Midlands police 'are too slow to fine bad drivers'

Police across the West Midlands and West Mercia have issued 469 fines to bad drivers while none have been issued in Staffordshire since new powers were introduced last year to much fanfare by the Government.

West Midlands Police gave penalty notices to 310 bad drivers between July last year and August this year, while West Mercia Police issued 159. Staffordshire Police did not use their new fining powers once in the same time period.

Drivers risk a £100 on-the-spot fine and three points on their licence if caught tailgating, failing to give way at a junction, overtaking and pushing into a queue of traffic, being in the wrong lane and pushing into a queue on a roundabout, lane hogging, inappropriate speed, and wheel-spins, handbrake turns and other careless manoeuvres.

Road safety minister Stephen Hammond launched the fining powers saying would make it 'easier' for police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fine rather than needing to take every offender to court.

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson said he was 'disappointed' the new powers were not being used.

He said: "I have three motorways in my constituency, the M54, the M6 and M6 Toll, and they are some of the busiest motorways in the country.

"Tailgating costs lives and middle lane hogging causes crippling congestion and we want to see the police take this issue very seriously. They have been given additional powers by the government, giving them the opportunity to take immediate action against inconsiderate and dangerous drivers in a bid to improve behaviour and safety on the roads."

Inspector Mat Derrick, from Staffordshire Police, said the statistics did not tell the full picture.

He said: "My view is that with road traffic offences there is a greater opportunity to be had by offering educational courses rather than persecuting or prosecuting motorists. What we find is that a fine does not tend to change driver behaviour whereas statistics show that those who go on the courses are six times less likely to re-offend than those who are issued with a fine and points."

"We do enforce the laws on the road but because we issue a report to summons rather than a fixed penalty notice the figures are not recorded in line with the new categories outlined by the government but in the broader offences of inconsiderate driving or driving without due care and attention."

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "To keep roads safe for the public, officers from Warwickshire and West Mercia police will utilise a range of tactics to enforce new and existing legislation. Enforcement itself, sits alongside driver education and national and local initiatives all combining and contributing to reduce anti-social behaviour on the roads and increased public safety. In that wider context, highlighting one option –fixed penalty notices – in dealing with one type of offence – careless driving – does not allow any meaningful conclusions to be drawn around an area of public safety which can only be delivered through a range of activities by police officers and other agencies. While the new powers are a welcome addition, their use has to be contextualised in the day in, day out activity which the police undertake to keep our roads safe."

West Midlands Police made no comment.

More than half of motorists continue to hog the middle lane even though they know it is illegal, analysis from the Highways Agency and insurer Direct Line found.

While 52 per cent said they knew middle lane hogging was illegal, 59 per cent owned up to staying in the central lane, rather than just using it for overtaking, with those aged 65 and over being the worst offenders.