RAC welcomes the consultation announced today concerning a new sliding scale of fines and penalty points for speeding motorists:

RAC's Rebecca Bell said; "Though no one condones speeding, it's a reality on our roads so we think most motorists will welcome this consultation which could lead to what many will consider to be a more appropriate system.

"This year more than three million speeding offences will be recorded and motorists penalised with points and fines - currently £60 and three penalty points for each offence.

"For motorists who drive many miles each year, it could be relatively easy to find themselves with several points or even banned as a result of traveling only a couple of miles over the speed limit on a handful of occasions.

"Our research shows that almost half of Britain's motorists admit to speeding a little over the speed limit every day.

"Speeding convictions result not only in steep fines, but in some cases increased insurance premiums, which in a climate where petrol prices have sky rocketed, is an unwelcome side-effect."

But RAC urged the Government to take the circumstances of speeding offences into consideration during the consultation.

"Who's to say that travelling 10mph above the speed limit on a dual carriageway late at night is a more serious and dangerous offence than going 5mph above the speed limit outside a school?

"We will need to take speed and circumstance into consideration if these plans are to work sensibly.

"This may then go some way to encouraging motorists to believe that current speeding enforcement is fair, appropriate and focused on promoting road safety.

"RAC research indicates that 72 per cent of drivers still think speed limit enforcement via safety cameras is more about raising revenues than improving road safety."