Councils fining speeding drivers is ‘useless’

HANDING local councils the power to fine speeding motorists will reduce road safety because drivers are only really worried about getting points on their licence, a leading criminal lawyer has warned.

Wandsworth, in south London, has become the first local authority in the country allowed to fine drivers who breach 20mph speed limits, but they will not be able to issue endorsements.

If successful the pilot scheme is likely to be rolled out to other councils across the country, massively increasing the number of fines issued to drivers.

But Nick Freeman, the leading motoring lawyer, dubbed Mr Loophole after getting a string of celebrities off speeding charges, said it will do little to improve road safety because fines are a “useless form of punishment”.

Mr Freeman said without the risk of totting up points and facing a potential driving ban, motorists will not be deterred from breaking the speed limit.

He said: “I’ve been a criminal defence lawyer for over 40 years and I can say with certainty that drivers do not care about fines – they care about points on their licence and disqualification.

“So when the threat of endorsement is removed, drivers will be more reckless and less likely to watch the speedometer, with potentially catastrophic consequences.”

Wandsworth, a Labour-run council, has been granted permission to run the pilot scheme for eight months. Simon Hogg, the council leader, said: “If judged a success, we will look to make it permanent and carry out enforcement in other parts of the borough, where we know vehicle speeds are excessive.”