£100 fines for speeding and driving on the phone

Fines for speeding and using a hand-held mobile phone while driving will rise from £60 to £100 under Government plans.

Drivers who hog the middle motorway lane or tailgate also face £100 fines with the introduction of a new fixed penalty for careless driving.

Transport minister Stephen Hammond said: “Careless drivers are a menace and their negligence puts innocent people’s lives at risk.

“That is why we are making it easier for the police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fixed penalty notice rather than needing to take every offender to court.

“We are also increasing penalties for a range of driving offences to a level which reflects their seriousness and which will ensure that they are consistent with other similar penalty offences.”

AA president Edmund King said it would “help deter those who commit motoring offences including mobile phone use”.