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The Government is to give the police powers to issue on the spot fines to careless drivers as part of its initiative to improve road safety without having to take offenders to court.
Ministers say issuing fines of up to £100 together with three points on their licence will be a more efficient way of clamping down on motorists who often get away with tailgating, undertaking or cutting up other drivers.
Transport secretary Philip Hammond is to explain his new strategy for England, Scotland and Wales in a written statement to the Commons on 11 May before the proposals go through Parliament.
Hammond said the fines were designed to prevent drivers escaping punishment for low level offences while freeing up the courts to deal with more serious offences.
The Government said convictions for bad driving offences had dropped from 125,000 in 1985 to 28,900 in 2006, indicating many cases went unpunished.
It claims the policy will differ from that of the previous Labour administration, which relied heavily on speed cameras and caught safe drivers making an honest mistake in the same net as problem offenders.
The Department for Transport has also vowed to crack down on people driving under the influence of drugs and to close loopholes allowing drink-drivers to escape charges.
Disqualified drivers could have to retake their driving test in order to get their licence back.
Some motoring bodies criticised the plans for being too simplistic. The Institute of Advanced Motoring warned on the spot fines for careless driving might not work because, unlike speeding, cases were not always clear cut.
The RAC questioned whether the police had the resources to enforce the policy.
Director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "This strategy certainly addresses anti-social behaviour on the roads but it is questionable whether it tackles the key areas which cause injury and death."
He added: "With police services being cut it is far from certain the desired results can be achieved. Without adequate enforcement there is no strategy."
The Government is to push ahead with separate plans to increase the speed limit on motorways from 70mph to 80mph and to reduce speed limits on rural roads.
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