Tougher driver penalties from next week
Date: 21 September 2007
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Freight haulage companies need to be aware of tougher driver penalties that will come into effect next week.
Under the latest rules under the 2006 Road Safety Act, new measures to be introduced on Monday (September 24th) will mean that those drivers failing to provide information about the identity of a driver will increase from three penalty points to six, Transport News Network reports.
This follows many incidents when drivers have claimed that someone else was driving when a speed camera fine was issued, in a bid to ensure they did not receive points on their licence.
Other changes include: Penalty points accrued for not allowing a sample to be subjected to a laboratory test will stay on a licence for 11 years instead of four; the maximum fine for careless driving will double to £5,000; a person using a vehicle in a dangerous condition twice in four years will be disqualified for not less than six months; and the maximum penalty for not stopping a vehicle operated mechanically, if asked by a police officer, will increase from £1,000 to £5,000.
Jason Francis of fleet software company Jaama explained the other changes: "The introduction of tougher penalties for some motoring offences further underlines the government's commitment to improve road safety.
He also stressed that freight haulage employers need to check driving licences of prospective employees against the DVLA database to ensure their validity.
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