Tough new penalties come into force for driving offences

Drivers who fail to identify who was behind the wheel when a speeding offence is committed face a heavier penalty under law changes that come into force today. The clampdown on driving offences includes higher maximum fines for careless driving and refusing to stop when flagged down by police. One of the most significant changes will affect anyone who fails to provide information on the identity of a driver, which now carries the penalty of six rather than three penalty points.

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The new punishment is targeted at motorists who attempt to evade penalties for offences detected by speed cameras, by claiming they did not know who was driving at the time. In 2004, 2,319 people were found guilty of of failing to disclose a driver's identity and received three penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000.

The justice minister, Maria Eagle, said: "The measures introduced today will make important changes to a number of road traffic offences so that they operate more effectively. We listened with great care to road safety groups and the families of victims, and their experiences have directly informed these changes.

"Quite simply, these measures will make our roads safer."