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AIBU?

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Original poster

Think I may have been caught speeding by a police van?

57 replies

LadySparksWitch · 07/03/2026 17:24

I know, it’s my own fault. I was going about 36 or 37 in a 30 zone, I was keeping up with traffic, when I saw the van (a few seconds before) I realised and put the brakes on, got down to 30 or just under as I passed the van.

Am I still likely going to get a letter?
I have done one speed awareness course in 2021. Nothing since. Is it likely I’ll get another one?

OP posts:
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Shade17 · 09/03/2026 18:02

LadySparksWitch · 09/03/2026 16:31

It’s majorly stressing me out and will until two weeks have passed.
I will be 100% more cautious in future and check my speedometer regularly. Sometimes I feel pressured by the cars behind me. I know it’s stupid, I’ve been driving for 15 years and I still feel this way.
Not an excuse I know!

Why on earth are you stressing out? At worst it’s a minor speeding offence, I wouldn’t give it another thought until an NIP arrives and even then it’s not worth worrying about.

Swiftie1878 · 09/03/2026 16:35

LadySparksWitch · 07/03/2026 17:46

Points and a speed awareness? I thought it was one of the other?

It is. You can only get another course if your previous was more than 3 years prior. So you’ll get another course that you need to pay for (same price as the fine would have been) and you avoid the three points on your licence.

Original poster
LadySparksWitch · 09/03/2026 16:31

It’s majorly stressing me out and will until two weeks have passed.
I will be 100% more cautious in future and check my speedometer regularly. Sometimes I feel pressured by the cars behind me. I know it’s stupid, I’ve been driving for 15 years and I still feel this way.
Not an excuse I know!

OP posts:
Empress13 · 09/03/2026 14:39

GasPanic · 09/03/2026 10:58

It meaning keeping up with the car in front. That was also speeding.

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Well she deserves everything she gets how stupid

GasPanic · 09/03/2026 10:58

Empress13 · 08/03/2026 19:20

I don’t understand your comment keeping up with traffic? What does that even mean? You go at speed limit end of

It meaning keeping up with the car in front. That was also speeding.

CelticSilver · 09/03/2026 10:53

If you were 'keeping up with traffic' they must've caught loads of people in a line.

seenabeena · 09/03/2026 10:49

BenedictsButton · 08/03/2026 19:25

Are you always speeding unless waze informs you there’s a camera or the vehicle in front is keeping within the limit?
What makes you exempt from having to comply with the speed limit?

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Nope Waze tells me what the limit is even when the road markings are unclear therefore I don’t speed.

Namechangetheyarewatching · 08/03/2026 20:38

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 08/03/2026 19:39

3 miles 🤣🤣🤣

A mile tops then they are rarely measuring that distance as they tend to be around speed limit changes

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The new ones are 3 miles

Zanatdy · 08/03/2026 19:53

Doris86 · 08/03/2026 19:25

Indeed. On my course he showed a picture of a dual carriageway and we all had to say what the speed limit was on this type of road. About half the class said 60.

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Someone said 60 for a built up obvious 30mph road. Half the class weren’t aware of the lamppost clue for speed limit. One posh old lady said all this lamppost stuff is nonsense, I just drive to the feel of the road. Yes love, that’s why you’re on a speed awareness course!

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 08/03/2026 19:39

Namechangetheyarewatching · 07/03/2026 17:24

Yes, they can catch you from 3 miles away

3 miles 🤣🤣🤣

A mile tops then they are rarely measuring that distance as they tend to be around speed limit changes

Doris86 · 08/03/2026 19:25

Zanatdy · 08/03/2026 17:54

Well that was actually really scary when everyone was asked for speed limit on 4 different roads. Unbelievable.

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Indeed. On my course he showed a picture of a dual carriageway and we all had to say what the speed limit was on this type of road. About half the class said 60.

BenedictsButton · 08/03/2026 19:25

seenabeena · 08/03/2026 19:12

Nothing is 100% accurate but it has saved me a lot of speeding tickets over the last few years, I drive for a living

Are you always speeding unless waze informs you there’s a camera or the vehicle in front is keeping within the limit?
What makes you exempt from having to comply with the speed limit?

Empress13 · 08/03/2026 19:20

I don’t understand your comment keeping up with traffic? What does that even mean? You go at speed limit end of

seenabeena · 08/03/2026 19:12

Nothing is 100% accurate but it has saved me a lot of speeding tickets over the last few years, I drive for a living

FreshInks · 08/03/2026 18:07

seenabeena · 08/03/2026 18:04

Download Waze, you’ll thank me later 👍🏻

Waze isn't always accurate.

seenabeena · 08/03/2026 18:04

Download Waze, you’ll thank me later 👍🏻

Think I may have been caught speeding by a police van?
Zanatdy · 08/03/2026 17:54

Doris86 · 08/03/2026 17:41

The only thing I learnt from doing it is just how clueless some other drivers are.

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Well that was actually really scary when everyone was asked for speed limit on 4 different roads. Unbelievable.

FreshInks · 08/03/2026 17:48

It's not just the time that has passed since your last course, it is also based on if you have had any other offences since then.

Doris86 · 08/03/2026 17:41

Zanatdy · 08/03/2026 17:15

It’s 3yrs to do another course. I just did one this week. I actually learned quite a bit.

The only thing I learnt from doing it is just how clueless some other drivers are.

Zov · 08/03/2026 17:21

Jellytotsapplepie · 07/03/2026 18:15

Not true

i got points at 24 mph

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Did you not get a SAC offered to you?

Zov · 08/03/2026 17:20

Namechangetheyarewatching · 07/03/2026 17:24

Yes, they can catch you from 3 miles away

???

Zanatdy · 08/03/2026 17:15

It’s 3yrs to do another course. I just did one this week. I actually learned quite a bit.

Doris86 · 08/03/2026 17:14

Speedos normally over read slightly, so if your speedo said 36mph you were probably really only doing about 33mph.

So you are only just over the limit. Depending on the police force’s policy you might get away with it.

If not you will almost certainly be offered a speed awareness course, as long as its over 3 years since you did the last one.
.

Ncforthis2267 · 08/03/2026 12:03

Interestingly just read the FOI for an average speed camera near me. In a year there were about 1200 recorded speeding incidents. A mere 180 received a NOP, and only 1 received a fixed penalty.

Unless you were driving crazy fast the odds are on your side for either nothing, or a course.

Jellytotsapplepie · 07/03/2026 19:02

FairCat · 07/03/2026 18:46

Read the ACPO guidance

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Doesn’t add anything - I think we’d know if there were differences around the country

your post reminds me of when people used to say when we had old tax disks they gave you a month as it was in the post 😂