Summary justice?

The Department for Transport recently advocated on-the-spot-fines and licence penalty points after road accidents.

In one way this is merely an extension of speed camera fines, except that there will presumably be no "objective evidence" but rather a policeman who arrives after the accident. Justice "on the spot" will thus depend on his judgement of the situation, and witnesses may have moved on when they saw that nobody was hurt. So a driver on his own is likely to fare worse than a driver who has three or four passenger friends with him at the time.

In the case of camera speeding fines, most drivers will feel that it is not worth contesting the case and opt for the cheapest way, of admitting guilt even if they do not feel it. What is likely to happen in the case of accidents?

Insurance companies instruct their clients not to admit responsibility, and many drivers have been relieved later to discover that their insurers have protected their clients' interests. Is this to be removed? The stakes here, with damage to two cars, no-claims bonus, and points on licence, could make a refusal to accept liability more likely. What happens then? Who will process the information, how long will it take and with what costs. This will presumably apply to all minor offences, including those which currently are satisfy both drivers by an assurance of an insurance claim.

How will the police, who have already withdrawn from consideration of much minor local crime because of limited time and resources, find the time for all this. Will PCSOs be given the power to impose summary justice?

Many will see the whole proposal as another stealth tax, as many are already convinced the speed cameras are. If the two drivers and their insurers are happy with any financial outcome, why should the state intervene by some ridiculous extension of a principle of careless driving?

Given that many cases are misjudgement or failure of thought or vision, which will not be deterred by the advent of this new legislation, what is it expected to achieve except extra revenue for the insatiable state?

( I forbear from mentioning a whole new range of offences which could be involved, such as turning on your car radio or even having an altercation with passengers. If it is the latter, make sure you argue or remonstrate with the wife very quietly, or you may be overheard by some passing police officer!)