The Government has put forward a scheme that will see careless drivers fined on the spot.

Bad driving habits such as tailgating and undertaking will be included in the list of things that a driver could be stopped and fined for.

Transport Minister Philip Hammond presented the proposal to Parliament today (Wednesday 11 May 2011) and it will be introduced in 2012 if approved.

Mr Hammond said: "This report marks a sea change in how we tackle road safety in this country. We are determined to differentiate between wilfully reckless drivers and the law-abiding majority who sometimes make honest mistakes, or who have allowed their skills to deteriorate.

"We will focus relentlessly on cracking down on the really reckless few who are responsible for a disproportionately large number of accidents and deaths on our roads."

Talking to the BBC, Mr Hammond explained that the new rules will effectively extend the scope of today's speeding penalties. If accepted into law by Ministers, Police will be able to issue a fixed penalty notice for driving offences other than speeding.

The principle is one of punitive education. The majority of common bad driving practices go unpunished because it's not worth the cost and effort of pursuing them through the courts. If a driver can be fined for tailgating, for example, he or she is less likely to do it and the roads become a safer place.

Mr Hammond's proposal also includes measures to crack down on drug-driving and close loopholes in the law that make it easier for drink-drivers to escape charge.

However, the move hasn't been met with universal approval. The Institute of Advanced Motorists, for example, says that the approach is too simplistic, because bad driving is not as clear-cut as speeding.

Mark Nichol - 11 May 2011