TOUGHER penalties for motoring offences will force fleet managers to tighten up on driver training and safety according to proposals in a Government consultation paper.

Drivers exceeding a total of 10 penalty points may be offered the chance to attend a retraining programme at their own expense to earn a remission of five points, or if disqualified for more than eight weeks, a remission of 20% of a driving ban.

The proposals have been welcomed by organisations involved in driver training, but there are warnings that fleet managers will need to play a more active role in ensuring their drivers are safe to be at the wheel.

Allen Bewley, RAC head of risk management, said: 'If fleet managers think these points apply to road users in general and they can avoid the duty of responsibility, they are in for a rude awakening. Fleet operators need to have a licence checking policy that works. Employers quite clearly have a duty of care, and it is an extension of Government proposals to drive down the number of accidents.'

A spokesman for Drive and Survive said: 'We know fleet drivers are involved in serious injury and fatal accidents more often than anyone else because of the higher mileage they cover. If the law is going to be more severe, more fleet drivers are going to get caught up in the system. Fleet managers must ensure their drivers are fit to drive.'