May have been caught speeding - any advice?

Z

z4man2020

Member
Hello,

Was driving my Z down a dual carriageway this morning speed limit was 70 and i was at just over 70. Speed limit turnt to 50 and i continued at my speed whilst slowly slowing down, I spot a speed camera van in the lay-by. Never seen one there before as i have only recently moved.

I can appreciate this is completely my fault and I shouldn't speed.

I have already accumulated 6 points. In preparation for receiving a letter, as I want to try avoid a disqualification at all costs due to work and bills.

From experience what route would you guys recommend doing? I'm considering seeing a solicitor. :headbang: :tumbleweed:
 
You won’t get a ban with 6 points and barely over the limit this time squire, don't sweat it. Take the course if you can as has been said and avoid the 3 more points.
 
john-e89 said:
You won’t get a ban with 6 points and barely over the limit this time squire, don't sweat it. Take the course if you can as has been said and avoid the 3 more points.
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Okay mate no worries much appreciated.

In a 50 limit any idea what speed entails a potential ban?
 
z4man2020 said:
john-e89 said:
You won’t get a ban with 6 points and barely over the limit this time squire, don't sweat it. Take the course if you can as has been said and avoid the 3 more points.
Click to expand...

Okay mate no worries much appreciated.

In a 50 limit any idea what speed entails a potential ban?
Click to expand...

It may depend on the local chief constable. Not every area runs to exactly the same levels of lenience. Any estimate on what speed you think you were doing? If you were pushing 70 then that could be iffy. If you were pushing 60 then probably a straight 3 pointer or option for course. Or it may have been switched off, but best to assume it was not.

some useful indication on penalties here. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/speed-limits-and-penalties-breaking-them

For the speed awareness course, the speed of the offence must fall within the criteria stated below:

30 mph up to and including 42 mph
40 mph up to and including 53 mph
50 mph up to and including 64 mph
60 mph up to and including 75 mph
70 mph up to and including 86 mph
 
It does pi55 me off that these vans sit on dual carriage ways and motorways, because they are easy money traps, but not exactly dangerous.
I have never seen one in our village and some of the tossers are driving and riding through at triple the 30 speed limit, :thumbsdown:
I thought if you already have points, you don't get the driving course offer, I'm probably wrong though :wink:
 
firebobby said:
It does pi55 me off that these vans sit on dual carriage ways and motorways, because they are easy money traps, but not exactly dangerous.
I have never seen one in our village and some of the tossers are driving and riding through at triple the 30 speed limit, :thumbsdown:
I thought if you already have points, you don't get the driving course offer, I'm probably wrong though :wink:
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You may be offered a speed awareness course if you haven’t had a speeding offence within the last 3 years
 
I'm not sure where some of this information is coming from but the official sentencing guidelines for England and Wales are published on-line, recommending that in a 50 limit a speed of between 66 - 75 mph is a 'Band B' fine plus Disqualify 7 – 28 days OR 4 – 6 points. Factors such as previous history and conditions etc are taken in to account. https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-court/item/speeding-revised-2017/

Re Speed Awareness courses most forces restrict eligibility to an offending speed that under the limit plus 10%+9 mph i.e. 64 mph in a 50 zone. Having a speeding offence recorded in the past 3 years can also exclude eligibility.

On balance I'd say you'd be unlucky to have breached 66 or even 64 mph, as indicated speeds are generally a couple of MPH over true speed and you were hopefully off the gas, so I would wait for the notice with the alleged speed. If it is over 66 I'd consider employing a solicitor to manage pleading circumstances to avoid a ban (As Abraham Lincoln said " He who represents himself has a fool for a client"). If you are double-lucky grab any offer of a SA course :thumbsup:
 
Normally speed camera vans result in fixed penalty fine plus 3 points unless you are less than / equal to 10%+3 mph in which cases may be offered a speed awareness course if not attended one in the previous 3 years..
 
buzyg said:
z4man2020 said:
john-e89 said:
You won’t get a ban with 6 points and barely over the limit this time squire, don't sweat it. Take the course if you can as has been said and avoid the 3 more points.
Click to expand...

Okay mate no worries much appreciated.

In a 50 limit any idea what speed entails a potential ban?
Click to expand...

It may depend on the local chief constable. Not every area runs to exactly the same levels of lenience. Any estimate on what speed you think you were doing? If you were pushing 70 then that could be iffy. If you were pushing 60 then probably a straight 3 pointer or option for course. Or it may have been switched off, but best to assume it was not.

some useful indication on penalties here. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/speed-limits-and-penalties-breaking-them

For the speed awareness course, the speed of the offence must fall within the criteria stated below:

30 mph up to and including 42 mph
40 mph up to and including 53 mph
50 mph up to and including 64 mph
60 mph up to and including 75 mph
70 mph up to and including 86 mph
Click to expand...

I was travelling at just below 70 mate and slowing down.

Was speaking to my mate yesterday who's a plod and he said the vans have been out a lot more since covid
 
Ewazix said:
I'm not sure where some of this information is coming from but the official sentencing guidelines for England and Wales are published on-line, recommending that in a 50 limit a speed of between 66 - 75 mph is a 'Band B' fine plus Disqualify 7 – 28 days OR 4 – 6 points. Factors such as previous history and conditions etc are taken in to account. https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-court/item/speeding-revised-2017/

Re Speed Awareness courses most forces restrict eligibility to an offending speed that under the limit plus 10%+9 mph i.e. 64 mph in a 50 zone. Having a speeding offence recorded in the past 3 years can also exclude eligibility.

On balance I'd say you'd be unlucky to have breached 66 or even 64 mph, as indicated speeds are generally a couple of MPH over true speed and you were hopefully off the gas, so I would wait for the notice with the alleged speed. If it is over 66 I'd consider employing a solicitor to manage pleading circumstances to avoid a ban (As Abraham Lincoln said " He who represents himself has a fool for a client"). If you are double-lucky grab any offer of a SA course :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Sentencing guidelines and fines only come into play if you choose, or are required, to go to court...they won’t be relevant if you are offered a fixed penalty.
 
I once hired a solicitor to try to mitigate / avoid a driving ban without success. Just a hefty bill to add to my woes. At the time I believed that my reason for speeding & previous clean record (all eloquently conveyed by the solicitor) would stand a reasonable chance but still got 28 days.
Probably not what you want to hear, but solicitors usually don't come cheap and a legal bill on top of other penalties is unwelcome unless you're sure they can add value.
 
Could be lucky ... the camera might not have been set up? Was the rear/side window open on the vehicle and could you see a camera with someone sat in behind it? Facing a similar situation at the moment: after returning southbound on the M74 and pressing on :driving: I came round a bend to see a camera van sat up on a road bridge over the motorway just a few miles before the England/Scotland border :thumbsdown: ... so these last 10 days Ive also been waiting to see what drops through the letterbox and onto the mat! Unfortunately dual carriageways and motorways are easy pickings and bring in much needed revenue to government coffers ...
 
Colin_E said:
I once hired a solicitor to try to mitigate / avoid a driving ban without success. Just a hefty bill to add to my woes. At the time I believed that my reason for speeding & previous clean record (all eloquently conveyed by the solicitor) would stand a reasonable chance but still got 28 days.
Probably not what you want to hear, but solicitors usually don't come cheap and a legal bill on top of other penalties is unwelcome unless you're sure they can add value.
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Does a disqualification mess your insurance up much?

I'm 22 and have 5 years no claims but have spent an eye watering amount on insurance over the years.
 
z4man2020 said:
Does a disqualification mess your insurance up much?

I'm 22 and have 5 years no claims but have spent an eye watering amount on insurance over the years.
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You might get an idea of that by inputting appropriate data into a price comparison site. My case was 30+ years ago (I was in my 20s at the time) and I had a company car so I had no personal motor insurance at the time.
 
Somehow related to this, in July 2020 it was announced that Highways England would increase speed limits from 50 to 60 past roadworks to reduce amount of time that was being lost... I haven't traveled so much recently but it seems to me this hasn't changed. Anyone have an update on that?
 
orangeman said:
Somehow related to this, in July 2020 it was announced that Highways England would increase speed limits from 50 to 60 past roadworks to reduce amount of time that was being lost... I haven't traveled so much recently but it seems to me this hasn't changed. Anyone have an update on that?
Click to expand...
Only where it was safe to do so.

In my case, only the last bit of M6 smart motorway upgrades from about Sandbach.
 
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