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Careless drivers who put other road users at risk face on-the-spot penalties under new measures announced today (5 June 2013) by Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond.

The changes will give the police powers to issue fixed penalty notices for careless driving, giving them greater flexibility in dealing with less serious careless driving offences - such as tailgating or middle lane hogging - and freeing them from resource-intensive court processes. The fixed penalty will also enable the police to offer educational training as an alternative to endorsement. Drivers will still be able to appeal any decision in court.

In addition, existing fixed penalty levels for most motoring offences - including using a mobile phone at the wheel and not wearing a seatbelt - will rise to £100 to bring them into line with the penalties for similar non-motoring fixed penalties.

Stephen Hammond said:

Careless drivers are a menace and their negligence puts innocent people’s lives at risk. That is why we are making it easier for the police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fixed penalty notice rather than needing to take every offender to court.

We are also increasing penalties for a range of driving offences to a level which reflects their seriousness and which will ensure that they are consistent with other similar penalty offences.

Edmund King, AA President said:

It is worrying that 3 quarters of drivers see others using mobile phones behind the wheel on some or most journeys1. This epidemic of hand held mobile phone use while driving has already cost lives and our members have demanded action. An increase in the standard motoring fixed penalty fine will help deter those who commit motoring offences including mobile phone use. AA members broadly support an increase in the level of the fixed penalty. Our members also fully support educational training as an alternative to penalty points.

We are also pleased to see that at long last new powers and fines will be given to the police to tackle the top three pet hates of drivers – tailgaters, mobile phone abusers and middle lane hogs.

Chief Constable Suzette Davenport ACPO lead on roads policing said:

The new penalties are absolutely necessary to deal with drivers who are putting people’s lives at risk and police will not hesitate to enforce them.

These measures should also act as a reminder to careless drivers that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

The vast majority of drivers are law abiding, but some are still not getting the message. We said we would get tougher on those who make our roads dangerous and that is exactly what we have done.

The fixed penalty for careless driving will be £100 with 3 points on the driver’s licence. The most serious examples will continue to go through court, where offenders may face higher penalties.

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There are no changes to penalty levels for parking offences.

Fixed penalty levels for most of these motoring offences have not increased since 2000, and are now lower than other penalties of a similar severity. In addition, raising the penalty levels for these offences offers an additional incentive for drivers to take up remedial courses which address poor driving behaviour in the longer term.

The changes - which the government aim to bring into force in July this year - are being introduced following extensive public consultation with road safety groups and police forces.

Related documents

• Fixed penalty levels for motoring offences, written statement by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, 5 June 2013
• Changes to the treatment of penalties for careless driving and other motoring offences consultation

Notes to editorsMost motoring fixed penalties offences will rise under the changes:

• a non-endorsable (where the driver does not receive points on their licence) £30 fixed penalty notice will rise to £50
• an endorsable (where points are given) £60 and non-endorsable fixed penalty notice will rise to £100
• an endorsable £120 fixed penalty notice will rise to £200
• the fixed penalty notice for driving with no insurance will rise from £200 to £300

Graduated fixed penalties (mainly for commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles and including offences like drivers’ hours and overloading) and financial deposits (for drivers without a satisfactory UK address) will also increase:

• a £30 non-endorsable fine will rise to £50
• a £60 endorsable and non-endorsable fine will rise to £100
• a £120 endorsable and non-endorsable fine will rise to £200
• a £200 endorsable and non-endorsable fine will rise to £300

The consultation took place from 14 June 2012 to 5 September 2012.

As with other existing fixed penalty notice offences, such as speeding, police forces will also be able to offer careless drivers the option of remedial training.

Endorsable road traffic offences contribute to a significant number of casualties. For example, in 2011, excess speed contributed to 213 deaths and using a mobile phone while driving contributed to 374 road casualties.

Though penalty levels will increase, penalty points will not change. Fixed penalty notices for parking, waiting and obstruction offences will also remain unchanged.

1Populus interviewed 20,936 adults aged 18+ on The AA-Populus online panel between 20 and 23 August 2012. Populus is a founder member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

Roads media enquiriesPress enquiries 020 7944 3066

Out of hours 020 7944 4292

Public enquiries 0300 330 3000

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Driving test candidates with tests on Friday 31 May should still come for their test despite the threat of strike action by examiners.

Driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Service union are planning to take strike action on Friday 31 May 2013.



The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is doing everything it can to make sure that tests go ahead as planned and urges all candidates to come for their test as usual.

You won’t have to contact DSA to rebook if you can’t take your test because of the strike action. You should hear from the agency with a new date within 5 to 10 working days.

Out-of-pocket expenses

You can claim out-of-pocket expenses if your test is cancelled, but you must have turned up for your test to do this. If you don’t turn up, you’ll have to rebook your own test and you won’t be able to claim expenses.

Find out how to claim out-of-pocket expenses.

Cancelling or changing your test

You’ll still be able to book, change or cancel practical driving tests online go to https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driving-standards-agency
Theory tests

Theory tests aren’t affected by the strike action and will be taking place as planned. 

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Allow at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front on roads carrying faster-moving traffic and in tunnels where visibility is reduced. 

The gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and increased still further on icy roads.

A vehicle can be recalled by the manufacturer if it has a known safety fault.

There has been a worldwide recall of some vehicles because of concerns about potentially faulty passenger airbags.

Recalled vehiclesYour vehicle will need to be checked and may need to be fixed before you can use it for the driving test if it’s on the list below.

Vehicles registered from 2000 to 2004 are affected - these have the following registrations:

• W
• X
• Y
• 01
• 51
• 02
• 52
• 03
• 53
• 04

Mazda

• Mazda 6

Honda

• Jazz
• CR-V
• Stream
• Civic Coupe

Toyota:

• Corolla
• Picnic
• Yaris
• Camry
• Avensis
• Avensis Verso
• Lexus SC430

Nissan

• Almera
• Almera Tino
• Terrano
• Navara
• Patrol
• X-Trail
• Pathfinder (imported vehicles only)

What you’ll need to take to your testYou’ll need to take proof to your test that the vehicle has been checked and, if necessary, fixed.

The proof you bring has to be one of the following:

• the actual recall letter or safety notice that has been stamped by the manufacturer or dealer
• written proof from the manufacturer or a dealer (on official or headed notepaper) that the car is safe for use in a driving test

Your test will be cancelled and you could lose your fee if you don’t bring the right proof.

Tests booked for 15, 16 or 17 AprilIf your test is booked for 15, 16 or 17 April 2013 and your vehicle is listed above and hasn’t been checked, your test will be cancelled. However you will be offered another test free of charge.

You still need to turn up for test as planned to show your vehicle is affected by the recall.


https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/making-roads-safer

Sometimes the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has to cancel or stop driving tests because of bad weather, vehicle problems or other reasons.

Your test will usually be automatically rebooked for you at no further cost if it’s cancelled by DSA.

Bad weather: Practical driving tests are not held in dangerous weather conditions, e.g. when the roads are icy.

Call your test centre if there is snow or ice in your local area on the day of your test.

When to phone your test centre: You should call the test centre:

• as soon as you can on the day of your test if it’s booked for early in the morning
• later in the morning if your test is in the afternoon

No answer from the test centre: If nobody answers the phone, and the conditions in your area aren’t looking too bad, it’s likely that the driving examiners are:

• checking the local roads to see if driving tests can go ahead
• taking driving tests because the conditions are suitable

However, this isn’t a guarantee that your test will go ahead.

Call the test centre again or go there in time for your test.

If your test can’t go ahead: A new appointment date will usually be sent to you within 3 working days. This could take up to 7 days when the bad weather goes on for longer.

You won’t be able to claim for any out-of-pocket expenses.

Waiting times for a practical driving test: As well as causing cancellations, bad weather can sometimes lead to longer waiting times for practical test appointments.

On 19 January 2013 the European Union Third Directive on driving licenses comes into force. All new driving licenses from this date will have to meet the terms of the Directive. The changes will mainly affect motorcyclists, lorry, bus and minibus drivers and those who tow trailers. For more informations go to Gov.uk

The rules are: 'Before you set off you MUST be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows. You MUST ensure that lights are clean and number plates are clearly visible and legible, make sure the mirrors are clear and the windows are demisted thoroughly.

Remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users. 
Check your planned route is clear of delays and that no further snowfalls or severe weather are predicted.