT spokesman said: "The strategy will focus on cracking down on the really reckless drivers through more efficient enforcement.
"By giving the police the tools to deal with those who present the greatest danger to others we can make our roads even safer.
"While seeking to do everything possible to tackle the most dangerous drivers, the strategy will also help the responsible majority to improve their driving. This is the Government’s twin approach to improving road safety."
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