To careless drivers, a warning

The Voyager spawned a whole new segment of so-called people-movers and breathed new life into Chrysler. Photo / Supplied

The British Government is to give police the powers to issue on-the-spot fines for careless driving.

Under the new rules, which are likely to take effect next year, motorists will be instantly penalised for irresponsible manoeuvres, including tail-gating, undertaking or cutting up other drivers.

Under current British rules, police have to pursue offenders through the courts in order to impose a fine and points.

But under the new plans, police will take down the driver's details and issue a penalty notice through the post.

Fines will start at £80 ($161) and offences will be given one of three seriousness ratings: non-endorsable with a fine, endorsable with three points and a fine, and prosecution in the courts.

Offenders in every case will have the chance to appeal.

A spokeswoman for the UK Department for Transport said: "Prosecutions for careless driving have fallen steadily over the last 20 years, but we don't think incidents of careless driving have fallen at the same rate."