British motorists could face higher speeding fines while on holiday in the European Union due to a change in EU laws.

If you are caught breaking the speed limit by more than 31mph, you may be hit with a fine of up to €750 (£640), the Mirror reports .

However British police will not pursue drivers from abroad for motoring offences committed in the UK.

Under UK law, liability lies with the driver of the car - not the owner - as it does in Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Holland and Italy.

A directive giving European countries the power to chase British motorists for fines by obtaining their driver details will come into force on May 6.

Britain was given a two-year exemption from the rules, but has been forced to introduce them this spring.

The new directive will cover eight offences, including speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt and driving while using a mobile phone.

But transport bosses will seek to have the rules overturned when Britain leaves the EU in 2019.

Previously, British motorists could be fined in Europe only if they were stopped by police at the roadside or were in a hire car.

Under the new rules, European countries will be able to obtain drivers' details through the DVLA, which holds records on nearly 40 million vehicles.

About 500,000 UK motorists are flashed by French speed cameras a year and could now face charges.

A spokesman for the RAC said: "It is right that any UK driver found to be breaking motoring laws in another European country should face the relevant penalty as this has been an unacceptable loophole for many years, but equally, it is also right that any motorist in charge of a European-registered vehicle speeding or committing another offence, should face the consequences in their own country."

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