Drivers who exceed speed limits by between 20 and 30% will receive lower fines and have fewer licence points deducted than at present under a motorist-friendly system proposed by ministers.

The plans would replace the current standard £60 fine and three-point speeding penalty with a sliding scale of punishment intended to reflect the seriousness of the offence. Punishments could range from £40 and two penalty points up to £100 and six points for the most serious offences.

The scheme would mean that drivers travelling at 39mph in a 30mph limit would face a fine a third lower than currently and an endorsement taking them a sixth of the way to the 12-point disqualification mark, rather than a quarter.

The Government said it would support waiving the two-point sanction for first-time low-speed offenders who agreed to attend ‘speed awareness’ courses.