Motorists ‘to be hit by’ new MOT penalties after | Tech News

Police and highway security teams have informed the federal government they’re involved that some offences don’t carry additional penalties, corresponding to penalty factors or vehicle seizure. The authorities has been finishing up a session on its Road Safety Strategy – and the deadline for responses handed final week.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport Lilian Greenwood MP stated it was aimed toward decreasing deaths and severe accidents on the highway – and making sure teh police have the powers they need which additionally match the crime. She stated in a ahead to the session: “In 2024, there were 1,602 deaths on our roads – an average of around 30 a week, or 4 to 5 per day. There were also 27,865 serious injuries on our roads. Although the UK has some of the safest roads in the world, these figures remain far too high, and this government does not accept that these deaths and serious injuries are inevitable.

“With the number of UK road deaths having plateaued since 2010, it’s clear that strong, decisive action is long overdue. The government recognises the need to take action now to reduce casualties and damage on our roads. There is no silver bullet of one measure that will drastically reduce road death. Real progress will come when a range of measures work together, systematically and consistently, towards a common goal.”

The strategy appears to be like at a quantity of areas together with drink and drug driving, medical potential to drive – corresponding to necessary eye assessments for over 70s and never utilizing seatbelts. One are being thought of are incidents which could need harder penalties. The session stated: “Police and road safety groups have told the government they are concerned that some offences do not carry extra penalties, such as penalty points or vehicle seizure.“

The strategy says the change is needed because criminals are hiding behind the law. It explained: “It’s harder for police to identify who is using a vehicle because some offenders go to great lengths to hide who owns it or who was driving – this makes it harder for the police to keep the public safe and pursue offenders.

“There is a significant amount of evidence of disguising a vehicle’s true ownership to avoid compliance with vehicle excise duty requirements and other payment requirements for the use of certain roads. This places an additional burden on those law-abiding drivers when revenue shortfall to the treasury due to fraud has to be made up.

“The police currently have the powers to seize a vehicle from those driving whilst uninsured, or not in accordance with their driving licence. The use of this power has to be proportionate and allows police to use their discretion not to seize where they feel that is an appropriate decision based on the merits of each situation.”

On the problem of motor insurance coverage, the federal government has highlighted the distinction in penalties for making a false declaration to acquire motor insurance coverage and driving whereas uninsured. Currently, though the false declaration offence can, if it goes to courtroom, result in imprisonment and fines, most don’t – and there may be no provision to offer out penalty factors or disqualify the motive force. In comparability, the penalties for driving whereas uninsured are a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty factors or if the case goes to courtroom, an limitless high-quality and/or driving disqualification.

A abstract of responses will be printed within the subsequent 3 months, earlier than the federal government strikes to change the laws later this yr. To learn the total session doc click on right here.