Transport managers and drivers are being given the chance to comment about proposed changes to motoring offences. The government consultation runs until the end of March.
Key areas include drink and drug driving, seat belt use, failure to stop and report, driving unlicensed, driving without a current MOT, driving without motor insurance and the use of illegal number plates, including ‘ghost’ plates.
Areas under focus include whether the legal alcohol limit for drink and drive offences in England and Wales should be lowered to match Scotland and whether the limit should be lower for novice drivers and high-risk offenders. It also looks at whether a person suspected of committing drink and/or drug offences should have their driving licence suspended until attendance at court or guilty plea, or bailed pending forensic analysis being undertaken.
Other considerations include current minimum disqualification periods and whether alcohol ignition locks (alcolocks) should be allowed as part of a drink-drive rehabilitation process.
Seatbelts also come under focus, with a look at whether to make not wearing a seatbelt an endorsable offence, introducing three penalty points, to improve compliance, with drivers also liable for unrestrained children under 14. The third section explores failure to stop and report and whether the maximum penalties should be increased.
The consultation also looks at various measures to tackle those seeking to evade justice. This includes whether the Government should introduce penalty points for the offence of driving or being in charge of a vehicle with no current keeper. It also looks at the possibility of penalty points for the offence of being in charge of a vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate – so-called ‘ghost’ plates. And the consultation asks about penalty points for the offence of driving or using a vehicle with no current MOT and also vehicle seizures.
