Motorists ‘to be hit by’ new MOT penalties after key DfT plan deadline

Police and road safety groups have told the government they are concerned that some crimes do not attract extra penalties, such as demerit points or vehicle seizure. The Government is running a consultation on the Road Safety Strategy and the deadline for responses passed last week.

Lilian Greenwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport, said it was aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on the road and ensuring police had the powers they needed that were also appropriate to crime. In a statement to the consultation, he said: “There will be 1,602 deaths on our roads in 2024 – an average of 30 a week, or 4 to 5 a day. There will also be 27,865 serious injuries on our roads. Although the UK has some of the safest roads in the world, these figures remain too high and this government does not accept that these deaths and serious injuries are inevitable.”

“As the number of road deaths in England has stabilized since 2010, it is clear that strong and decisive action is long overdue. The Government recognizes the need to act now to reduce deaths and damage on our roads. There is no silver bullet of a single measure that will massively reduce deaths on our roads. Real progress will come when a range of measures work together, systematically and consistently, towards a common goal.”

The strategy addresses a number of areas, including drink and drug driving, mandatory eye tests for people over 70 and medical driving skills such as not using a seatbelt. One of these is incidents that may require harsher penalties. The consultation said: “Police and road safety groups have advised the government that they are concerned that some offenses do not warrant extra penalties, such as demerit points or vehicle seizure.”

The strategy says change is necessary because criminals hide behind the law. The statement said: “It is more difficult for police to identify who is driving a vehicle because some criminals go to great lengths to hide who owns the vehicle or who is driving, making it harder for police to keep the public safe and track criminals.

“There is significant evidence of concealment of the true owner of a vehicle to prevent compliance with vehicle excise duty requirements and other payment requirements for the use of certain roads. This places an additional burden on law-abiding motorists when the revenue shortfall to the treasury due to fraud must be compensated.”

“Police currently have the power to seize vehicles from people who are uninsured or driving in accordance with their licence. The exercise of this power must be proportionate and allow the police to exercise their discretion not to seize where they consider it an appropriate decision on the merits of each case.”

Regarding car insurance, the government emphasized the difference between the penalties for making false statements to obtain car insurance and driving without insurance. Currently, although the offense of misrepresentation can result in imprisonment and a fine if brought to court, most do not and there is no provision to award penalty points or disqualify the driver. In contrast, the penalties for driving without insurance are a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points, or an unlimited fine and/or driving disqualification if the case goes to court.

A summary of the responses will be published over the next 3 months, before the government moves to change the legislation towards the end of this year. To read the full advisory document click here.