Tough New Penalties

• ·Failing to use seatbelts: three penalty points for driving without a seatbelt or for drivers carrying a child unbelted. Fine on conviction for carrying child unbelted in back to increase to a maximum £500.
• ·Speeding - a fixed penalty of £60 plus three penalty points for ignoring a temporary speed limit (eg at road works) - with 3-6 penalty points, a fine of up to £1,000 or disqualification if taken to court .
• ·Driving without proper control or driving using a handheld mobile phone: three penalty points; with fine of up to £1,000 [£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses and coaches] and possible disqualification if taken to court. The current fixed penalty of £30 will increase to £60 in July.
• ·Careless and inconsiderate driving - fine to increase to a maximum £5,000.
• ·Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition becomes an obligatory disqualification of not less than six months if a similar offence has been committed within previous three years.
• ·Failure to give the police information which would identify the driver of a vehicle when an offence was committed - penalty points increased from three to six.