Motorists question proposed fine increase

Half of motorists polled disagree with a Government proposal to increase fixed penalty notices from £60 to £90, according to research by the Institute of Advanced Motoring.                         

Fixed penalty notices can be given for a range of offences, but are most commonly associated with driving offences including speeding and jumping red lights. Under the plans, the £30 increase will be used to give a £30m cash boost to the fund for victims of crime and witnesses support.

Of the 1129 respondents, 51% disagreed with the proposal, 28% strongly, 35% agreed with the proposal, and 13% neither agreed nor disagreed.

When asked what they would think if the money went into improving road safety as opposed to victim support in general, 80% were happier with this proposal.

Eighty per cent of respondents think that this scheme could reduce driver’s trust in the purpose of enforcement measures, including safety cameras.

When asked what the biggest deterrent to bad driving was, 68% identified ‘enforcement – the likelihood I will get caught’, with 48% choosing ‘the fear of the consequences in terms of causing death or injury to myself/my passengers or other road users in the result of an accident’, and 42% saying’ the severity of the punishment if I was caught’.