The government has been consulting on its Road Safety Strategy one area being considered is potential tougher penalties for a number of motoring offences including not having an MOT

Police forces and road safety organisations have raised concerns with the government that certain offences fail to attract additional penalties, such as penalty points or vehicle seizure. The government has been conducting a consultation on its Road Safety Strategy, with the deadline for submissions having passed last week.

It can now be revealed that the Department for Transport is weighing up significantly tougher penalties for a range of offences — including driving without a valid MOT, being uninsured, cases where a vehicle’s owner cannot be traced, and the use of ‘ghost’ or cloned number plates.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport Lilian Greenwood MP stated that the measures were designed to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Britain’s roads, while ensuring police are equipped with appropriate powers that reflect the severity of each offence. In her foreword to the consultation, she wrote: “In 2024, there were 1,602 deaths on our roads – an average of around 30 a week, or 4 to 5 per day. There were also 27,865 serious injuries on our roads. Although the UK has some of the safest roads in the world, these figures remain far too high, and this government does not accept that these deaths and serious injuries are inevitable.

“With the number of UK road deaths having plateaued since 2010, it’s clear that strong, decisive action is long overdue. The government recognises the need to take action now to reduce casualties and damage on our roads. There is no silver bullet of one measure that will drastically reduce road death. Real progress will come when a range of measures work together, systematically and consistently, towards a common goal.”

The strategy examines several key areas, encompassing drink and drug driving, medical fitness to drive – including mandatory eye tests for those aged over 70 – and the failure to wear seatbelts. One area under consideration involves offences that may warrant stricter penalties. The consultation stated: “Police and road safety groups have told the government they are concerned that some offences do not carry extra penalties, such as penalty points or vehicle seizure.”

These include offences related to:

• a vehicle’s roadworthiness (no MOT)
• where no current keeper is identifiable
• incorrect, altered or false number plates that prevent justice from being done

The strategy argues that reform is necessary due to criminals exploiting legal loopholes. It outlined: “It’s harder for police to identify who is using a vehicle because some offenders go to great lengths to hide who owns it or who was driving – this makes it harder for the police to keep the public safe and pursue offenders.

“There is a significant amount of evidence of disguising a vehicle’s true ownership to avoid compliance with vehicle excise duty requirements and other payment requirements for the use of certain roads. This places an additional burden on those law-abiding drivers when revenue shortfall to the treasury due to fraud has to be made up.

“The police currently have the powers to seize a vehicle from those driving whilst uninsured, or not in accordance with their driving licence. The use of this power has to be proportionate and allows police to use their discretion not to seize where they feel that is an appropriate decision based on the merits of each situation.”

Regarding motor insurance, the government has drawn attention to the disparity in penalties between making a fraudulent declaration to secure motor insurance and driving without cover. At present, while the false declaration offence can result in imprisonment and fines if prosecuted, the majority of cases never reach court — and crucially, there is no provision for issuing penalty points or disqualifying the offending driver. By contrast, driving while uninsured carries a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points, or if taken to court, an unlimited fine and/or a driving ban.

A summary of responses is due to be published within the next 3 months, ahead of proposed legislative changes later this year.To read the full consultation document click here.