Is the government going too far with its plans to clamp down on speeding?
It is considering plans to double the number of penalty points drivers can lose if they are caught speeding, to six from the usual three. With 12 points within three years adding up to a ban, that means just two flashes of the camera could be enough.
Already 4.5 million drivers have points on their licences for speeding and 21 percent of them are just one conviction away from a ban.
The government says slower speeds save lives and wants to make speeding as unacceptable as drinking and driving. Opponents of all the humps, cameras, chicanes and “slow down”smileys that we have to negotiate these days say education of drivers is the answer, not money-spinning enforcing devices.
What do you think?
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5 comments so far
What a joke! if the labour government is really serious about reducing deaths on our roads they would employ more traffic police to monitor the roads. It sounds like labour need more money in the piggy bank and it typifies the Big Brother/nanny state mentality of this administration. Don’t they know that the UK roads are the most congested in all of Europe! We need more police officers on the road not more piggy boxes and banning tax paying is rubbish. They need to educate young drivers of the inherit risks associated with driving at speed. The fact is that this Government is content to the throw the book at the speeding driver but we it comes to protecting our country from terrorists we can even deport them from the country thanks to Cherie! This government need to get a grip, irregardless of how many Speed cameras there are people will still speed. Education is the answer not disqualification, all that will happen is; we will have more disqualified drivers with no insurance or road tax using the road. Once again this Labour party comes up with another poorly thought-out policy that inflames the situation but does little to address it.
- Posted by Charles JohnstonThis goverment is close to becoming a totalitarian dictatorship. Freedom to travel to work etc is a human right. People wander into roads using their mobile phones and not paying attention to what is happening around them and the driver pays the price. I have been driving in excess of 36 years and I picked up 3 point through entrapment on the Wrotham Hill. Until the police and their speed camera’s are honest and infallible how can we accept anything the dishonest goverment and politically correct lobby impose on the majority of law abiding citizens. I believe the more serious issue is having 40 tonne lorries driving through narrow village streets at 30 miles an hour. No one seems to care about this except the residents. The local politicians do not give a damn. Yet again it is the innocent that are pursued to the extreme. Yes if someone has been speeding they should get three points, if they are stupid enough again to get caught bring in 4 points. If you take someones job away from them on the basis of twice and you lose your licence, this is a punishment that has serious implications. Loss of job, loss of home, extra burden on the state for welfare benefits et al.
- Posted by Nigel HarperLet’s get real and deal with the real issues that really matter. Like building more prisons, deporting illegal immigrants whom have murdered, raped and pillaged their host country in return for our hospitality and shelter. These are the issues. Above all Blair epitomises the corruption that society supports, why? The Police were wrong to kill Menenez in cold blood, until they act honourably how can we be expected to TRUST THEM. It is so ludicrous.
in some ways it would be good in many others its just the start of a huge overkill
- Posted by JokerIts all simple really, they want more cars of the road as there are to many. so you make it harder to pass your test and easer to lose your licence. unfortunately they have not thought through the real problems of doing this, in that the ones band from the roads are the ones needing them for work so its going to hit the Economy in the end. Also the trying to save lives that the government pulls out of its hat has nothing to do with it, if it did then the should be sorting out the MRSA in the hospitals that kills far more the cars. i guess it makes more money as well.
- Posted by gary sanchezLower driving speeds cause driver inattention, driver inattention or distraction is the major cause of road accidents not speed so this measure is not going to achieve a reduction in road casualties.
- Posted by Mr M.K. RoseThe one measure that may reduce pedestrian road casualties is not even being considered by the government.
The UK urgently needs a “jaywalking” law along with an education campaign to make pedestrians aware of the dangers of walking into the road without looking first. The education campaign should also focus on how to use a pedestrian crossing properly. Legislation should be introduced to penalize pedestrians who refuse to cross the road in the proper manner or refuse to use a pedestrian crossing.