Confused.com: Double points for speeding drivers

In response to the news that the government is planning to double the fixed penalty for people caught exceeding the speed limit excessively, Debra Williams, Managing Director of the UK's leading insurance price comparison service Confused.com, said: We support the Government's plan to improve road safety by introducing a harsher fixed penalty for drivers who excessively speed.

What this means in practice is that the chance of getting a £100 fine and a ban for speeding, resulting from the addition of six points on your license, is instantly much higher. But speeding also carries another cost, as penalty points drive up the cost of your car insurance premium.

Confused.com's research reveals that six points on your license increases car insurance premiums by an average 25% and 50% for nine points.

While some drivers may be tempted not to inform their insurer of these points, Confused.com warns strongly against providing false information, as this will almost certainly invalidate a policy and prevent a payout in the event of a claim. Motorists could also see themselves being listed as fraudulent on the insurance industry's central fraud database, which will impact a driver's credit rating.

Speeding clearly remains a serious issue. Confused.com's research reveals that approximately 21% of drivers have speeding convictions of one sort or another and calculates that approximately 600,000 drivers are one excessive speeding conviction away from a total ban. Moreover, as a result of the relaxed regulations introduced in April of this year, speed cameras no longer need to be highly visible and can blend in with the their environment, thereby significantly increasing the chance of drivers being caught for such offences.

Our advice is to ease off the gas and drive more responsibly if you want to avoid a fine and spiraling insurance costs.