Police will be able to hand out on-the-spot fines for careless driving under a new strategy being launched to to make Britain's roads safer.

Motorists who tailgate, undertake or cut up other drivers could be handed an immediate fine - reportedly up to £100 - rather than being taken to court.

There will be a new crackdown on drug-driving and loopholes which allow people to get off drink-driving charges will be closed, said the Department for Transport.

Disqualified drivers will be forced to retrain - and possibly have to take another test - before they regain their licence. And the courts will be encouraged to make more use of their powers to seize vehicles for the most serious offences.

But in a written statement to MPs, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond will also announce a new approach to drivers who make genuine mistakes on the roads and extra help for those who have just passed their tests and need to keep improving their skills.

A wider range of retraining and education courses will be on offer for low-level offences. And novice drivers will be able to take additional qualifications to reassure insurers that they are safe behind the wheel, in a bid to reverse the steep upward trend in premiums for less experienced motorists.

A DfT spokesman said: "The strategy will focus on cracking down on the really reckless drivers through more efficient enforcement. By giving the police the tools to deal with those who present the greatest danger to others we can make our roads even safer."

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "This strategy certainly addresses anti-social behaviour on the roads but it is questionable whether it tackles the key areas which cause injury and death."

Simon Best, chief executive of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "We welcome the proposal to give novice drivers extra training. Many young drivers crash simply because they lack driving experience.

"A strategy that punishes deliberate bad driving while allowing those who make simple human errors to improve has our full support. But we are concerned that issuing spot fines for careless driving could downgrade the offence and will be monitoring the impact carefully."