The perils of speeding

Fines of up to £2,500 and instant bans can be levied

Getting caught speeding can lead to fines, penalty points, speed awareness courses or even driving bans depending on the severity of the offence. For minor offences, the police have 14 days to issue a Notice of Intended Prosecution.

Drivers may be offered a speed awareness course, which involves paying to attend a half-day session, instead of getting points on their licence. Whether this is offered depends on the police force.

More serious speeding offences over 10% plus 9mph of the speed limit rarely qualify for awareness courses. The minimum penalty is a £100 fine and 3-6 penalty points. Not responding to the police within 28 days can lead to the matter going to court. Very serious offences go straight to court, with fines up to £1,000 or £2,500 on motorways. 12 points in 3 years leads to disqualification. Instant bans are only considered for significant speeding, like over 51mph in a 30 zone or 85mph in a 60 zone.

Bans range from 7-56 days but can be up to 120 days, after which driving tests may need to be retaken. Courts consider road conditions and consequences of lost licences. In summary, minor speeding may lead to awareness courses while serious speeding leads to large fines, points and potential driving bans. The courts do have some discretion around driving bans which could include factors such as if you were speeding for an emergency or if losing your licence could cost you your job.

A longer version of this article first appeared at www.rac.co.uk