UK Government Proposes Major Road Safety Law Changes

The Department for Transport (DfT) is consulting on a series of reforms under its Road Safety Strategy. One proposal would amend the six‑month statutory time limit for speed‑camera offences, starting the clock when the driver’s details are supplied to authorities, to stop offenders exploiting the current deadline.

The consultation also covers tougher penalties for motoring offences, including the possibility of roadside vehicle seizure and the introduction of penalty points for failures such as an invalid MOT, driving without insurance, or use of cloned number plates. The consultation closed on 16 May, with the DfT pledging to publish responses within three months and to advance legislation later in the year, aiming for a key decision by mid‑August.

Government officials, including Andy Burnham’s administration and Parliamentary Under‑Secretary Lilian Greenwood, say the measures are intended to curb the 1,602 road deaths and 27,865 serious injuries recorded in 2024 and to give police stronger powers to address serious violations.