Tougher penalties for drivers come into effect

The Government said the measures under the Road Safety Act 2006 had been introduced to clamp down on "bad driving" and included higher maximum fines for careless driving and refusing to stop when requested by police.

The number of penalty points for failing to provide information on the identity of a driver, applying mainly to offences detected by speed cameras, has now been increased from three to six.

The maximum fine for careless driving has gone up from £2,500 to £5,000 and all seat belt wearing offences are now subject to the existing £500 maximum fine. The fine for refusing to stop increases from £1,000 to £5,000.

Currently the only offence that can apply where a motorist drives badly on private land is that of "furious driving". Anyone found guilty of this offence has still been able to drive on public roads, but the changes will allow such people to now be disqualified from driving on public roads.

If someone is found not guilty of manslaughter or culpable homicide, measures now exist to ensure they can be found guilty of other offences, such as death by dangerous driving and careless driving under drink or drugs.

The new rules also close a loophole regarding motorists who cause death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. Now drivers who have a blood test while unconscious, but then later refuse permission when they are conscious and able to give consent, can be prosecuted in the same way as drivers who refuse a test while conscious.

Licence checks

Justice minister Maria Eagle said: "The measures introduced today will make important changes to a number of road traffic offences so that they operate more effectively.

"We listened with great care to road safety groups and the families of victims, and their experiences have directly informed these changes. Quite simply, these measures will make our roads safer."

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick added: "The Road Safety Act is key to the Government's efforts to tackle bad and irresponsible driving.

"Some changes in the Act - like the introduction of penalty points for illegally using a mobile phone at the wheel - have already been enacted. The changes coming into force today are another important step in implementing this package of measures."

Jason Francis, managing director of fleet software company Jaama, said the measures meant that employers needed to be even more vigilant on driving licence checks.

He warned that harsher penalties concerning driver identification, as well as the recent introduction of penalty points for use of hand-held mobile phones, could result in more employees being banned from driving.

He said: "Most employers assume that if a member of staff or a new employee has a driving licence the individual can legally drive. That is not always the case. Driving licences of prospective employees should be checked against the DVLA database at the recruitment stage and a reporting system to check the licences of existing employees is essential."