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It was with some amusement this week that I read the story of a man who was so angry at his car being clamped that he took an angle-grinder...
It was with some amusement this week that I read the story of a man who was so angry at his car being clamped that he took an angle-grinder to the vehicle and cut it in half. Whether it's because of diligent traffic wardens, attentive police patrols or one of the numerous speed cameras on the roads there is more chance than ever of drivers being caught and fined for committing a driving offence.
Mobile phones offer a high profile example. There has been an on the spot fine of £60 and mandatory three points for drivers caught using a hand held mobile phone for some time, and although not everyone adheres to the law most people know about it. However, with the widening of the law the same penalties can be enforced for not having proper control of a vehicle, a measure which can be used where a driver has been distracted by using a hands-free mobile phone.
With this in mind there are many other such distractions, ranging from reading a map behind the wheel or drinking whilst driving, all included under the Road Safety Act penalty system, which dictates a mandatory 3 points and £60 fine. There is also plenty of precedent including the recent case of salesman in Manchester who was given a fine and penalty points for driving whilst eating a sandwich.
Vehicle maintenance is another key consideration. If your car isn't road legal you can be fined and its not just old bangers that get caught. For example, worn tyres present a significant road safety issue, with police handing out a three point penalty for each tyre viewed as non-roadworthy.
The statistics are sobering for motorists. We all know the frequency by which we come across a speed camera but did you know that one in three drivers are caught each year by a parking warden or speed camera with collective fines worth up to £800 million.
And its not just the humans that are enforcing the law, I already mentioned speed cameras but across the country CCTV cameras are being used to catch motorists for bad parking, traffic light offences, obstructing other road users, make illegal U-turns and a whole multitude of other misdemeanours.
But the point is, whether it's at the hands of the police, a traffic warden or a robot you should not really get caught. For both individuals and fleets, fines are a significant expense and this is a cost that, unlike most others, should be totally avoidable. Nine times out of 10 we know what the rules are and if we manage to stick to them we should never have to pay a fine.
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