Traffic rules

The European Commission is proposing to formulate new rules for traffic fines, under which UK motorists will be penalised if caught speeding abroad.

Expected to be supported by the vast majority of Members of European Parliament (MEPs), the new rules will also see the motorists stripped of their licences and cover penalties for ignoring red lights, drink and drug driving as well as driving while using a mobile phone.

Set to come into force in 2017 in the UK, the new measures are expected to receive the support of European Parliament, following which police forces can issue fines across Europe.

The commission also plans to review whether it should introduce ‘harmonisation of penalty points’ under the same legislation.

"It must not be easier for British drivers to be prosecuted abroad than for foreign drivers to be prosecuted in the UK."

The new measures will allow foreign authorities to trace out the car owner by using the vehicle’s registration plates.

Upon receiving the information, the police forces can demand payment by sending letters in their own language and if the owners refuse to pay they can seek court action.

As of May, the new legislation will be applicable to the rest of Europe.

The legislation can also be used to pursue foreign drivers committing offences in the UK, where it is applicable for additional two years.

The UK Department for Transport told media sources: ‘It must not be easier for British drivers to be prosecuted abroad than for foreign drivers to be prosecuted in the UK; we have made this clear from the outset of the negotiations."

At present, EU police forces cannot fine foreign drivers even if they are caught by a speed camera as they do not have the power to do so.

In November 2013, EU member states agreed to exchange information about drivers who violate traffic rules abroad, including speeding, running traffic lights, failure to use seatbelts and drink driving.

Image: Foreign authorities can trace out the car owner by using the vehicle’s registration plates. Photo: courtesy of digidreamgrafix on FreeDigitalPhotos.net.