North West Euro MP Brian Simpson has criticised the Tory-LibDem government for walking away from new laws approved on Wednesday 6 July by Euro MPs in Strasbourg to crack down on foreign drivers speeding on local roads.

Britain is the only EU country refusing to support the new measure, which would allow the UK to crackdown on the estimated 79,000 speeding and red light offences committed annually by foreign motorists on British roads. 

Brian Simpson, Chair of the European Parliament Transport Committee, has called on the Tory-LibDem government to reconsider its decision and to join the scheme as early as possible.

"The UK has always taken a lead on road safety in Europe and I am thoroughly disappointed to see the British government dismissing this important new law".

Drivers of non-British vehicles remain free to speed, drink and drive, jump red lights and not wear a seatbelt with limited fear of prosecution. The new European measure makes it possible for governments to share information on road traffic offences and  prosecute dangerous drivers in their own country.

"Across Europe we see other countries cooperating to make their roads safer, but Britain is refusing to act. The Tory-LibDem Government are putting political dogma before people's safety", added Mr Simpson.

"The decision is outrageous if we consider the 79,000 offences committed on UK roads every year by foreign drivers that will now continue to go unpunished".

The European Transport Safety Council, which represents the UK's Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety in Brussels, has joined Mr Simpson in also urging the UK government to "opt-in as soon as possible".