Owen Meredith: Fines to discourage speeding, not generate revenue

Owen Meredith is Chairman of Newcastle-under-Lyme & Keele University CF, Area Chairman of Staffordshire CF, and Deputy Chairman (Membership) of Newcastle-under-Lyme Conservative Association.

> Policy summary

Reforming the administration of speeding fines, moving the emphasis away from cash generation towards a system that truly acts as a deterrent to speed.

> Explanation of policy

As it stands, in the UK, if you are caught by a fixed camera, or police patrol, you will normally receive a fixed penalty, regardless of the speed you are travelling (subject to a cap at which point a fixed penalty is not issued).

This is not a deterrent to speeding, it does not discriminated against an individual who has not properly monitored their speed, and an individual intentionally speeding.

Let me give examples:

A pensioner driving home from the supermarket at 34mph, in a 30mph zone, because they are not watching the speedometer, will receive a fixed £60 and 3 penalty points.

A businessman late for a meeting, driving at 40mph in the same 30mph zone, will also receive a fixed £60 and 3 penalty points.

This does not reflect the danger posed by the two drivers. They do not pose equal threat to the public, but are punished equally, a pedestrian hit at 30mph has an 80% chance of survival, at 40mph, this cuts to 30%. So the businessman driving at 40mph poses a much greater public threat than the pensioner at 34mph.

What I am proposing is a change punishing drivers according to the danger they are creating.

A system on fines and points similar to what I have given in the following example for a 30mph zone:

Speed              Fine        Points

31-33mph          £0               0
34-36mph     £40-60              2
37-39mph     £70-90              3
40-45mph     £100-120           4
45-50mph     £130-150           5
Over 50mph                 Driving Ban

As you can see, this system fines drivers at a rate of £10 per 1mph over the speed limit, keeping current 10% discretion, and banning drivers at 50mph. Making the system fairer and punishing those who pose the greatest threat.

A system that operates in this way also acts as a greater deterrent to speeding, as drivers know the faster they travel, the heavier the fine will be. Whereas the current system encourages driver who will speed, to speed further e.g. a driver travelling on the motorway at 80mph, has no incentive not to travel at 90mph, as if caught they face the same punishment.

> Political risks and opportunities

There is political benefit to be gained from correcting a injustice that is viewed by the public as an unfair and money making system rather than a deterrent to law breaking. Correcting this balance to make the system focus on deterrent should serve to correct public opinion.

Road safety groups should support the measures that shift the emphasis of government strategy to slowing down speeding drivers.

> Questions for ConservativeHome readers

• At what level should such a system start?
• Should such a system operate on an excess mph basis, or a percentage basis?

> Cost

Without adequate access to the full data with relation to speeding penalties issued, it is impossible to know the cost of this policy. I would expect it to be cost beneficial, raising more through fines.

Comments

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Great post about speeding and the you also have a great point of view. Thanks for sharing this!