Speed fines soar

Worst culprits will pay nearly double their weekly income

SPEEDING drivers face tougher penalties from yesterday as part of a road safety crackdown. Fines for the worst speeders rose from 100 per cent of weekly income to as much as 175 per cent.

A motorist earning £25,000 a year could face a fine of £840, compared to £480 previously. The tougher fines apply to those who break the limit by a wide margin.

It includes those who do more than 50mph in a 30mph zone, more than 76mph where the limit is 50mph and those who go above 100mph on the motorway.

Motorists given these “band C” penalties will also get six points on their licence or be banned from the road for up to 56 days.

A newly-qualified driver would have his or her licence revoked if he or she was hit with six points.

The tougher penalties were welcomed by motoring and road safety groups. AA president Edmund King said: “The majority of drivers breaking the speed limit will still receive a fixed penalty notice of £100 and three penalty points, or may be offered a speed awareness course.

“However, excessive speeders, for example, doing 51mph in a 30mph zone, who end up in the courts, will see a big jump in the fines they receive. Most fines will be capped at £1,000 or £2,500 on motorways.

“There is no excuse for excessive and dangerous speeding on our roads and responsible drivers will welcome the changes coming into force now.

“Hitting dangerous drivers in their pockets with fines totalling 150 per cent of their weekly earnings will be an effective way to penalise offenders.

“There is no sensible reason for driving 51mph or more in a 30mph zone. It is only right that these extreme offenders are punished severely and we hope the changes encourage them to think twice about speeding.”

Road safety charity Brake said the move was necessary because breaking the limit or travelling too fast for conditions was recorded by police as a contributory factor in 23 per cent of fatal crashes in 2015.

Brake campaigns director Gary Rae said: “Toughening the fines and penalties for speeding is long overdue.

“As a charity offering a support service to families bereaved and injured in road crashes, we see every day the consequences of speeding on roads. I hope magistrates ensure the new sentences are applied consistently.”