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Original poster

oh no, just received letter re speeding

79 replies

silvercurls · 20/08/2021 12:13

anybody know how much the fine is/ how many points I'll get? I'm 53, never had one in 30 years of driving....idiot.

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 20/08/2021 12:38

There was a rumour a few years ago that they were making the fine a percentage of your salary but I'm not really sure how they can enforce that.

Mine was £100 and 3 points because I was going too fast for a speed awareness course by about 2mph

TheYearOfSmallThings · 20/08/2021 12:39

I did the speed awareness course instead of taking points (must be 15 years ago!). I thought it was a good idea, although in those days you had to physically attend, and it was clear that most of the other attendees had zero respect for speed awareness.

hapagirl · 20/08/2021 12:41

If you’re in Scotland there’s no option of speed awareness course. I would have grabbed than in a second instead of 3 points 😫 I got my first ever speeding ticket after passing my test 30 years ago too but in Scotland.

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Driving & parking
Unfashionable · 20/08/2021 12:41

This happened to me a few years ago. Zapped by a concealed camera van on a semi-rural road. 46 in a 40 zone. The crafty buggers know exactly where to hide in order to maximise revenue.

I was offered a choice between 3 points and £100 fine, or paying £100 for a speed awareness course. The courses take place on weekdays so it also costs you half a day of leave if you work FT.

icedcoffees · 20/08/2021 12:43

@silvercurls

thanks everyone. Hope I can do an online course, no chance of changing shifts for time off to do it. hadn't actually thought it would affect my insurance. Mad at myself.
You'll be given a choice of times but they're live courses done over Zoom - they're not ones you can do just do on your own. DH had one last Christmas and it was run by a police officer.

You have to be present the entire time and on webcam - you'll need proof of ID and you'll need to actively engage throughout the course even though it's online.

CrimeJunkie01 · 20/08/2021 12:44

It's a percentage of your wages if you go to court. Otherwise its a fixed fine or a speed awareness course (first offence only). Sorry to say that it still impacts your insurance as a lot of companies ask now if you've done a speed awareness course in the last 4 years.

In addition, if you get done for 36 in a 30 then you were probably doing more than that as you can do up to 34 in a 30 and due to calibration they class that as 30 as your speedo or their equipment could be out. You generally can do 10% plus 1mph over the limit before it will flash you.

BoredZelda · 20/08/2021 12:45

3 points will do little to affect your insurance. I think the whole "speed awareness" thing is an absolute racket. If worrying about losing your licence from having multiple points isn't going to put you off speeding, sitting in an overly warm room listening to Kevin drone on about the dangers of speeding isn't going to do it either.

CrimeJunkie01 · 20/08/2021 12:45

Info on this here: www.roadlawbarristers.co.uk/speeding-what-is-the-10-plus-2-rule-and-what-does-it-mean/#:~:text=The%20'rule'%20itself%20is%20quite,mph%20faster%20than%20the%20limit.

MargosKaftan · 20/08/2021 12:47

Id go for the course- it doesn't change your insurance the way points do and there's little in it price wise.

Get it sorted quick, if they go back to face to face courses, they spread it out for over 4 hours by adding lots of breaks and "chat amongst your group" times. By the time you've driven there and back it can take the bulk of a day.

BarbaraofSeville · 20/08/2021 12:53

I disagree Zelda, it's ridiculous that you can drive for decades with no refresher training, at least speed awareness course is something and it should stop you getting caught again but even if it doesn't, it's fewer points on your licence which does affect your insurance, the more you have.

OP, my DP did one a few months back on Zoom, I'm sure he was also doing 36, he had a good choice of sessions so hopefully you can find something that fits round work.

Woeismethischristmas · 20/08/2021 12:54

I would say send the form back recorded delivery. This happened to a friend and she sent back her form apparently It was never received and so she was charged with failing to provide driver information. Had to go in front of a magistrate. It was dismissed as no case to answer but according to the police officer there’s been a lot of it. Absences/ working from home means paperwork isn’t where it should be.

A guy from blue was on the bbc today with a similar story.

ichundich · 20/08/2021 12:58

@BoredZelda

3 points will do little to affect your insurance. I think the whole "speed awareness" thing is an absolute racket. If worrying about losing your licence from having multiple points isn't going to put you off speeding, sitting in an overly warm room listening to Kevin drone on about the dangers of speeding isn't going to do it either.
Sorry, but I think you can't speak for everybody! I found the speed awareness course very useful. Although it is true that some instructors are a bit sanctimonious.
girlmom21 · 20/08/2021 12:58

@BoredZelda

3 points will do little to affect your insurance. I think the whole "speed awareness" thing is an absolute racket. If worrying about losing your licence from having multiple points isn't going to put you off speeding, sitting in an overly warm room listening to Kevin drone on about the dangers of speeding isn't going to do it either.
Have you ever done a speed awareness course? Do you understand the course content? The shock factor is enough to make lots of people think twice.
titchy · 20/08/2021 13:14

@BoredZelda

3 points will do little to affect your insurance. I think the whole "speed awareness" thing is an absolute racket. If worrying about losing your licence from having multiple points isn't going to put you off speeding, sitting in an overly warm room listening to Kevin drone on about the dangers of speeding isn't going to do it either.
3 points increased my premiums by about £600....
addictedtotheflats · 20/08/2021 13:18

I recently did 39 in a 30 with no previous speeding tickets or driving fines in 17 years and just paid £80 to do the speed awareness course.

queenie273646 · 20/08/2021 13:21

@Pissoi

The fine is a percentage of your weekly wage that increases in garidents dependent on the degree of speeding - take the course!
That's only if you get took to court for excessive Speeding otherwise it's £100 and 3 points
LynetteScavo · 20/08/2021 13:24

You don't have to do the speed awareness course in your area, or where you were speeding- it can be anywhere in the country. I chose to do one quite far from home because it was on a Sunday and I didn't need to take time off work. Most of the other people in the course were professional drivers, who were already very aware of everything taught on the course. And one girl who picked her nails and paid no attention the whole time and then sped off at 100 mph at the end of the day Hmm

soupey1 · 20/08/2021 13:27

Some insurers do now require you to say if you have attended a speed awareness course and if yes they will up,your premium.

TravellingSpoon · 20/08/2021 13:32

I had to do a SAC a few months ago. There were plenty to chose from and as it was online it was only just under three hours.

Grinch48 · 20/08/2021 13:36

If you go to court then it’s a percentage of your wages
But this is only if you get a single justice procedure notice .
I know this because I got the SJPN this week 😂
I fucked up on the original form and didn’t put I wanted to do the course and didn’t get a reminder - post where I live is terrible
So now I will get 3 points a min court fine of £90 and a fine of a percentage of my earnings

Grinch48 · 20/08/2021 13:40

When you send it back photocopy or screen shot it
Then send it recorded tracked and signed
And check they have got it and keep a copy of the receipt and proof of postage

If it get lost your screwed as you have to prove you sent it and if you can’t prove that you sent if you can get charged with failing to respond and then you can end up with 6 points for not declaring who the driver is and a code called MS90 which means insurers don’t know what you actually did 😂 then your insurance will go through the roof

RoseRedRoseBlue · 20/08/2021 13:45

@banisher

I had this, 33 in a 30 zone. Felt awful but the course was actually really useful and has helped me ever since feel confident when people are tailgating.
Really? You must have been very unlucky then given the ‘10% plus 2’ policy.
caughtinanet · 20/08/2021 13:50

@Unfashionable

This happened to me a few years ago. Zapped by a concealed camera van on a semi-rural road. 46 in a 40 zone. The crafty buggers know exactly where to hide in order to maximise revenue.

I was offered a choice between 3 points and £100 fine, or paying £100 for a speed awareness course. The courses take place on weekdays so it also costs you half a day of leave if you work FT.

That obviously varies by area, my brother had to do a course and they were definitely weekend options

It was pre-covid so maybe it's not available at the moment, I was surprised but I guess it makes sense to offer courses at the weekend as well.

All you can do OP is fill in the form and see what they offer you

Claypotkitchentable · 20/08/2021 13:53

@silvercurls

off to google Tom Tom speed app....
Or just drive to the speed limit.
PoachedPair · 20/08/2021 13:56

For 36 in a 30 you will be offered the option of a speed awareness course instead of a fine and points. Happened to me a couple of years ago.

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