Drivers face gridlock traffic fines under radical new UK road law

Driving law changes backed by MPs could see companies hit with fines for causing traffic gridlock. Mark Francois, Conservative Party MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, introduced the proposal in the House of Commons, criticising companies for showing "a lack of any palpable sense of urgency whatever to get the job done".

The proposed Roadworks Bill would give local authorities new rights to refuse roadworks that could cause "unacceptable disruption" to road users. Francois said: "Let us collectively can the cones and keep the traffic flowing as much as we practically can."

He said that councils across the country should be able to charge a lane rental fee to utility and construction companies due to many of them showing 'a lack of any palpable sense of urgency whatever to get the job done, regardless of the inconvenience which is caused to the travelling public.'.

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Francois said that the proposed bill would give town and city councils new rights to refuse roadworks if they believe it will cause 'unacceptable disruption' to drivers and other road users. The former local government minister’s plan includes a ‘three-pronged strategy’ that can be applied by councils.

The aim is to ease congestion and reduce the amount of time that drivers spend in traffic caused by delayed roadworks. According to Francois, the current fines “are hardly likely to be a deterrent to major utility companies or housing developers, some of whom just accept them on the rare occasions they're actually levied as a cost of doing business.”

He continued: "The Bill would significantly increase the penalties for overrunning beyond the schedule agreed when the permit was first granted. Persistent offenders could be fined up to 10% of their annual corporate turnover which should make even the most high-handed company sit up and listen.

“Another related solution is lane rental, whereby companies must pay per day to carry out roadworks. This gives them a clear financial incentive to be efficient but at present it only applies to a very limited number of selected roads.”