[loz]

Well the government have to claw back the tax cut's somehow.

Motorists face £60 fines and three points on licence for minor accidents - Telegraph

Motorists face £60 fines and three points on licence for minor accidents
Motorists at fault in minor accidents face £60 fines and three points on their licence in a clamp down on careless driving by the Government.

Thousands of drivers who would have escaped prosecution for collisions after simply swapping insurance details will now face likely prosecution as soon as the police become involved.

An array of trivial motoring offences in addition to minor crashes are also likely to lead to action under proposals to give police powers to issue fixed penalty notices for careless driving.

They could include eating, drinking or smoking at the wheel, reading a map, tuning a radio or arguing with a passenger.

All funds raised from the on-the-spot fines will go directly to the Treasury, which already makes more than £100 million a year from speed cameras.

[Iccz]

I dont see why the thumbs down or the disapproval.
If someone is eating, drinking or smoking etc then have an accident the yeah, understandable.


You can be fined for being caught doing that never mind causing an accident from it, what's the fuss?

[SteveCutler]

Motorists at fault in minor accidents

Contradictory

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Iccz

I dont see why the thumbs down or the disapproval.
If someone is eating, drinking or smoking etc then have an accident the yeah, understandable.


You can be fined for being caught doing that never mind causing an accident from it, what's the fuss?

Thing is sometimes genuine accidents do happen and those will be punished, I'm all for the idiot drving like a and causes a crash getting points, but unfortunately accidents don't always happen like that.

[domtheone]

No surprise given that the Motorist is Public Enemy Number 1 for the Labour Government.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by Jay AVF

Thing is sometimes genuine accidents do happen and those will be punished, I'm all for the idiot drving like a and causes a crash getting points, but unfortunately accidents don't always happen like that.

They shouldn't be eating / drinking at the wheel, if they crash while doing so even if its not their fault they're still breaking the law...

[SteveCutler]

I think there's a bit of misunderstanding...

The article doesn't make it clear whether the majority of "minor accidents" will have a person fined for, or whether it will only be for the "minor accidents" which were as a result of irresponsibility such as reading a map, tuning radios etc...

[dan54]

Originally Posted by domtheone

No surprise given that the Motorist is Public Enemy Number 1 for the Labour Government.

Ageed.Funny how you can drop fast food wrappers all over the place,swear at coppers,get involved in drunken fights etc etc and you'll be lucky to get even a caution (just watch Street Wars) yet any minor motoring infringement and 3 points and a fine straight away.You never eaten a thing or tuned your radio Iccz?

[loz]

Originally Posted by Iccz

I dont see why the thumbs down or the disapproval.
If someone is eating, drinking or smoking etc then have an accident the yeah, understandable.

You can be fined for being caught doing that never mind causing an accident from it, what's the fuss?

Because now, with an on the spot fine, the police will be handing them out like confetti...

Changing channels on the radio? That will be a £60 fine sir. Kerching.
Was that a piece of chewing gum I saw you put in your mouth? That will be a £60 fine sir. Kerching.

What did you say sir? Your house has been burgled? Oh, sorry, we are a bit busy at the moment.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Iccz

They shouldn't be eating / drinking at the wheel, if they crash while doing so even if its not their fault they're still breaking the law...

I didn't mention anything about eating or drinking at the wheel . People that drive with one hand whether they are eating , drinking, smoking or on there phone on a roundabout for example (yeah I've seen it) and cause an accident get no pity from me.

I said genuine accidents happen, and they do don't they, but now even those will be punished.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by dan54

Ageed.Funny how you can drop fast food wrappers all over the place,swear at coppers,get involved in drunken fights etc etc and you'll be lucky to get even a caution (just watch Street Wars) yet any minor motoring infringement and 3 points and a fine straight away.You never eaten a thing or tuned your radio Iccz?

Actually personally I stop at services to eat and drink, and I use MP3 player or CD's in my car.


I know it might get a bit ott, but if someone has a crash and there is proof they were eating or drinking, then fair enough.

I'd like to see how a copper can prove someone was changing radio station...

"No officer you must be mistaken I was changing gear"

No video evidence...?


I can see the side that it might get abused, but simple enough, dont eat or drink at the wheel, not so hard now is it really?

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by Jay AVF

I didn't mention anything about eating or drinking at the wheel . People that drive with one hand whether they are eating , drinking, smoking or on there phone on a roundabout for example (yeah I've seen it) and cause an accident get no pity from me.

I said genuine accidents happen, and they do don't they, but now even those will be punished.

Sorry I probably shouldn't have used that with your quote, but they're talking about dangerous driving, they're not gonna fine anyone who has a crash just for the sake of it, not unless there's evidence surely, like it says in the article...

[loz]

Originally Posted by Iccz

I know it might get a bit ott, but if someone has a crash and there is proof they were eating or drinking, then fair enough.

just to be clear, AIUI, it didn't say you would be fined if you had a crash because you were eating or drinking. You would be fined just for eating or drinking, or tuning the radio, even if you haven't crashed.

equally, you risk being fined for having a minor accident, regardless of whether you were eating, drinking or tuning the radio at the time.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Iccz

Sorry I probably shouldn't have used that with your quote, but they're talking about dangerous driving, they're not gonna fine anyone who has a crash just for the sake of it, not unless there's evidence surely, like it says in the article...

In theory but I do believe there will be cases like the following:

Originally Posted by loz

Because now, with an on the spot fine, the police will be handing them out like confetti...

Changing channels on the radio? That will be a £60 fine sir. Kerching.
Was that a piece of chewing gum I saw you put in your mouth? That will be a £60 fine sir. Kerching.

What did you say sir? Your house has been burgled? Oh, sorry, we are a bit busy at the moment.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by loz

just to be clear, AIUI, it didn't say you would be fined if you had a crash because you were eating or drinking. You would be fined just for eating or drinking, or tuning the radio, even if you haven't crashed.

equally, you risk being fined for having a minor accident, regardless of whether you were eating, drinking or tuning the radio at the time.

Apologies, I misread the article.

I dont think they'll fine everyone for each accident, surely, only ones where it can be down to dangerous driving and there's proof of that?
Cause surely you can appeal it there will be legal ways around it. There probably will be cases but i'm sure they'll be appealed and then they'll not just hand them out like crazy.

I understand the eating/drinking etc fines, it's not allowed at the moment... maybe this will help stop it.

[loz]

Originally Posted by Iccz

Sorry I probably shouldn't have used that with your quote, but they're talking about dangerous driving, they're not gonna fine anyone who has a crash just for the sake of it, not unless there's evidence surely, like it says in the article...

But it doesn't say that in the article.

Thousands of drivers who would have escaped prosecution for collisions after simply swapping insurance details will now face likely prosecution as soon as the police become involved.

An array of trivial motoring offences in addition to minor crashes are also likely to lead to action under proposals to give police powers to issue fixed penalty notices for careless driving.

They could include eating, drinking or smoking at the wheel, reading a map, tuning a radio or arguing with a passenger.

Notice the 'in addition'. The fines for being responsible for an accident, are not connected to the fines for the 'trivial motoring offences' caused.

Instead, now you will be fined, simply for being at fault.

tens of thousands of minor accidents are normally settled by drivers swapping insurance details, even if the police are called to the scene.

Now, it is feared, officers will be expected to issue a fixed penalty notice to the driver deemed to have been at fault.

Nothing about dangerous driving.

[Iccz]

"feared"


I'll believe it when it happens.


And yeah I admit I misread the article, its late and im excited for christmas, my bad

[Geege]

I wouldn't be surprised if this leads to an increase in motorists failing to stop after an accident and failing to report the accident

[Toasty]

I agree with the sentiments, but how is this to be enforced? Surely it will be one word against another? "It was his fault officer and he was changing radio stations too"

I sincerely it won't be a case of guilty until proven innocent..

[pringtef]

Surely the costs involved in implementing and enacting these type of fines are significantly greater than the fines themselves?

They should be hitting drivers using handheld mobile phones, and dangerous drivers instead of this. Provided it's proven beyond doubt that these people are doing this, i'd hit them hard in the pocket and on penalty points.

[Toasty]

Originally Posted by pringtef

Surely the costs involved in implementing and enacting these type of fines are significantly greater than the fines themselves?

They should be hitting drivers using handheld mobile phones, and dangerous drivers instead of this. Provided it's proven beyond doubt that these people are doing this, i'd hit them hard in the pocket and on penalty points.

I would agree with this, however, I guess this is an easy target as an accident has happened with police called to the scene. A lot easier than actively chasing bad road users, which is a little worrying if this is the trend of things to come.

[Bilbob]

Love these... another reason to make the average traffic copper enemy no1. to the driving public...

Why is it considered more dangerous to eat a snickers whilst driving along the m6 than to have a discussion with the Mrs, or talk to children in the back seat whilst driving round town???

What next? Will they actually make it illegal to talk to a passenger whilst driving?

And to those that say they don't touch the radio, change stations, eat or drink ever, whilst driving... sorry, but's that rhubarb... You've never changed the volume? You've never skipped a track? On a long journey, you listen to the same cd again and again? You pull into services to change cd? Honestly????

[loz]

Originally Posted by Bilbob

And to those that say they don't touch the radio, change stations, eat or drink ever, whilst driving... sorry, but's that rhubarb... You've never changed the volume? You've never skipped a track? On a long journey, you listen to the same cd again and again? You pull into services to change cd? Honestly????

Not with a multi-function steering wheel and CD changer

However, I am now in a quandry as to whether I can drive at night.
I have to take my hand off the steering wheel to turn the lights on. If I do that, then I am worried I will now get fined. But if I don't switch the lights on, then I get fined for that too. What shall I do

The world clearly is a dangerous place. I think I will stay in doors from now on.

[loz]

Originally Posted by Bilbob

What next? Will they actually make it illegal to talk to a passenger whilst driving?

As long as you are not arguing you will be alright

They could include eating, drinking or smoking at the wheel, reading a map, tuning a radio or arguing with a passenger.

[Bilbob]

Here is a novel idea, instead of hitting people with an ever increasing stick to enforce driving standards, why not ensure they are trained appropriately instead?

[loz]

Originally Posted by Bilbob

Here is a novel idea, instead of hitting people with an ever increasing stick to enforce driving standards, why not ensure they are trained appropriately instead?

but where's the revenue in that?

[neilios]

Give it a couple of yrs it 'll be like minority report .