Fines for motoring offences increase

Fines for breaking the rules of the road will be increased from £60 to £90 with a new penalty for offences such as careless driving, it was revealed today.

The Government said the current method of dealing with careless driving is inefficient and instant fines were needed.

Parking fines issued through fixed penalty notices will not be increased, Transport Minister Mike Penning said.

The minister told Parliament today: "We are proposing to make careless driving a fixed penalty offence and open to the offer of education training.

"We believe this will help the police to enforce against this offence more efficiently. It will also provide greater flexibility in dealing with those low level careless driving behaviours that fall below the threshold for court.

"We will also be consulting on raising the level of many motoring fixed penalty notices, including increasing the penalty levels for many road traffic offences from £60 to £90."

Mr Penning said many of the penalties had not been increased since 2000 and were lower than fines for offences like street violence.

He added: "These measures will play an important role in improving road safety for all road users as well as maintaining compliance with motoring laws."