Under new guidelines for magistrates, fines for motorists caught doing 51mph in a 30mph zone or 101mph on a motorway will start from 150 per cent of their weekly income, rather than the previous level of 100 per cent. The maximum fines allowed by law remain the same, so speeding drivers cannot be fined more than £1,000 unless the offence takes place on a motorway, where the limit is £2,500. Fines have been divided into three bands - A, B and C with drivers caught at speeds up to 10 mph over the limit falling into the first bracket. Drivers clocking speeds at 11-21 mph over the limit fall into band B and the most serious offenders fall into band C with drivers exceeding the speed limit by more than 21 mph. Band C offenders could be fined 125-175 per cent of their relevant weekly income, Band B 75 to 125 per cent and Band A 25-75 per cent of their weekly income. The minimum fine of £100 and three points will remain the same. Some 244 people were killed in crashes that occurred when a driver was breaking the speed limit on Britain’s roads in 2015. The Sentencing Council said the move aims to ensure there is a “clear increase in fine level as the seriousness of offending increases”. It follows responses to a consultation arguing previous guidelines did not properly take into account the increase in potential harm that can result as speed above the limit rises. AA president Edmund King described the changes as “an effective way to penalise offenders”. Mr King said there is “no sensible reason” for excessive speeding, adding: “It is only right that these extreme offenders are punished severely.” He went on: “Responsible drivers will welcome the changes coming into force today. “The majority of drivers who keep to the correct speed, as well as driving to the conditions, won’t be affected. It is only those who deliberately drive dangerously who will end up in court.” RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said while the new measures “underline how seriously the courts take speeding offences”, the limit on fines means there is not a “level playing field”. He also questioned whether police officers have enough resources to ensure the tougher punishments have an impact on road safety. The number of full-time dedicated roads policing officers in England and Wales (excluding London) fell by 27% between 2010 and 2015. Mr Gooding said: “While we broadly support linking the amount of the penalty with income, the cap on the level of fines means that this link is broken for high-income drivers - hardly a level playing field. “For speeding penalties to be effective three things have to be true: they have to be severe enough to hurt, motorists need to know what they are and believe there is a realistic prospect of being caught if they go too fast. “We worry that other pressures on police time will seriously undermine the effectiveness of this stiffening of sanctions.” Gary Rae, campaigns director for road safety charity Brake, said: “Toughening the fines and penalties for speeding is long overdue. “I hope that magistrates ensure the new sentences are consistently applied.”