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Chris Huhne MP has been in the news because his ex-wife Vicky Pryce claims in 2003, when Huhne was working as a Member of the European Parliament, he asked someone else to take his penalty points for him.
Dteective Supt Wills was charged with looking into the allegations after Labour MP Simon Danczuk lodged a formal complaint with police against Mr Huhne after claims in newspaper stories. Essex Police said: "We are aware of allegations around a speeding offence which is believed to have occurred in 2003. A senior detective from the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate has been appointed to establish if this offence took place and the allegations around it."
Whether Huhne is guilty of the offence or not is a bit of a side issue. What this has brought to light, if the street interviews conducted by the media are a reflection of what the majority of public think about driving offences, is that points 'taking' on other people's behalf could be more commonplace than we all think. Because when asked the question, "Would you take points for another family member?" most people said they would - particularly if it meant the guilty driver would not lose their job.
The question should therefore be asked - "Is the licence penalty points system fit for purpose?"
If it is that easy to say, 'It was me behind the wheel' and the authorities have no real mechanism to identify who was actually driving a vehicle, apart from assuming it must be the registered keeper, then perhaps in this modern age of technology it is time to have a 'smart card' driving licence. This would be similar to digital tachographs used by HGV drivers. We could then record who was driving at any time and apply points with greater confidence.
Or, should we scrap penalty points for speeding and other 'so called' minor motoring offences altogether and instead force offenders to attend a recognised driver training course? That way they would be less likely to say it was someone else driving because they won't lose their licence.
First offence could be a half day course, second offence a full day course and a third offence within a three-year period? Your ideas welcome, please write them on the back of a £20 note.
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