Speeding fines for the most serious cases in England and Wales rose by up to 50 per cent with effect from Monday 24 April after new sentencing guidelines took effect. The previous limit for a speeding fine was 100 per cent of the driver’s weekly wage, up to £1,000 or £2,500 if they were caught on a motorway.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has discovered four people have been captured at speeds in excess of 120mph on roads in Wales in 2014 – with one being caught at 136mph.
No new 20mph speed limits should be allowed until a Department for Transport study is published in 2017, says the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD).
The government’s official annual road casualty report, released recently, has confirmed figures showing disappointingly slow progress in reducing road casualties in the UK. 1,713 people were killed in 2013, at a rate of five a day, 2 per cent fewer than in 2012. 21,657 people suffered serious injuries, at a rate of 59 a day, 6 per cent fewer than in 2012.
Members of the campaign group ABD have overwhelmingly rejected the claims made by 20mph advocates that reducing speed limits will increase cycling, walking and improve health and quality of life.
Campaign group Alliance of British Drivers is calling for Government to halt the roll out of 20mph zones following further increases in 20mph accidents. The organisation has also questioned the motivation of proponents who continue to advocate a national roll out of 20mph zones, despite the ongoing Government investigation and the increased recorded accident statistics in current 20mph zones.
