The worst offenders, such as those doing 45mph in a 30mph zone, could have six points added to their licence.

This could result a driving ban - given when 12 points are accumulated within three years - for just two offences.

Transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the government was "determined" to cut levels of "excessive" speeding.

'Dangerous'

He also said there could be smaller penalties for drivers who "just drift over the limit".

Mr Fitzpatrick told Sky News: "Just crossing this threshold... I would consider a different offence to someone driving 50mph in a 30mph limit."

He added: "We have a consensus that speeding is wrong and dangerous.

"We are asking how best we can enforce the speed limits we have to protect road users and members of the public who may be walking along the road when people are driving dangerously."

The Department for Transport is launching a consultation within the next few months, with the findings expected next year.

Under the plans, people driving at 45mph or above in a 30mph limit could receive a fixed penalty of six points and a £100 fine.

Those caught doing 70mph in a 50mph zone or 94mph in a 70mph zone would face the same sanction, it adds.

The existing flat rate for speeding is three points on a licence and a £60 fine.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "We welcome measures where people who are grossly above the speed limit get tougher penalty points.

"It is not getting at the ordinary motorist. It is getting at those who flagrantly break the speed limit."

'Concerned'

But Paul Smith, founder of campaign group Safe Speed, said: "Drivers will rightly be concerned that they will be faced with losing their licences for six months after two perfectly routine cases of driving safely.

"We all know that exceeding the speed limit isn't automatically dangerous."

The government has a target of reducing deaths and serious injuries on the roads by 40% by 2010 compared with the average figure for the mid-1990s.

Last month, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety introducing more 20mph zones in towns and cities in an effort to reduce accidents.

Doubling penalty points for excessive speeding – IAM Trust response

“Excessive speeding is selfish, dangerous and harms the environment”, says IAM Trust Director, Neil Greig. “The new government consultation is welcome and we look forward to seeing the resulting benefits translated into safer and less stressful motoring.”

Increasing penalties for excessive speed makes more sense than the government’s original plan to reduce penalties for slightly exceeding the speed limit. In 2005, 78 per cent of drivers supported the idea of these lower penalties. However, this support fell dramatically (to 55 per cent) when they realised it would reduce penalties in towns where most pedestrians and cyclists are hurt and where even marginally increased speeds can mean the difference between life and death.

www.iamtrust.org.uk