THE new minister in charge of road safety was close to being banned from driving after collecting three speeding tickets.

As the new Government’s Cabinet reshuffle revealed the four Ministers who will be running the Department for Transport, Dr Stephen Ladyman, Minister of State for Transport, revealed in the local Kent on Sunday newspaper that he had been caught speeding three times in three years up to 2002, describing them as ‘silly lapses of judgement.’

Ladyman is tasked with getting the road safety bill, which included fewer points for smaller driving offences, through Parliament. The bill ran out of time before the General Election. Alistair Darling keeps his position as Secretary of State for Transport. Ladyman’s responsibility is to be more directly involved with the road, fuel, vehicle and road safety policies. Karen Buck has been given responsibility for traffic management, environmental issues, and local transport plans.

Ministerial duties:

Rt Hon Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport. Responsibilities: overview of all policies, transport security and contingencies, tegislative priorities, finance spending review, relations with devolved administrations, freedom of information, deregulation.

Stephen Ladyman, Minister of State for Transport. Responsibilities:road safety, Highways Agency and road network policy, DVO group agencies, vehicles and fuels, logistics, regional strategy and growth areas, shipping and ports, transport technology and research, transport direct, Europe Minister.

Derek Twigg, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Transport. Responsibilities: rail, crossrail Bill, light rail, British Transport Police, Rail Passengers Committee, walking and cycling.

Karen Buck, Under Secretary of State for Transport. Responsibilities:aviation, London, local transport including local authority roads and local transport plans, regional and sub-regional issues, traffic management, buses and taxis, mobility and inclusion, climate change, corporate issues, Green Minister.