Lincolnshire Talks: Will tougher new speeding laws improve safety on our roads?
Serious and sadly fatal crashes are reported on our roads on an almost weekly basis, with some blaming drivers’ speed for such accidents. With new laws coming into place next week, Lincolnshire Reporter has looked into what these actually entail and what difference they will make to roads in the county. The new laws will be…
Serious and sadly fatal crashes are reported on our roads on an almost weekly basis, with some blaming drivers’ speed for such accidents. With new laws coming into place next week, Lincolnshire Reporter has looked into what these actually entail and what difference they will make to roads in the county.
The new laws will be enforceable from Monday, April 24, and will see tougher penalties for those who speed.
Tougher penalties
The new penalties for speeding offences will now be a lot harsher, with the cash penalty itself based on how much you earn per week.
There are also easier guidelines for the courts to work to.
According to new regulations, there are three penalty bands that are dependent on the severity of the offence.
For example, Band C is for the high end offender, who can be fined (for extreme speed) 150% of their weekly income but can receive a ban of between seven and 56 days OR six points instead.
As an example of the band system, for anyone breaking the limit in a 30mph zone:
Band A is for lower infringements, just over the limit (31- 40mph in a 30mph zone) where you would receive a fine equating to 50% of your weekly income. This band will also add points.
Band B is mid-range, (41 – 50mph in a 30mph zone) where you would pay 100% of your weekly income. This band can disqualify you for seven – 28 days OR you would receive between four and six points.
Band C is the high speed offences, (51mph and above in a 30mph zone) where you would pay 150% of your weekly income.. This band can disqualify for seven – 56 days OR can add six points to your licence.
Currently, speeding offences are based on 10% of the limit plus (sometimes 1, 2 or 3mph) to ensure motorists are not prosecuted for the ‘thickness of the needle’ on the speedometer.
This threshold will still apply in terms of assessing whether a person is speeding, but for the law, the offence occurs at 1mph over the limit.
Seriousness of an offence
Speeding penalties will also be assessed and issued based on the seriousness of the offence.
Factors increasing the seriousness of the offence include:
Previous convictions, having regard to a) the nature of the offence to which the conviction relates and its relevance to the current offence; and b) the time that has elapsed since the conviction
Offence committed whilst on bail
Offence committed on licence or post sentence supervision
Poor road or weather conditions
Driving LGV, HGV, PSV etc.
Towing caravan/trailer
Carrying passengers or heavy load
Driving for hire or reward
Evidence of unacceptable standard of driving over and above speed
Location e.g. near school
High level of traffic or pedestrians in the vicinity
Factors reducing seriousness or reflecting personal mitigation include:
No previous convictions or no relevant/recent convictions
Good character and/or exemplary conduct
Genuine emergency established
Making our roads safer?
According to road safety charities, speeding is a major factor in one in four fatal crashes in the UK, but will these new laws change this?
John Siddle, communications manager of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, told Lincolnshire Reporter: “These changes have been brought in by the government to, I believe, remove the disparity when people are fined for speeding.
“A £100 fine for speeding means little or nothing to someone being paid £100k per week however, this will make the fine more of a punishment and may make some drivers think twice about how they drive.
“Speed remains as one of our main causation factors in collisions that kill or seriously injure road users in Lincolnshire.”
A spokesperson for road safety charity Brake added: “Speed is a contributory factor in one in four fatal crashes in the UK – crashes that have a devastating impact on those left seriously injured or bereaved.
“The new penalties which are coming into place will hopefully provide a much stronger deterrent to drivers who choose to drive dangerously on our roads.”
Your thoughts
Many readers have suggested that these new laws will not deter drivers who speed as they will always do it anyway, however some agree it could make our roads safer.
Adam Poole, from Lincoln said:”You could make speeding a capital offence and that still would not stop it.
“The issue is one of education.
“Drivers need to realise that one should drive at a speed that takes into account their driving ability, their vehicle, the weather and the traffic conditions – and sometimes that means a lower speed than the legal limit.
“Perhaps regular retesting is the best way forward.”
Adrian Larder added: “Within limits a speeding driver is not always a dangerous driver.
“Dangerous drivers take silly overtaking risks, take tight bends at 50mph plus on country roads where the limit is 60mph and under speeding laws are committing no offence yet are going way too fast, it is all a revenue creating scheme.”
Chris Page said: “I agree with the 30mph limit and in some cases near schools and residential areas maybe [there should be a] a 20mph limit heavily enforced.
“But as cars have become safer the 60mph and 70mph limit should be looked at and increased to suit modern vehicles.”
Sarah is a News Reporter at Lincolnshire Reporter. You can contact her directly with your news via email at [email protected]
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The site was searching again by police in the evening and the school was told by the force that the credibility of the threat is “exceptionally low”.
A dog unit also attended the scene at Bourne Grammar School. | Photo: Terry Harris
Police attended after a suspicious call claimed a bomb had been planted at Bourne Grammar School. | Photo: Terry Harris
Headteacher Jonathan Maddox wrote a letter to parents as soon as he was allowed back into the building and the school was closed for the remainder of the day. It reopened as normal on Wednesday, October 21.
In a further letter he confirmed more details about the “day’s dramatic events”.
He said: “On Tuesday morning a telephone call was received at the school’s reception in which an electronic voice – not the voice of a real person – stated that a bomb had been planted at our school.
“The entire school was immediately evacuated and the police called. Very soon we had a number of police and other emergency services on site.
“I regret the fact that it was necessary to require all students to remain outside but, of course, I was bound to follow the advice that I received continuously throughout the day.
“This evening I expect that many will be hungry, perhaps cold and some could be anxious. I have been assured that the credibility of the threat – the source of which has apparently been traced by the police – is exceptionally low.
“Nevertheless police dogs will search the site thoroughly this evening.”
A Tactical Support Team attended the scene at Bourne Grammar School. | Photo: Terry Harris
Mr Maddox praised the students and staff, adding: “I very much wish to commend all students for their outstanding behaviour throughout their extraordinary experience.
“They conducted themselves sensibly, following the instructions given and were a credit to themselves.”
A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said on Wednesday: “Investigations are still ongoing after the school received a suspicious call. No arrests have been made.”
A ferry that caught fire on a trip from Hull to the Netherlands is still stranded with 260 people on board in the River Humber, over 18 hours after it first lost power.
Associated British Press were called to the River Humber after a fire broke out on the Pride of Hull ferry shortly after setting sail towards Rotterdam at 8.30pm on October 20.
The engine lost power with 260 people on board after flames engulfed the engine room, but all on board have been reported as safe, despite staying on the boat overnight.
Coastguards sent a lifeboat out to the River Humber after a fire in the ship’s engine room. | Photo: Duncan Young / GNP
The ship is still stranded near Immingham as of Wednesday morning, with coastguards deploying lifeboats to the area.
A spokesperson from ABP said: “We responded last night to an incident of a fire in the engine room on the P & O vessel the Pride of Hull.
“We continue to liaise with and support the ship and will be assisting in her safe return to the Port of Hull as soon as possible.”
The government gave more than £3.8 million to arts and cultural organisations across Greater Lincolnshire in October as pandemic lockdown rescue funds.
So far, 29 organisations in the region have been given part of a £1.57 billion cash boost by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Arts Council England, in a bid to give them a sustainable future.
In Lincolnshire, the money came in two tranches, with round one totalling £3,325,242 October 12 and round two adding up to £566,758 on October 17. More is promised the future.
Lincoln Theatre Royal has so far benefited the most from the funding receiving a total of £600,000.
A statement from the theatre said: “We are honoured and relieved to have been awarded funding as part of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, to help us face the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic and to give us the best chance of a sustainable future.
“This is such exciting news for the theatre, all our patrons, and the entire arts and culture landscape in Lincolnshire.”
The top-five earners also include the Lost Village Festival in Lincoln (£250,000), Magna Vitae in East Lindsey (£249,500), Lincs Inspire Limited in Grimsby (£232,926) and South Kesteven District Council (£230,000).
In fact, three district councils also including West Lindsey and South Holland have received a total of £597,550 so far. All three councils say it’s for “combined arts”.
North East Lincolnshire Council received £75,000 towards its museums.
A table showing a breakdown of the funding received by arts and culture organisations in Greater Lincolnshire so far.
Lincoln Students Union, which runs the Engine Shed, has received £202,609, while the University of Lincoln was awarded £153,365.
Not all arts venues have been so lucky yet though. Lincoln Drill Hall which announced it was closing earlier this month after the City of Lincoln Council withdrew its funding has not been given any cash.
The venue’s staff are due to be made redundant at the end of October, resulting in around 19 job losses. A new use is being sought for the building.
Announcing the latest tranche of funding, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country.
“This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”
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