More British drivers abroad fall foul of law

SOARING numbers of British holidaymakers are being prosecuted for driving offences abroad.

Last year, 1,625 UK motorists fell foul of foreign traffic laws – an increase of 30 per cent on 2015 and up from just 138 in 2014.

Thomson Reuters, which obtained the figures through a Freedom of Information request, believes the rise is primarily due to the introduction of EU laws allowing the cross- border sharing of driver details.

Kevin McCormac, editor of legal guide Wilkinson’s Road Traffic Offences, said: ‘The latest EU legislation means there are now far fewer hiding places for British drivers abroad.

‘Many UK drivers abroad are caught out due to being unaware of local road traffic laws, which can be a costly mistake if it results in a hefty fine or legal proceedings.

‘It has never been easier for foreign prosecutors to request information to track down British drivers.’

The policy of Mutual Legal Assistance allows EU member states to co-operate on law enforcement and prosecuting criminal offences.

Mr McCormac added: ‘It will be interesting to see how Brexit impacts the MLA framework as it could result in the UK withdrawing from some international legal agreements.

‘Withdrawal may pose challenges for both businesses and the Government as the sharing of information may become more difficult.’