Drivers who hog the middle lane or tailgate other cars face on-the-spot  fines of £100 and three points on their licence under plans unveiled  today.

Police are also expected to get powers to issue instant fixed penalty notices for not giving way at a junction or using the wrong lane at a  roundabout. Details of crackdown on anti-social motoring are due to be released by the Government in a statement to Parliament this morning.

Transport minister Stephen Hammond told the Daily Telegraph: "Careless drivers are a menace and their negligence puts innocent people's lives  at risk. "That is why we are making it easier for the police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fixed penalty notice  rather than needing to take every offender to court. We are also increasing penalties for a range of driving offences to a level which reflects their seriousness and which will ensure that they  are consistent with other similar penalty offences."

Until now such activity has generally gone unpunished because of the bureaucracy involved in prosecuting a case. A motorist has to be stopped by a police officer, a summons issued and evidence presented in court. Other changes being brought forward by the Government include increasing  the fine for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving or not wearing a seat belt from £60 to £100.

The fixed penalty for driving without insurance is expected to double from £100 to £200. AA president Edmund King said: "An increase in the standard motoring fixed penalty fine will help deter those who commit motoring offences including mobile phone use. We are also pleased to see that at long last new powers and fines will be given to the police to tackle the top three pet hates of drivers - tailgaters, mobile phone abusers and middle-lane hogs."

IAM comment:

Institute of Advanced Motorists director of policy and research Neil Greig said: "This is a major change in traffic law enforcement and the IAM is concerned that issuing fixed penalty tickets for careless driving downplays the seriousness of the offence. Careless covers a wide range of poor to reckless driving behaviour that often merits further investigation.

"This could free up traffic police time and allow them to maintain a higher profile. But without traffic cops out on the road to enforce this new approach it will have little impact on road safety."

It seems the wearing of compulsory Fluorescent/Yellow HI Viz/Jacket/Vest by French bikers while riding has gone away for now.  

France’s National Road Safety Council requests that the new road safety recommendations to be translated into regulatory text by the Government. The recommendation from the council is similar to that which is obligatory for motorists, which would be to carry a high visibility vest under the motorcycle seat, in a bag, in the box top etc and for that vest to be worn in case of an emergency stop. We cannot leave the article without mentioning our previous reporting on the Hi-Viz issue which spilt across the channel into the UK.  

That is to state that the Hi-Viz issue was not a European Union issue, there was no European proposal, it was a national French issue and there were no plans by the UK or Northern Ireland Governments or agencies to introduce Hi-Viz here.  

Although we have said that this is a French National issue it is worth keeping an eye on the issue as riders from the UK need to be kept informed for trips across the channel.  

For now at least, the wearing of a yellow vest while riding a motorcycle in France is not mandatory.  

Read the full article on Right To Ride EU

John McGuinness won his 16th TT today when he took victory in the Dainese Superbike race at the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

The Honda TT Legends rider overcame an early challenge from Bruce Anstey and a strong pit stop at the end of lap 2 saw him reassert himself. When the Kiwi went out at Quarry Bends, John was already 20 seconds clear of the field. With Guy Martin retiring on lap 5, McGuinness’ eventual winning margin was almost a minute over Cameron Donald who came through to take 2nd, some 10 seconds clear of Gary Johnson who took third despite suffering a 30-second penalty for infringing the pit lane speed limit.

Saturday saw dry, sunny conditions all around the course although a strong breeze kept the riders on their toes over the Mountain and at the first checkpoint at Glen Helen on the first lap, McGuinness was leading by just over a second from Johnson who was carrying over his practice form into the race. Anstey was only two tenths further back in third with Martin in fourth and James Hillier going brilliantly in fifth just ahead of Michael Dunlop and Dan Stewart.

McGuinness was putting in one of his customary fast first laps but Anstey was matching him all the way and at the end of the first lap only half a second separated the pair, both lapping comfortably over 130mph. Johnson and Martin also broke the 130mph barrier in third and fourth as Michael Dunlop and Donald completed the top six, Hillier dropping back to ninth. There was disappointment though on the opening lap for both Michael Rutter and Simon Andrews, the duo retiring at Cruickshanks and Quarter Bridge respectively.

Anstey was really flying on the second lap and he overhauled McGuinness by Glen Helen turning his deficit into a 1.5s advantage. Johnson was a further four seconds back in third still ahead of Martin, Dunlop and Donald but at the head of the field Anstey was pressing ahead on the Padgetts Honda and he completed the lap at 131.378mph. His lead was only 0.9s though as McGuinness also broke the 131mph barrier and his lead unravelled due to a slightly sluggish pit stop and when they left the pits, it was the Morecambe man who was now some 12 seconds clear. Dunlop was also in trouble in the pits losing over 2 minutes.

The gap was still 12 seconds through Glen Helen but Anstey was soon reported as having stopped at Quarry Bends and Martin moved up into second ahead of Johnson albeit by less than half a second. Donald was now fifth with Keith Amor putting in a brave ride in 6th given the discomfort of his injured shoulder. Stewart, William Dunlop and James Hillier were next with Conor Cummins riding superbly in tenth. Another local hero, Dan Kneen, was in trouble though, making an unscheduled pit stop at the end of the first lap and then retiring for good at the end of lap 3.

By two thirds race distance, McGuinness was controlling affairs from the front maintaining a near 20-second lead over Martin who now had some breathing space in second when Johnson was handed a 30-second penalty for exceeding the speed limit in pit lane after his second pit stop. Indeed, it was now Donald who was up to third whilst Cummins retired at Signpost.

There was drama on the fifth lap when Martin retired at Hillberry but, leading on the road, McGuinness was able to cruise home in his final lap, his final winning margin over Donald 56.9 seconds. Johnson lost the runner-up spot due to the pit lane infringement but he was still comfortable in third ahead of Amor who ensured it was four Hondas in the top 4.

Michael Dunlop came through from his pit stop problems to secure 5th on the final lap just edging Stewart out by two seconds. William Dunlop enjoyed his best ever ride in the Superbike race to take 7th with Hillier, Adrian Archibald and Ian Mackman rounding out the top ten. Mackman’s finish ensured he took maximum points in the Privateer’s Championship whilst the first newcomer home was Dan Hegarty in 32nd.

To listen live to Radio TT’s commentary for all races and follow live timing at the 2011 Isle of Man TT Races go to www.iomtt.com.

The Isle of Man continues to strengthen its political and economic relations with China as part of a broader strategy to raise the Island's international profile and generate new business opportunities.

Spaces could have been filled twice over within two hours!

All 400 spaces for the Motorcycle Off-Road Experience (MORE) went within a few hours of registration going live, with 341 spaces going within the first sixty minutes.

The sessions are for members of the public to try off-road riding for the first time for a nominal fee of £15 at a four day festival in June.

Registration was via an online booking system through the MCI’s contact centre, which began taking reservations from 9am on Thursday 16th of May on a first come first served basis. 

MORE was conceived by a sub-section of the MCI’s Off-Road group – which includes major manufacturers and off-road sporting bodies. The group’s objective is to introduce off-road riding to a new audience.

The event was trialled in September last year to overwhelming success, which is why it was repeated and expanded from 1 day to 4 and from 100 places to 400.

Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Yamaha and Suzuki are pooling resources to provide bikes, kit and world class training over a four day period between 13th and 16th of June.

This was the first time the MCI’s commercial contact centre had staged an event with a live registration deadline and MCI Contact Centre Supervisor, Neil Brown was thrilled with the outcome: “It was a bit like mission control at Houston just before 9 am.  We were all standing around nervously, but once we hit the hour, the registration pages were filling up and the system worked like clockwork.  The spaces could have been filled twice over within two hours.”

Howard Dale, General Manager for Kawasaki and Chairman of the MCI’s Off-Road Group, which has organised the event, says:  “We were overwhelmed by the response.  We suspected the places might go quickly like last year, but we weren’t sure 400 places would go quite as fast as they did. 

“We have clearly identified a huge demand for this type of event.  People are obviously very interested in off-road riding, but don’t know how to get started and if last year’s event was anything to go by, once people try it – they’re hooked!”

Steve Kenward, CEO of the MCI: “The MCI is delighted in the interest this event has generated.  Off-road motorcycling is the most accessible route to taking part in motorsport and the opportunity this day offers has clearly captured the imagination of a lot of people keen to try it for themselves for the first time”. 

Those who’ve missed out, should still join the waiting list.  It is highly likely some spaces will become available nearer the date and anyone who registers is in with a chance of winning an off-road holiday with Trailblazer-pro in Spain, as well as getting tickets for the Dirt Bike Show at a reduced price, only available to those who register.

They will also be informed first about similar events in the future.

People who would like to add their names to the list should follow the registration link via: www.rideoffroad.co.uk