New rules to stop roadhogs come into force

Drivers who hog the middle lane or tailgate other motorists face an on-the-spot fine as part of a new crackdown on bad driving.
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The fines are part of changes giving road policing teams across the country powers to issue penalty notices for £100 and add three points to drivers’ licences.

The most serious examples of bad driving will continue to go through court, where offenders may face higher penalties.

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As part of the changes, the level of fines for some existing offences, including speeding, will also rise.

Drivers using a mobile phone at the wheel will now be fined £100.

Police will also be able to offer educational training as an alternative to endorsement.

Stephen Hammon, road safety minister, 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.

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“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.”

Non-endorsable fines, where the driver does not receive points on their licence, for offences including failing to give way and misuse of headlights will also increase from £30 to £50 under the new laws.

Chief Inspector Mark Bownass, of West Yorkshire Police, said there would be no change to how roads across the county were policed as a result of the changes.

He said: “The new fixed penalties provide officers with a toolkit which allows them to deal with the offence based upon their perception, right through from a fixed penalty ticket to a traffic offence report.”