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Middle lane hoggers
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Author:  andycable [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:40 am ]
Post subject:  Middle lane hoggers
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2159522/Drivers-face-90-spot-fine-points-wrong-lane-tailgating.html




Drivers face £90 on the spot fine and three points for being in the wrong lane or tailgating

Fines for speeding and mobile phone use at wheel will also increase by 50 per cent
Critics say new 'draconian' measures will pile more pressure on famil

Motorists caught middle-lane hogging, tailgating or using the wrong lane on a round-about could soon be handed a £90 spot fine and three penalty points.

Police currently enforce most careless-driving offences by issuing a warning with no further action, but government plans revealed yesterday will give them the power to issue fixed-penalty tickets.

Poor lane discipline, driving too fast for the road or weather conditions and ignoring signs could all be punished.
Punishment: Drivers could face £90 fines simply for being in the middle lane when the inside lane is clear

Punishment: Drivers could face £90 fines simply for being in the middle lane when the inside lane is clear

Motorists will be fined only if they are caught by a police officer – cameras will not be used to enforce the new regime.

In other moves, fines for offences such as speeding, using a mobile phone behind the wheel and not wearing a seat belt will increase by 50 per cent from £60 to £90.

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Critics described the changes as a return to the 'war on the motorist' by a government intent on using drivers as a 'cash cow'. They also warned of a string of appeals by drivers who feel they are being unfairly targeted.

The AA said: 'Unlike speeding enforcement, where there is a reasonably clear measure of law-breaking, careless-driving enforcement is much more subjective.

'That increases the chance of “incidents” at the scene.'
the charge sheet.jpg

Hugh Bladon, of the Association of British Motorists pressure group, said: 'A 50 per cent increase is excessive.

'People are struggling to pay their mortgage and feed their families. We shouldn't be piling more pressure on them. No-one is a saint behind the wheel. Anyone can make an inadvertent error of judgment.
Pugh.jpg

'It is all stick and no carrot – it is far too draconian.'

Details of the changes were outlined by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning, who said a more flexible approach to careless driving was needed because the current enforcement system took too long and was inefficient.

If the changes are introduced, the income generated from speeding fines alone is expected to soar from £60million to £90million.

About 200,000 other fixed-penalty offences – such as using a hand-held phone, and red-light and pedestrian-crossing offences – are set to raise an extra £6million. This is before the new £90 fines for careless driving are added – a sum the Department for Transport says is 'an unknown'.

Ministers insist the fines will be for less serious incidents of careless driving, will make roads safer and cut the cost of 'overly bureaucratic' prosecutions.

Police will have the discretion to offer drivers the option of attending a road safety course in place of points.

Last year just over 26,000 people were prosecuted for careless or inconsiderate driving, according to Ministry of Justice figures.

'There's a risk of motorists feeling picked on and being milked like a cash cow.'

The consultation paper says the fixed-penalty fines would replace costly court cases, adding: 'The poor driving might have been injudicious overtaking, following too close behind the preceding vehicle, turning into too small a gap in traffic, or attempting to pass a vehicle on the nearside.'

Motorists will have the option of going through the courts if they contest the offence.

Robert Gifford, executive director of the influential parliamentary advisory council on transport safety, gave a 'cautious welcome' to the moves.

But he noted: 'Unless there is a significant increase in policing to enforce this, there's a risk that the seriousness of careless-driving offences will be diluted.

'And at a time of cuts in police budgets and reductions in dedicated roads policing, increases in visible enforcement seem a little unlikely.'

He added: 'There's a risk of motorists feeling picked on and being milked like a cash cow. Many drivers may ask: “Why are we law-abiding motorists having to pay for the Government's austerity measures?”'
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Middle lane hoggers
Wrong lane on a round-about; don't you just hate the idiots that drive very slowly around the outside of a round-about looking for their exit route, but temporarily blocking exits in the process, causing cars to brake suddenly as they realise their exit is blocked and creating bottle-necks and chaos on the round-about.
Author:  sasha [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Middle lane hoggers
If it makes people start using indicators on roundabouts I'm all for it.

Worst offenders for using the outside lane round here are drivers of London style cabs. Doesn't matter what time of day or how busy the roads are they permantly drive in the outside lane, even when they're the only car on the road at 4am. You can guarantee if I'm the only car sat at some lights on a two lane road one will come up behind me and then move into the outside lane. Of course when the lights change we both pull away and I'll watch them getting smaller in my wing mirror, 1/4 mile later and I'll still see them sat in the outside lane. Worse still is when the outside lane is right turn only and they try to out accelerate me to go straight ahead, I then just match their speed and drive alongside them :badgrin:
Author:  andycable [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Middle lane hoggers
If u read it after clicking the link it states £90 fine and three points for lighting a cigarette at the wheel........ Wont affect us but seems a bit extreme lol
Author:  bloodnock [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Middle lane hoggers
andycable wrote:
If u read it after clicking the link it states £90 fine and three points for lighting a cigarette at the wheel........ Wont affect us but seems a bit extreme lol


Its another Government cash cow....money for nowt.
Author:  edders23 [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Middle lane hoggers
revenues from fuel sales have dropped so they have to get their money from the motorists somehow
Author:  toots [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Middle lane hoggers
edders23 wrote:
revenues from fuel sales have dropped so they have to get their money from the motorists somehow


Has it really?
Author:  bloodnock [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Middle lane hoggers
toots wrote:
edders23 wrote:
revenues from fuel sales have dropped so they have to get their money from the motorists somehow


Has it really?


Revenue from Vehicle Excise Duty has definitely dropped, they are losing a fortune in VED income by way of Incentives to have people drive less polluting greener cars...Now it's pay back time so you'd better watch your wallets.

"Green" is going to cost you more and more until hopefully the electorate of the Climate Change Myth peddling politicians see through their little scam.
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