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Original poster

12pts in a week - driving ban

441 replies

Jarofgoodness · 15/02/2026 11:47

I can't believe that this is happening.

I am normally such a careful driver. I hate speeding, always use the speed limiter on my car and have never had even 3pts on my licence in almost 30 years of driving.

Last month I worked away from home for a week, and on the way to my temporary workplace there was a road which I thought was a 30mph road but which was actually a 20. I got caught speeding (high 20s) every single day, and yesterday received four speeding fines in the post at once. £400 in fines but also 12pts which means a mandatory six month driving ban!

I simply cannot believe that this is happening. I know that it is my responsibility to know the speed limit, and that I shouldn't break it. But this punishment seems wildly excessive and unfair to me. I have 30 years of spotless driving, and have not suddenly become dangerous in a week. Surely someone can see the pattern here and note that it was multiple times making the same simple mistake in exactly the same place? I didn't even have time to reflect on one speeding ticket and change my driving behaviour because they all arrived at once, after I had left the area!

What can i do? I am not expecting sympathy as I know I am only receiving the punishment due to me. But I may well lose my job. The form says that I can plead 'exceptional hardship' in court but that losing employment doesn't count.

I see boy racers all the time and yet I am getting banned! It just seems such an unfairness.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Zov · 10/04/2026 20:35

Yes. @Jarofgoodness What happened?

Ragingoverlife · 10/04/2026 20:33

Anndalouzier · 10/04/2026 20:25

Oh, I thought it was a new thread

Edited

Ive never been so invested in someone's points

Anndalouzier · 10/04/2026 20:25

Oh, I thought it was a new thread

BootleggedMaterial · 10/04/2026 14:40

How did you get on, OP @Jarofgoodness ?

GaIadriel · 09/03/2026 04:02

Xkk · 19/02/2026 05:38

Won't you be allowed a driver awareness course for the first one? I'd seek legal advice and fight it aa court might have sympathy for you.

Edited
Show quote history

Alcoholics Anonymous court might have sympathy for her?

(sorry 😂)

Zov · 08/03/2026 14:03

Hi @Jarofgoodness What has happened? Have you got points taken back/taken off?

Anndalouzier · 02/03/2026 20:28

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

Was thinking about this today and realised I had totally forgotten to mention the ' totality' principle in sentencing.

12pts in a week - driving ban
Rottweilermummy · 22/02/2026 07:12

Thats so annoying op. Hopefully you can do the speed awareness course and only get the 9 points?, but do check the signs and get legal advice. Only time I got done was on a motorway nowhere near home, totally missed sign that it was going to a 50, I was doing under the limit for 70 as road conditions weren't great I missed the sign because it was by a slip road and a police car was coming onto the motorway so was more concentrating on that as to whether I needed to move over . Oh the irony. I wrote to explain that I wasnt familiar with the road and where were the signs they sent me a photo.

Xkk · 19/02/2026 05:38

GaIadriel · 18/02/2026 17:52

Transration please.

Show quote history

Won't you be allowed a driver awareness course for the first one? I'd seek legal advice and fight it aa court might have sympathy for you.

MissJoGrant · 18/02/2026 20:18

Jan24680 · 18/02/2026 20:16

The roads will be a bit safer for 6 months won't they?

Slow clap for your crap joke. 👏

Jan24680 · 18/02/2026 20:16

The roads will be a bit safer for 6 months won't they?

GaIadriel · 18/02/2026 17:52

OkimADHD · 17/02/2026 22:33

Wont u be alloqwd to do a drivwra awarenes courae for the first one? Id seen legak advuce and fight it as courta may symaothy for u

Transration please.

GaIadriel · 18/02/2026 17:52

grumpygrape · 18/02/2026 10:26

Is it time for OP to cancel the cheque?

No, it's time for her to get a pushbike. 🤣

BumpyWinds · 18/02/2026 16:00

EmbroideredGardener · 18/02/2026 10:09

@Jarofgoodness if it's too far for you to travel back to, use google maps to check for signs. Not the most reliable I know, but if you can see multiple on there then I think you need to suck it up, if none, or obstructed, then you've a good chance of appealing

My BIL was annoyed recently that he got a ticket for doing a U-turn in a no U-turn zone. Said he hadn't seen any signs or he wouldn't have done it.

I sent him a screenshot from Google Streetview showing 4 no u-turn signs at the exact point that he did it! 😂 He paid up!

It too was an area he didn't know and he'd taken a wrong turn, so was just looking to turn around. In fairness to him, there's not many no u-turn signs really, so I can understand his error.

To make the same mistake, 4 days in a row, as a careful driver, does sound like potentially there's an issue with signage.

OP - just another thought. If it's possible that the signage was damaged, take a look on fixmystreet at the area and see if there are any recent reports. In my area you can still see closed reports as well as current ones. You might find something there.

grumpygrape · 18/02/2026 10:26

Is it time for OP to cancel the cheque?

EmbroideredGardener · 18/02/2026 10:09

@Jarofgoodness if it's too far for you to travel back to, use google maps to check for signs. Not the most reliable I know, but if you can see multiple on there then I think you need to suck it up, if none, or obstructed, then you've a good chance of appealing

tachetastic · 18/02/2026 09:18

Jarofgoodness · 15/02/2026 11:47

I can't believe that this is happening.

I am normally such a careful driver. I hate speeding, always use the speed limiter on my car and have never had even 3pts on my licence in almost 30 years of driving.

Last month I worked away from home for a week, and on the way to my temporary workplace there was a road which I thought was a 30mph road but which was actually a 20. I got caught speeding (high 20s) every single day, and yesterday received four speeding fines in the post at once. £400 in fines but also 12pts which means a mandatory six month driving ban!

I simply cannot believe that this is happening. I know that it is my responsibility to know the speed limit, and that I shouldn't break it. But this punishment seems wildly excessive and unfair to me. I have 30 years of spotless driving, and have not suddenly become dangerous in a week. Surely someone can see the pattern here and note that it was multiple times making the same simple mistake in exactly the same place? I didn't even have time to reflect on one speeding ticket and change my driving behaviour because they all arrived at once, after I had left the area!

What can i do? I am not expecting sympathy as I know I am only receiving the punishment due to me. But I may well lose my job. The form says that I can plead 'exceptional hardship' in court but that losing employment doesn't count.

I see boy racers all the time and yet I am getting banned! It just seems such an unfairness.

Perhaps pay the first fine and appeal the rest, explaining the circumstances. You may get a sympathetic hearing if you admit to the first one?

StedSarandos · 18/02/2026 07:07

My 15yr old car speedo only shows speeds in 20 mph increments. I've found it incredibly stressful to drive.
Getting a new car this year and the priority will be a digital speedo that shows the actual speed.

saltandvinegarpringles · 18/02/2026 06:40

allmycats · 17/02/2026 19:59

I’ve not read the whole thread but doesn’t the speed limit show on your dashboard screen?

What dashboard screen? 🫣 my car is a decade old and doesn’t even have Bluetooth, let alone a fancy screen 🤣

Kernowmaidporth · 18/02/2026 06:38

Jarofgoodness · 15/02/2026 11:47

I can't believe that this is happening.

I am normally such a careful driver. I hate speeding, always use the speed limiter on my car and have never had even 3pts on my licence in almost 30 years of driving.

Last month I worked away from home for a week, and on the way to my temporary workplace there was a road which I thought was a 30mph road but which was actually a 20. I got caught speeding (high 20s) every single day, and yesterday received four speeding fines in the post at once. £400 in fines but also 12pts which means a mandatory six month driving ban!

I simply cannot believe that this is happening. I know that it is my responsibility to know the speed limit, and that I shouldn't break it. But this punishment seems wildly excessive and unfair to me. I have 30 years of spotless driving, and have not suddenly become dangerous in a week. Surely someone can see the pattern here and note that it was multiple times making the same simple mistake in exactly the same place? I didn't even have time to reflect on one speeding ticket and change my driving behaviour because they all arrived at once, after I had left the area!

What can i do? I am not expecting sympathy as I know I am only receiving the punishment due to me. But I may well lose my job. The form says that I can plead 'exceptional hardship' in court but that losing employment doesn't count.

I see boy racers all the time and yet I am getting banned! It just seems such an unfairness.

I cannot believe how many people are pointing out you should have seen the speed signs etc. This happened to me. I tied myself up in knots worrying about court and losing my job. I did exceptional circs statement. I spoke openly and honestly at court. They were lovely to me. I spoke about knowing the risks of speeding. I spoke about the impact losing my license will have on me and people I care for. I did not get a ban. Just a reasonable fine and I have not had a speed fine since !

OkimADHD · 17/02/2026 22:33

Wont u be alloqwd to do a drivwra awarenes courae for the first one? Id seen legak advuce and fight it as courta may symaothy for u

Lola888 · 17/02/2026 22:22

Police officer here, a friend of mine got in touch a couple of years ago panicking she'd been caught speeding twice in one day. I spoke to a colleague who used to work in the ticketing office. She said write a letter to explain and if you're lucky you'll get a speed awareness to cover the two.

I can't promise this'll be the same, but it could be worth asking.

PartyRockAnthem · 17/02/2026 21:57

Imbusytodaysorry · 17/02/2026 09:47

@Jarofgoodness you need a solicitor and fight it .
It has to be shown you knowingly ment to break the speeding limit.

I think it will be fine . Nobody does that every day knowing they would loose their license. With your record I think the judge would be lenient .

I think you should find out what day your local magistrates court holds their traffic court and go along. You’ll then discover that this:
It has to be shown you knowingly ment to break the speeding limit.
is a load of nonsense.

Womaninhouse17 · 17/02/2026 21:55

allmycats · 17/02/2026 19:59

I’ve not read the whole thread but doesn’t the speed limit show on your dashboard screen?

Not in every car - mine doesn't even have a dashboard screen. And car satnavs often have outdated information. Even my Satnav (I use Google maps on my phone so it's as up to date as possible) isn't always aware of new speed limits.

Blondeshavemorefun · 17/02/2026 21:38

Go back to same stretch of road and see how many signs it has saying 20 if any

didn’t help you now but if driving in new places I use my phone as sat na and google maps as it cleverly knows the speed limit and changes on bottom left corner and if speeding shows your speed in red

ifs great in London or near Blackwall tunnel as that changes 50 to 40 to 30 bak to 50

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