From Friday 16th of August 2013 careless drivers who put other road users at risk by committing offences such as tailgating or poor lane discipline will face on-the-spot fines.
The changes give the police greater flexibility in dealing with less serious careless driving offences, freeing them from expensive and time consuming court processes.
Existing fixed penalty levels for most motoring offences – including using a mobile phone at the wheel and not wearing a seatbelt – rise to £100, bringing them into line with penalties for similar non-motoring fixed penalties.
Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said:
“Careless driving puts innocent people’s lives at risk – that is why we have made it easier for the police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fixed penalty notice for low level offending rather than taking these offenders to court.”
“We have also increased penalties for a range of driving offences to a level which reflects their seriousness and which will ensure that they are consistent with other similar penalty offences.”
The fixed penalty for careless driving is now £100 with 3 points on the driver’s licence. The most serious examples will continue to go through court, where offenders may face higher penalties.
The police will also be able to offer educational training as an alternative to endorsement. Drivers will still be able to appeal any decision in court.
Fixed penalty levels for most of these motoring offences have not increased since 2000, making them lower than other penalties of a similar severity.
The changes – which were announced earlier this year – are being introduced following extensive public consultation with road safety groups and police forces.
There are no changes to penalty levels for parking offences.
Most motoring fixed penalties offences rise under the changes:
a non-endorsable (where the driver does not receive points on their licence) £30 fixed penalty notice has risen to £50
an endorsable (where points are given) £60 and non-endorsable fixed penalty notice has risen to £100
an endorsable £120 fixed penalty notice has risen to £200
the fixed penalty notice for driving with no insurance has risen from £200 to £300
Graduated fixed penalties (mainly for commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles and including offences like drivers’ hours and overloading) and financial deposits (for drivers without a satisfactory UK address) have also increased:
a £30 non-endorsable fine has risen to £50
a £60 endorsable and non-endorsable fine has risen to £100
a £120 endorsable and non-endorsable fine has risen to £200
a £200 endorsable and non-endorsable fine has risen to £300
The consultation took place from 14 June 2012 to 5 September 2012.
As with other existing fixed penalty notice offences, such as speeding, police forces are also able to offer careless drivers the option of remedial training.
Endorsable road traffic offences contribute to a significant number of casualties. For example, in 2011, excess speed contributed to 213 deaths and using a mobile phone while driving contributed to 374 road casualties.
Though penalty levels have increase, penalty points will not change. Fixed penalty notices for parking, waiting and obstruction offences remain unchanged.
Endorsement codes and penalty points
Offence codes and penalty points must stay on your driving licence for 4 or 11 years depending on the offence.
Accident offences
These codes must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
AC10 Failing to stop after an accident 5 to 10
AC20 Failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24 hours 5 to 10
AC30 Undefined accident offences 4 to 9
Disqualified driver
These codes must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
BA10 Driving while disqualified by order of court 6
BA30 Attempting to drive while disqualified by order of court 6
Careless driving
Codes CD10 to CD30 must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
CD10 Driving without due care and attention 3 to 9
CD20 Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users 3 to 9
CD30 Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users 3 to 9
Codes CD40 to CD70 must stay on a driving licence for 11 years from the date of the conviction.
Code Offence Penalty points
CD40 Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink 3 to 11
CD50 Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs 3 to 11
CD60 Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit 3 to 11
CD70 Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for alcohol analysis 3 to 11
Codes CD80 and CD90 must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the conviction.
Code Offence Penalty points
CD80 Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving 3 to 11
CD90 Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers 3 to 11
Construction and use offences
These codes must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
CU10 Using a vehicle with defective brakes 3
CU20 Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a vehicle with parts or accessories (excluding brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous condition 3
CU30 Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s) 3
CU40 Using a vehicle with defective steering 3
CU50 Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers 3
CU80 Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, mobile telephone etc 3
Reckless/dangerous driving
These codes must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the conviction.
Code Offence Penalty points
DD10 Causing serious injury by dangerous driving 3 to 11
DD40 Dangerous driving 3 to 11
DD60 Manslaughter or culpable homicide while driving a vehicle 3 to 11
DD80 Causing death by dangerous driving 3 to 11
DD90 Furious driving 3 to 9
Drink or drugs
Codes DR10 to DR30 must stay on a driving licence for 11 years from the date of the conviction.
Code Offence Penalty points
DR10 Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit 3 to 11
DR20 Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink 3 to 11
DR30 Driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis 3 to 11
DR31 Driving or attempting to drive then refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity 3 to 11
DR61 Refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive 10
Codes DR40 to DR70 must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
DR40 In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit 10
DR50 In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink 10
DR60 Failure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive 10
DR70 Failing to provide specimen for breath test 4
Code DR80 must stay on a driving licence for 11 years from the date of the conviction.
Code Offence Penalty points
DR80 Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs 3 to 11
Code DR90 must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
DR90 In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs 10
Insurance offences
Code IN10 must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
IN10 Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks 6 to 8
Licence offences
These codes must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
LC20 Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence 3 to 6
LC30 Driving after making a false declaration about fitness when applying for a licence 3 to 6
LC40 Driving a vehicle having failed to notify a disability 3 to 6
LC50 Driving after a licence has been revoked or refused on medical grounds 3 to 6
Miscellaneous offences
These codes must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
MS10 Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position 3
MS20 Unlawful pillion riding 3
MS30 Play street offences 2
MS50 Motor racing on the highway 3 to 11
MS60 Offences not covered by other codes (including offences relating to breach of requirements as to control of vehicle) 3
MS70 Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight 3
MS80 Refusing to submit to an eyesight test 3
MS90 Failure to give information as to identity of driver etc 6
Motorway offences
Code MW10 must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
MW10 Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits) 3
Pedestrian crossings
These codes must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
PC10 Undefined contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations 3
PC20 Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with moving vehicle 3
PC30 Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with stationary vehicle 3
Speed limits
These codes must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
SP10 Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits 3 to 6
SP20 Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles) 3 to 6
SP30 Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road 3 to 6
SP40 Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit 3 to 6
SP50 Exceeding speed limit on a motorway 3 to 6
Traffic direction and signs
These codes must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
TS10 Failing to comply with traffic light signals 3
TS20 Failing to comply with double white lines 3
TS30 Failing to comply with ‘stop’ sign 3
TS40 Failing to comply with direction of a constable/warden 3
TS50 Failing to comply with traffic sign (excluding ‘stop’ signs, traffic lights or double white lines) 3
TS60 Failing to comply with a school crossing patrol sign 3
TS70 Undefined failure to comply with a traffic direction sign 3
Special code
Code TT99 must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of conviction.
It shows disqualification under ‘totting-up’ – if the total of penalty points reaches 12 or more within 3 years, the driver can be disqualified.
Theft or unauthorised taking
Code UT50 must stay on a driving licence for 4 years from the date of the offence.
Code Offence Penalty points
UT50 Aggravated taking of a vehicle 3 to 11
‘Mutual recognition’ codes
You’ll get an ‘MR’ code on your licence if you’re disqualified while driving in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. Your disqualification period will also be valid in GB and will stay on your licence for 4 years from the date of conviction.
Code Offence
MR09 Reckless or dangerous driving (whether or not resulting in death, injury or serious risk)
MR19 Wilful failure to carry out the obligation placed on driver after being involved in a road accident (hit or run)
MR29 Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other substance affecting or diminishing the mental and physical abilities of a driver
MR39 Driving a vehicle faster than the permitted speed
MR49 Driving a vehicle whilst disqualified
MR59 Other conduct constituting an offence for which a driving disqualification has been imposed by the State of Offence