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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:
NotTerfNorCis · 15/02/2026 12:13

You really have my sympathy. Enormous bad luck.

RubberyChicken · 15/02/2026 12:13

Jarofgoodness · 15/02/2026 12:09

Yeah I get that, I was just illustrating the unsuitability and inflexibility of the system.

I am due my punishment. I just wish that punishments could take into account the offending pattern rather than just the number of offenses. Am I a persistent speeder deserving a ban? No. I haven't driven at excessive speed before or since. I just made an error on one road multiple times in quick succession.

Show quote history

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

ScarlettSarah · 15/02/2026 12:11

SEmyarse · 15/02/2026 12:00

Double check that there actually ARE speed signs.
My mum got caught in Dorset years ago, got 3 points and a fine. Just assumed it was her fault.
NINE years later, got a letter saying it had been found that there was no signage on the road, so refunding her fine.
All well and good, but what about all her higher insurance premiums in between?? No-one was interested though.

Coming here to echo this. It's unusual that you didn't spot the signs several days in a row. Worth checking / getting some legal advice about whether there was adequate signage.

Original poster
Jarofgoodness · 15/02/2026 12:09

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:06

Saying what about everyone else doesn't change the fact that you were going too fast OP

Yeah I get that, I was just illustrating the unsuitability and inflexibility of the system.

I am due my punishment. I just wish that punishments could take into account the offending pattern rather than just the number of offenses. Am I a persistent speeder deserving a ban? No. I haven't driven at excessive speed before or since. I just made an error on one road multiple times in quick succession.

OP posts:
RubberyChicken · 15/02/2026 12:09

Hopefully you can do a speed awareness course for one of them and points for the others, giving 9 points, then drive carefully for the next 3 years. Go over to https://www.ftla.uk/ for advice, read the stickies as the advice is good but they can be a bit harsh

Free Traffic Legal Advice - Index

https://www.ftla.uk/Free Traffic Legal Advice - Index

https://www.ftla.uk

saltandvinegarpringles · 15/02/2026 12:08

ProfessorofCunning · 15/02/2026 12:08

Can you not choose to do a speed awareness course for the first one? I’ve just had to do one as was driving at 36mph in what I thought was a 40mph, but it had changed last august to a 30mph. It was a road I used to drive really regularly but hadn’t done so for 6 months. Totally my fault as was driving with ‘muscle memory’ but also with the flow of the traffic.

Depends how fast she was going - not all areas will offer speed awareness courses.

ProfessorofCunning · 15/02/2026 12:08

Can you not choose to do a speed awareness course for the first one? I’ve just had to do one as was driving at 36mph in what I thought was a 40mph, but it had changed last august to a 30mph. It was a road I used to drive really regularly but hadn’t done so for 6 months. Totally my fault as was driving with ‘muscle memory’ but also with the flow of the traffic.

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:07

Yes, just googled and checked, they were removed as mandatory in 2016

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 15/02/2026 12:07

Jarofgoodness · 15/02/2026 11:55

I can't remember seeing any, to be honest. Had I have seen them I'd have driven at 20. But there obviously were some that I missed.

I get that it's on me. I just wish there was a more subjective approach to driving bans than just "12pts = ban" when all 12 of my points were for the same thing in the same week on the same unfamiliar road.

Show quote history

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.

whatdoidonowffs · 15/02/2026 12:07

Take them one at a time
Start with the lowest speed and hope you get a speed awareness course for that one
take the others then for the nine points
if you go to court it’s very difficult to prove hardship, it’s not about hardship for you it’s about hardship for others ie do you have sick parents who rely on you
good luck

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:07

As far as I can remember, repeater signs are part of the highway code and not obligatory by law.
Might be wrong about this

B1anche · 15/02/2026 12:06

Definitely go back and check the signage. Take photos.

Otherwise, if it is adequately signed then it is extremely worrying that you didn't notice and shows a massive lack of awareness.

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:06

Saying what about everyone else doesn't change the fact that you were going too fast OP

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.

saltandvinegarpringles · 15/02/2026 12:05

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:01

If you get two speeding fines on the same unbroken journey, I think it doesn't count

vague memory.

OP did the same journey multiple times and got multiple fines.

Superhansrantowindsor · 15/02/2026 12:05

It is harsh. There will be worse drivers still on the road with 9 points on their licence. Have you looked at the road on Google street to see the signage?

LlynTegid · 15/02/2026 12:04

IwishIcouldconfess · 15/02/2026 11:55

Evidence for this please
Or is it your opinion

Show quote history

I get to around 25% on the basis of:
Those who take illegal drugs on a regular basis being medically unfit to be behind the wheel.
Those who have ever been convicted of drink driving losing their licence for good.
Those who have poor eyesight and not taken a test then worn glasses.
Applying the same medical standards to all drivers as is done for large lorries or buses
Banning all middle lane hoggers on motorways or dual carriageways as unfit.
Those who would fail their theory test if it happened to be required say every five years.

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:04

Or maybe they should change the speed limit to 38 for you?

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:03

And the fact that other people might go faster than you doesn't mean that you werent speeding @ginislife

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:03

What you might do is get a speed awareness offer for the first one

ginislife · 15/02/2026 12:03

I totally sympathise with you. I’m currently driving on 9 points and they were all low level speeds I was done for. And I don’t give a fuck for all you goody two shoes coming along to say “but you broke the law”. What about the boy racers speeding through our village at 60/70 in a 30 area that never seem to get caught. I do 37 on a well lit, dry, no school road in a brand new car with good brakes and I’m penalised. It’s a cash cow and you’ll never convince me differently.

DisappearingGirl · 15/02/2026 12:02

That's really shit OP.

You'll get a whole thread of holier-than-thou posters though.

I also don't agree with speeding and my one ticket in 30 years was also where I just got it wrong and thought it was 40 when it was 30 (it's a road that keeps changing between 30 and 40 and I must have just missed a sign). I'm lucky I just drove along it once though so just got one ticket.

I hope they show you some leniency.

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:02

And you're right that exceptional hardship is generally only hardship that affect others, and there was a case where they said losing your job doesn't count.

Anndalouzier · 15/02/2026 12:01

If you get two speeding fines on the same unbroken journey, I think it doesn't count

vague memory.

Dartmoorcheffy · 15/02/2026 12:01

You will get 9 points and an offer to do a speeding awareness course so you won't get banned.

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