Motorists 'should gain positive points for good driving'

A think tank has come up with a novel idea for drivers to avoid being given penalty points on their licence for speeding.

Right-wing group Conservative Way Forward says that motorists should be able to accrue "positive points" for taking advanced skills driving courses - which can be built up to negate points for breaking the speed limit.

Only those who have received extra driving training would be able to gain "credit", which the group says could also be used to cancel out points for other minor driving offences.

Concerns have been raised over the proposals, however, with Robert Gifford of the Advisory Council for Transport Safety, saying: "While positive points would encourage people to keep up their skills, the danger is that they would try to trade these for points they might pick up for speeding."

"Given that we know that drivers who break the speed limit are more likely to be involved in a crash, this proposal is not a good one for safety."

Currently, drivers who are caught speeding can face fines and points on their licence as well as having to pay more for car insurance.