A group of MPs have suggested introducing heavier fines for drivers with larger vehicles when involved in serious accidents.
A report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking argues that the biggest vehicles should be seen as an “aggravating factor” when dealing with motoring offences.
Guidance has previously been given which recognised the extra responsibility for road safety for larger vehicles like HGVs and lorries.
However, MPs on the APPGCW have suggested that measures could go further and include larger cars in addition to HGVs.
The report suggests that SUVs could be included in the stronger plans
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The report, which is expected to be released later today, states: “Passenger cars vary greatly in weight so the aggravating factors should, we argue, take this into account.”
Highway Code changes which were introduced in January 2022 saw the rollout of the “hierarchy of road users”.
This aimed to show how drivers of larger vehicles had the largest responsibility to be safe around other road users.
Drivers of larger vehicles like heavy goods vehicles and vans were placed near the top of the hierarchy while pedestrians and cyclists were at the bottom.
Claire Armstrong, co-founder of Safe Speed, warned that any measures that have been put forward would not have a significant effect on making roads safer.
She added: “Driving a 4x4 does not make you a more dangerous motorist and driving a smaller car doesn’t mean you are safer.
“It makes no sense to suggest that killing someone while driving an SUV is worse than killing someone while riding a motorbike,” she told The Telegraph.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking is also expected to launch the Road Justice inquiry later today.
The report also calls for all speed limits to be enforced with no additional leeway for offenders, which has often been the case in the past.
Drivers can currently only be prosecuted if they exceed the speed limit by 10 per cent plus two miles an hour, which would mean motorists could travel 35mph in a 30mph zone.
The report adds: “If drivers exceed posted speed limits, their capacity to avoid collisions reduces and the gravity of any collision increases.
“Moreover, if the working assumption is that one can speed (to an extent) with impunity, this fosters a belief that traffic law does not need to be taken seriously.
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It is hoped the proposals would make roads safer for those most at risk
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“We hold the view that speed limits and their enforcement represent the foundation of road justice because speeding accounts for the lion’s share of offences committed on the roads.”