Of the drivers questioned for a recent AA-Populus survey, 75 per cent said that they had seen little change in the behaviour of other drivers since the police were given the power to issue on-the-spot penalties for careless driving in August last year. Just 29 per cent of drivers said they had changed their own habits, while 82 per cent of respondents said that a more visible police presence would be the best way to get careless drivers to improve their behaviour.
Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA, said he is disappointment with the findings: “Careless driving has been an offence since the eighties, but it was hoped that giving police the power to fine people for less serious examples of it would encourage drivers to change their behaviour, without clogging up the courts.
Motoring businesses are keen to support the drive to prevent careless driving. “These results show that enforcement must be a priority if these green shoots of progress are to be maintained,” commented Steve Clarke, Group Marketing Manager of MileageCount. “We try and help our fleet customers produce driving policies reinforced with tailor-made driver training to help them ensure that their drivers act responsibly and safely whilst driving for their business.
