November 23, 2008

The Government has outlined proposals to increase the number of penalty points added to drivers licenses if they are caught driving at excessive speeds.  The proposals have been welcomed by many motoring organisations, but the definition of ‘excessive’ speed seems to be disconcertingly vague.

Last year there were 2,946 deaths and 30,000 serious injuries on British roads; speed is cited as a factor in 29% of the deaths, approximately 850 fatalities. Department for Transport (DfT) research published yesterday identified that the worst incidents of excessive speed are on motorways and in 30mph zones.  This accounts for more than three out of 10 incidents.

The study showed that one in six drivers exceed the motorway speed limit by more than 10mph. Excessive speeding is defined as driving above the limit by 10mph on motorways and A roads and by 5mph or more in 40 and 30mph zones.  Given the sheer number of motorway miles that have their speed limit reduced to 50 mph when road works are taking place (often, it would seem purely to be able to reduce the speed limit and slap some average speed check cameras up), it's impossible to ascertain how many of these ‘excessive speeders’ are just poor saps who didn’t realise that the speed limit had been reduced and were traveling at 60 mph.

It is hard to view the statistics as anything but spin from a government determined to drive commuters to the wall.  It has been reported in the past that the speed limit has a 10% over clause that is set in speed cameras to allow for speedometer accuracy,  but now were looking at 1 mph over that at 40 mph as being excessive speeding, punishable by a fine and 6 points on your license.

While there can be no doubt that excessive speed is often one of the manifestations of the unsociable driver, these new measures seem to be like to using a sledgehammer to crack an egg.  At a time when people are losing their jobs in all regions and sectors, and the credit crunch continues to ravage the UK economy, surely making it easier for commuters to lose their license and then their ability to get to work is ridiculous.

Lets see targeted policing that monitor problem areas and look to remove the vehicles of persistent offenders, rather than unfortunate commuters who have fallen victim of the authorities latest efforts to turn all drivers into criminals.New

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