The Department for Transport (DfT) is considering tougher penalties for motoring offences including failing to hold a valid MOT, driving uninsured, and using cloned number plates. The move follows a consultation on the government's Road Safety Strategy, which closed last week. Police and road safety organisations have expressed concerns that some offences do not carry additional penalties such as penalty points or vehicle seizure.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport Lilian Greenwood MP said the measures are designed to cut deaths and serious injuries on the road. She noted that in 2024 there were 1,602 road deaths in the UK, an average of around 30 per week, and 27,865 serious injuries. The government believes strong action is overdue as the number of road deaths has plateaued since 2010.
The consultation examines several areas, including drink and drug driving, medical fitness to drive, and failure to wear seatbelts. One key aspect is the difficulty police face in identifying vehicle owners, as offenders often go to great lengths to hide ownership. This makes it harder for police to keep the public safe and pursue offenders, and places an additional burden on law-abiding drivers when revenue shortfall due to fraud must be made up.
Currently, police have powers to seize vehicles from those driving uninsured or not in accordance with their licence, but use of this power is discretionary. For failing to have a valid MOT, the government is consulting on increased penalties including issuing points and seizing the vehicle. There is also a disparity in penalties for making a fraudulent declaration to obtain motor insurance versus driving while uninsured. The latter carries a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 points, or an unlimited fine and disqualification in court, while the former often results in no penalty points or disqualification.
A summary of responses to the consultation is expected to be published within three months, after which the government will move to amend regulations.
