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Most sensible motorists were delighted when the government brought into law measures to stop lane-hoggers, tailgaters and under-takers. These careless, thoughtless drivers could be fined £100 on the spot and cop for three penalty points to boot. The fact that we still see it happening on a daily basis because there are no police about is a matter for another day.
Nevertheless some miscreants are being nabbed. This is a good thing. What isn’t so good is that that those few police who are still about are using the new law to make their lives easier. Isn’t that just typical of this country? For once a law is created that most of us actually agree with but then the servants of that law use it misguidedly.
Motorists who commit much more serious offences – such as using a mobile phone whilst driving (and aren’t there still plenty of those about?) or driving dangerously – are being treated the same as those transgressing with the irritating but far less serious offences in the first paragraph.
In other words, it is easier for the police to dish out an instant fine than actually take the serious offenders to court. It can only be assumed that this relieves the boys in blue of the onerous job of having to fill out forms. Serious offenders need to be before the local Beaks to lose their licence completely or at least be stiffed for a substantial five thousand pound fine or similar. That’s not happening.
Thus it is that inconsiderate drivers are tarred with the same brush as dangerous drivers. That can’t be right. The road safety organisation Brake has leapt swiftly onto this moving train. They are demanding that drivers who take life-threatening risks be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
It is not the fault of serving officers that the police service has been cut to the bone. The men and women left on the front line have got a lot on their plate but the fact remains that taking the line of least resistance is not something that should be considered when it comes to the law. Let the punishment fit the crime.
