Careless drivers face £100 fines and three points

Drivers caught hogging the middle lane and tailgating will be hit with £100 on-the-spot fines and three points on their licence from July, under new plans from the Government.

The new fines will be introduced in an attempt to cut down the number of motorists having to go through the courts.

Talking on a mobile phone while driving and driving without wearing a seatbelt will also incur £100 fines, up from the current £60 penalty.

Police are also expected to get powers to issue instant fixed penalty notices for not giving way at a junction or using the wrong lane at a roundabout.

The fixed penalty for driving without insurance will increase from £200 to £300.

Most motoring fixed penalties offences will rise under the new plans:

• A non-endorsable (where the driver does not receive points on their licence) £30 fixed penalty notice will rise to £50• An endorsable (where points are given) £60 and non-endorsable fixed penalty notice will rise to £100• An endorsable £120 fixed penalty notice will rise to £200• The fixed penalty notice for driving with no insurance will rise from £200 to £300

"An increase in the standard motoring fixed penalty fine will help deter those who commit motoring offences including mobile phone use,” AA president Edmund King said.

“We are also pleased to see that at long last new powers and fines will be given to the police to tackle the top three pet hates of drivers - tailgaters, mobile phone abusers and middle-lane hogs."

However, with the number of traffic police falling from 6,902 in 2003 to 4,608 in March last year, according to Home Office figures, some groups have warned that it may do little to impact on road safety.

Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) director of policy Neil Greig said: “This could free up traffic police time and allow them to maintain a higher profile. But without traffic cops out on the road to enforce this new approach it will have little impact on road safety."

Drivers will still be able to challenge any fine and points given to them through the courts.