Excessive Speeding

The government's consultation paper on road safety could see motorists given six penalty points for breaking the speed limit by a significant margin.

The excessive speeds could be defined as more than 20 miles an above the speed limit. However, Ministers have stated that they will consult before determining the exact thresholds.

Under current laws, most motoring offences are dealt with by way of a standard fixed penalty notice of a fine and three penalty points.

Motorists are only taken to court if the police feel that a stiffer penalty is necessary, because only a court can impose a penalty of more than three points for a speeding offence.

The new system would see drivers receiving six-point penalties without a court hearing. A driver with 12 points on their licence would then be automatically disqualified for six months.

A sliding scale for fixed penalty notices was passed in the Road Safety Act in 2006 but Ministers did not bring the system in because they feared it would be politically controversial.