Police could fine careless drivers on the spot, instead to taking them to court, according to new plans to improve road safety set out by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.

Fixed penalties, that could go up to £100, are likely to be introduce in 2012 in England, Scotland and Wales, as a measure to tackle the minority of motorists who tailgate, undertake or cut up other drivers, and often are left unpunished.

"We will focus relentlessly on cracking down on the really reckless few who are responsible for a disproportionately large number of accidents and deaths on our roads. By allowing the police to focus resources on dealing with these drivers, we can make our roads even safer,” Hammond said.

The government plans under the Strategic Framework for Road Safety to require offenders to pass a test before they regain their licence after a serious disqualification, as well as making a greater use of powers to seize vehicles to keep the most dangerous drivers off the roads.

There will be ways of not paying the fine. The DfT claims that there will also be more educational courses that can be offered in place of a fixed penalty and points in appropriate cases, as well as a new post-test qualification for novice drivers.

According to Hammond, the fine for low-level offences is aimed only to genuine dangerous drivers :“We are determined to differentiate between wilfully reckless drivers and the law abiding majority who sometimes make honest mistakes, or who have allowed their skills to deteriorate.”

The plans announced by the government on May 11 are not openly welcomed by everyone. Director of the RAC Foundation, Professor Stephen Glaister, said: "This strategy certainly addresses anti-social behaviour on the roads but it is questionable whether it tackles the key areas which cause injury and death.

"Either way, the three things needed to make these plans work are enforcement, enforcement, enforcement. With police services being cut, it is far from certain the desired results can be achieved. Without adequate enforcement there is no strategy."

The government claims that its long term vision is to ensure that Britain remains a world leader on road safety.