The Department for Transport (DfT) recently announced a number of changes to the treatment of penalties for motoring offences. These changes are in relation to the following:
- Failure to wear a seatbelt
- Using a mobile phone while driving
- Careless driving
- Failure to stop at a red light
- If you are caught speeding
All of these offences will now carry a fixed £100 penalty (note: Careless driving also carries penalty points on your licence). The infographic below has been released by the DfT.
Now then, whilst I feel that hitting motorists in the pocket should they “choose” (and I do mean choose) to commit such offences is a good way to go, I personally feel that such a minimal increase in fine solves nothing in regards to deterring such offences from being committed in the first place.
I’ve often been asked my thoughts on why a driver would commit such offences; after all, isn’t driving expensive enough without having to pay fixed penalty notices and increased insurance premiums? Well, the answer is of course yes! So why, given the expense involved to run a vehicle, do people still commit such offences?
In a word – ATTITUDE (a little more on that in a moment!)
Anyway, back to the issue of cost. I must point out that I do have varying opinions on each of the offences mentioned earlier, so I’m just going to pick one topic at the moment: using a mobile phone while driving (a personal bug-bear of mine).
Here’s an example:
A driver decides that it’s acceptable in their own mind to use a mobile phone while driving, and feel that the law is a silly one as, after all, they are a brilliant driver and can easily drive and use a hand-held mobile device at the same time, therefore can’t see any risk involved in doing so. Said driver regularly does this and feels that the worst case scenario is a £100 fine (this worst case scenario is, of course, only such until said driver injures, or worse, themselves or someone else).
Granted, we are living in tough economic times, and yes £100 is still £100, but is this figure really going to deter said driver from continuing to break the law? Absolutely NOT! In my opinion, this figure needs to be increased dramatically whereby the fixed penalty will put a fairly large dent in the pocket of most drivers – to pick a figure, let’s say £1,000.
Even though increasing the fixed penalty from £100 to £1,000 will not deter everyone, I feel it would certainly go a lot further in providing food for thought . . . Maybe, just maybe said driver will then take a moment to consider their actions, and the impact that having to pay the £1,000 fixed penalty notice will have on their lifestyle . . .
Regardless of the offence committed, I feel that the underlying problem is in the persons very attitude to driving. These attitudes have been formed over a lifetime and, as I’ve found, are VERY difficult to change – ‘set in their ways’ if you will. Ultimately, the most permanent solution, I feel, will be found in the education of drivers; however, that’s a whole other discussion . . .
Until next time, stay safe folks!
Chris