Annex 4
SENTENCING—CURRENT
PENALTIES AND
FUTURE OPTIONS
For speeding offences, the courts can at present
endorse driving licences with three to six penalty points; disqualify
drivers in the most serious cases; and, impose a fine of up to
£1,000 (£2,500 for motorway offences). In practice most
speeding offences are dealt with through the fixed penalty system
where a driver is currently fined £60 and has three points
added to their licence. A driver to gains 12 points or more is
disqualified. New drivers who have held a licence for less than
two years who accumulate six points or more have their licence
revoked.
Speeding motorists may also be charged with
the more serious offence of "dangerous driving" or "careless
and inconsiderate driving" (Section 1 and 2 respectively,
Road Traffic Act 1991) where much heavier penalties could apply.
For more serious speeding offences the Home
Office Review of Road Traffic Penalties proposed a higher tier
of fixed penalty with a fine of £90 instead of £60 and
an endorsement more than double the standard number of points.
The response to the consultation on these proposals is still being
considered.
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