The Government is planning to set up specialist traffic courts to deal with minor motoring offences, such as speeding and traffic light jumping, to get such cases through court faster.
Speaking to the Press Association, justice minister Damian Green said: “These cases take nearly six months on average from offence to completion, despite the fact that over 90% result in a guilty plea or are proved in absence. This is simply unacceptable.
“The justice system must respond more quickly and effectively to the needs of victims, witnesses and local communities, and these dedicated courts will enable magistrates to better organise their work, and drive greater efficiency.”
The Government is said to be in conversation with the judiciary about ways in which traffic courts can be rolled out across the country.
Nine police forces have already trialled the system, including the Metropolitan Police, Essex, and West Yorkshire.
The trials were described as a “great success. radically simplifying and speeding up the process” by chief constable Chris Eyre of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
