Say yes to cheaper van, home and car insurance

Thousands of drivers may be about to launch legal challenges against the government after a loop-hole concerning jumping traffic lights was discovered.

The attorney-general has admitted that many motorists have been wrongly penalised for jumping red lights, reports the Times.

Concern was raised when it was discovered that more than 300 level crossings introduced since 1990 were signed off by the Health and Safety Executive.

According to the law, only the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency has the power to approve a level crossing, meaning thousands of penalties may have to be rescinded.

Technically the crossings have been illegally put in place and motorists will be able to appeal against any punishment they may have received.

Drivers could find themselves reimbursed for a fine they have paid and could even have penalty points removed from their licence which may affect their car insurance premiums.

"We have got to assume that we're talking about thousands rather than hundreds of drivers, given the number of level crossings involved," a Whitehall source told the newspaper.

The government is likely to keep the location of the crossings a secret until they are legalised and motorists may have some trouble taking their case to court.

"We will try to make it as difficult and as expensive as possible for anyone to challenge us in the courts," said the source.

"Even though these drivers might have been wrongly penalised due to a technicality, we would use the moral argument that they were potentially endangering lives by ignoring a red light."

© Adfero Ltd