Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Blushingm · 15/02/2026 13:08

charliehungerford · 15/02/2026 13:05

any 20 mph zones should be VERY clearly marked on the actual road surface, similar to bus lane markings or yellow box junctions. If you are driving in an unfamiliar area you are often concentrating on the road and it’s very easy to miss a lamppost sign. Driving last year in busy south west London was a pain, 20 mph on a busy road nowhere near a school at 8 pm on a sunny evening is too slow a speed.

Not in Wales though

Blushingm · 15/02/2026 13:07

Was it Wales as speed limit is 20mph unless there’s signs so say otherwise

charliehungerford · 15/02/2026 13:05

LlynTegid · 15/02/2026 12:05

My opinion on 20mph speed limits is that they should require more than just signs, the road design should slow you down. Speed cushions for example.

any 20 mph zones should be VERY clearly marked on the actual road surface, similar to bus lane markings or yellow box junctions. If you are driving in an unfamiliar area you are often concentrating on the road and it’s very easy to miss a lamppost sign. Driving last year in busy south west London was a pain, 20 mph on a busy road nowhere near a school at 8 pm on a sunny evening is too slow a speed.

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 13:05

I think she will get a speed awareness course for the first one then stay on nine. If not, they will just keep her on 12 if she appears in court.

saltandvinegarpringles · 15/02/2026 13:05

Zov · 15/02/2026 13:04

Duplicate post!

Edited

I don't understand this at all.

You're basically arguing "she wasn't told off the first time so the other three offences are unfair" Confused

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 13:04

Once again, I'd like to reiterate that repeater signs are not mandatory, so she can go and look at all the signs as many times as she wants, but as long as there's one at the beginning that's all they need to do

Zov · 15/02/2026 13:04

SilenceInside · 15/02/2026 13:00

@MissJoGrant because I meant exactly what I wrote. Previous driving history doesn’t mean that the OP or anyone else will continue to drive safely. Not being aware of the speed limit repeatedly is definitely a mistake and one that has had legal consequences. It is important that the OP does not try to mitigate the offences in court by making statements that aren’t helpful to her. It is not a mitigation to say that you were unfamiliar with the road.

Well you are correct in your first sentence, BUT the 4 fines all coming out at once, for 4 separate speeding offences in the same week (with no warning or ticking off for the first 1, 2, or 3, and no opportunity to do a speed awareness course,) is unfair, wrong, and ludicrous.

This needs challenging, seriously challenging. It's ridiculous, and should not be happening. I think the last 3 speeding incidents and fines should be withdrawn/cancelled, as the OP didn't get any chance to do a speed awareness course.

Zov · 15/02/2026 13:04

SilenceInside · 15/02/2026 13:00

@MissJoGrant because I meant exactly what I wrote. Previous driving history doesn’t mean that the OP or anyone else will continue to drive safely. Not being aware of the speed limit repeatedly is definitely a mistake and one that has had legal consequences. It is important that the OP does not try to mitigate the offences in court by making statements that aren’t helpful to her. It is not a mitigation to say that you were unfamiliar with the road.

Duplicate post!

Zov · 15/02/2026 13:04

SilenceInside · 15/02/2026 13:00

@MissJoGrant because I meant exactly what I wrote. Previous driving history doesn’t mean that the OP or anyone else will continue to drive safely. Not being aware of the speed limit repeatedly is definitely a mistake and one that has had legal consequences. It is important that the OP does not try to mitigate the offences in court by making statements that aren’t helpful to her. It is not a mitigation to say that you were unfamiliar with the road.

Duplicate post!

saltandvinegarpringles · 15/02/2026 13:04

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 13:03

What are you suggesting they don't take into account previous road traffic offences?
surely not. They do.

They don't.

If you're caught speeding, you're caught speeding. It doesn't matter if you've had 10 previous offences or have never been caught in 40 years.

Zov · 15/02/2026 13:04

SilenceInside · 15/02/2026 13:00

@MissJoGrant because I meant exactly what I wrote. Previous driving history doesn’t mean that the OP or anyone else will continue to drive safely. Not being aware of the speed limit repeatedly is definitely a mistake and one that has had legal consequences. It is important that the OP does not try to mitigate the offences in court by making statements that aren’t helpful to her. It is not a mitigation to say that you were unfamiliar with the road.

Duplicate post!

Zov · 15/02/2026 13:04

SilenceInside · 15/02/2026 13:00

@MissJoGrant because I meant exactly what I wrote. Previous driving history doesn’t mean that the OP or anyone else will continue to drive safely. Not being aware of the speed limit repeatedly is definitely a mistake and one that has had legal consequences. It is important that the OP does not try to mitigate the offences in court by making statements that aren’t helpful to her. It is not a mitigation to say that you were unfamiliar with the road.

Duplicate post!

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 13:03

RubberyChicken · 15/02/2026 12:13

Speeding is an absolute offence, thay dont take into account past history. They could also say if you didn't see the signs over 4 days you were driving without due care and attention

What are you suggesting they don't take into account previous road traffic offences?
surely not. They do.

saltandvinegarpringles · 15/02/2026 13:03

MissJoGrant · 15/02/2026 12:55

OP drove for 30 years without a problem. This is obviously just a mistake and you sound like a nasty person putting the boot in.

Why do that?

How on earth does she sound nasty?

patooties · 15/02/2026 13:03

Why are you trying to get her off? At best she’s driving without due care and attention- unfamiliar road or not - I always drive more carefully when I don’t know where I am or what lies ahead.

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 13:02

IwishIcouldconfess · 15/02/2026 12:14

Again, evidence please

Professional experience, but a vague memory
I don't think I have to provide things you demand

limetrees32 · 15/02/2026 13:00

Watching with interest.

SilenceInside · 15/02/2026 13:00

@MissJoGrant because I meant exactly what I wrote. Previous driving history doesn’t mean that the OP or anyone else will continue to drive safely. Not being aware of the speed limit repeatedly is definitely a mistake and one that has had legal consequences. It is important that the OP does not try to mitigate the offences in court by making statements that aren’t helpful to her. It is not a mitigation to say that you were unfamiliar with the road.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 15/02/2026 13:00

Get a lawyer specialising in motoring offences. I used to work with one.

saltandvinegarpringles · 15/02/2026 12:59

VanCleefArpels · 15/02/2026 12:56

If the first one offers you a speed awareness course then take it. Therefore “only” 2x fines and 6 points total for the other two. I don’t think the system is clever enough to realise you have been ticketed 3 times. Each letter should be dealt with separately

She got 4 fines, so it would be 1 x course (plus fine), 3 x fines and 9 x points.

bluetongue · 15/02/2026 12:59

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 15/02/2026 12:07

Were you in Wales by any chance?

It catches a lot of English people out that they don't realise the default speed limit is 20mph in built up areas rather than 30. There won't necessarily be regular signs telling you either.

Wow, that seems insanely slow for a default speed. It must catch loads of people out.

VanCleefArpels · 15/02/2026 12:56

If the first one offers you a speed awareness course then take it. Therefore “only” 2x fines and 6 points total for the other two. I don’t think the system is clever enough to realise you have been ticketed 3 times. Each letter should be dealt with separately

MissJoGrant · 15/02/2026 12:55

SilenceInside · 15/02/2026 11:58

Driving on an unfamiliar road is absolutely not any kind of reason to excuse not spotting the speed limit signage. Tbh it would possibly indicate to me a worrying lack of awareness whilst driving, given it was repeatedly in such a short time span.

OP drove for 30 years without a problem. This is obviously just a mistake and you sound like a nasty person putting the boot in.

Why do that?

saltandvinegarpringles · 15/02/2026 12:54

tartyflette · 15/02/2026 12:51

The self righteousness is strong on here today.
We all know speeding is illegal and very dangerous, the OP knows she did wrong and is contrite but nonetheless posters are still queuing up to berate her.
What's the point? There but for the grace of god etc.

Very few people have berated her from what I can see.

What they are saying is be careful about arguing about "lack of signage" as it could come back and smack you in the arse as "careless driving".

Pollyanna87 · 15/02/2026 12:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.