Backing in East Lancashire for tougher penalties for speeding drivers (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Backing in East Lancashire for tougher penalties for speeding drivers

3:27pm Thursday 20th November 2008 in News By Simone Yates

Tougher penalties on speeding drivers are set to be announced

THE families of young motorists killed in speeding cars have backed plans to give tougher penalties to those who break the limit.

Ministers today announced they are considering giving a six-point penalty to drivers who break the speed limit by more than 20mph.

This would mean that a motorist could lose their licence for just two speeding offences.

The consultation also suggests creating formal drug-drive limits in a bid to make prosecutions easier to achieve.

Ministers said the move was aimed at cutting the injury toll with 2,946 deaths and 30,000 serious injuries on British roads last year.

In April 2007, Ashley Connell, 23, of Knowsley Road, Wilpshire, was the front seat passenger in a car driven by his friend Ashley Fielding, 21, of Whalley Banks, Whalley, which crashed in Mellor Lane, Mellor.

Fielding was travelling up to 86mph in the 60mph zone and Ashley Connell died from his injured.

Ashley’s father Mike Connell said: “I agree with the proposal, but it won’t bring Ashley back.

"I wouldn’t wish it on anybody what my family and I have gone through.

"Ashley won’t be the first and he won’t be the last.

“There are just too many wasted lives and people don’t follow the limits.

“A car sped past me at 90mph on Ribchester Road last week, and the driver could have caused a fatal accident, but he wasn’t bothered.

"But I suppose anything that will slow down drivers is a good thing especially if it will save lives.”

On January 9, 2006, Matthew Hannon, 22, of St. Philip’s Road, Blackburn, died after crashing while racing a friend at 60mph on the 30mph Livesey Branch Road.

His father Terry said he was backing the proposals ‘one hundred per cent’.

He said: “I occasionally take a walk on Livesey Branch Road, where Matthew died.

"I see cars speeding past. It’s like a rat run for young boy racers.

"The proposals are definitely a step in the right direction as far as I’m concerned.”

Steve Whitehouse, project manager for Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety which runs the county’s speed cameras, welcomed the plans.

He said: “According to research carried out, 35 per cent of drivers admit to knowingly breaking the speed limit.

"Of those with points, about a third say they will continue to speed.

"This suggests that the penalty is not harsh enough to deter them and increasing the penalty would appear to make sense.”

• Wasted Lives campaign