Bolton drivers urged to respond to road safety consultation

The Department for Transport review, which ends at 11:59pm on Sunday 11 May, is seeking public views on sweeping changes to road safety law, the most significant overhaul of motoring penalties in decades.

Proposals under consideration include lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales, introducing penalty points for failing to wear a seatbelt, and strengthening penalties for uninsured, unlicensed and hit-and-run drivers.

Ministers are also consulting on immediate licence suspensions for suspected drink and drug drivers, expanded police powers to seize vehicles, and the potential use of alcohol interlock devices as part of rehabilitation programmes.

The consultation comes as road safety remains a growing political and public concern, both nationally and across Bolton.

In Bolton, official figures underline the scale of the issue.

Data from the DVLA and Department for Transport shows the borough has the second-highest number of penalty points in Greater Manchester, with more than 58,000 recorded as of September 2024.

Bolton driver receiving penalty points (Image: GMP)

Collision data further highlights the trend.

In 2023, more than 100 road traffic incidents in Bolton were linked to motoring offences, a significant rise on the previous year and more than double the figure recorded in Stockport.

Recent fatal and serious collisions have added to concerns, including a multi-fatality crash on Wigan Road in January, a double pedestrian fatality in Smithills in December, and a fatal incident on the M61 in April.

The scene of the Wigan Road crash (Image: Phil Taylor)

Across Greater Manchester, provisional figures show road deaths increased to 51 in 2024, while the number of people killed or seriously injured also rose sharply.

Nationally, more than 1,600 people died on roads in England and Wales in 2024, with little overall improvement in casualty figures in the most recent data.

The Government says the consultation is intended to ensure penalties reflect the seriousness of offences and act as an effective deterrent, particularly in relation to dangerous and illegal driving.

Police stopping cars for no insurance, MOT or tax (Image: GMP)

Further proposals include increasing penalties for failing to stop after a collision, extending prosecution time limits in the most serious cases, and raising fines for driving without insurance, tax or a valid MOT.

Responses can be submitted via the Government’s website or by email before the deadline.

A summary of feedback is expected within three months, with potential legislative changes to follow.