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Original poster

Help! Speeding but I wasn't!

92 replies

pickledandpuzzled · 08/09/2023 15:41

Anyone know anything about ‘notice of intended prosecution’ for speeding? My black box says I wasn’t!

I was surprised as I’m careful. How do I dispute?

I've never had one before, in 35 years driving. How does it work?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 08/09/2023 16:21

If you don't speed, how come you were caught doing 40 in a 30 zone?

Best outcome of this is that you'll get offered a speed awareness course, which means a refresher on how to spot the speed limit on an unfamiliar road.

kimchiforever · 08/09/2023 16:23

BarbaraofSeville · 08/09/2023 16:21

If you don't speed, how come you were caught doing 40 in a 30 zone?

Best outcome of this is that you'll get offered a speed awareness course, which means a refresher on how to spot the speed limit on an unfamiliar road.

I don’t think she will because it’s proportionally very substantially over the limit

I was 9 mph of on a 40 zone and no offer of a speed awareness course

jessicarr · 08/09/2023 16:24

Unfortunately it seems its just one of those things; a momentary lapse of reason

If it was 40 in a 30mph limit area and you havent been caught for speeding before you will be probably be offered a speed awareness course at a cost of £100ish or a fine and 3 points on your licence. Its best to opt for the course if you can as it shouldnt then impact on your insurance

I was in a similar situation two years ago; first offence after 25+ years of driving. I actually found that I learnt one or two things on the course which I still think about and it has made me a better driver. My course was online due to Covid; I think they are still being offered this way, so its wasnt too onerous

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Driving & parking
BarbaraofSeville · 08/09/2023 16:25

That's a shame because the courses can be very useful, reduce speeding and massively improve pedestrian safety (spoiler - the reason why there's so much focus on speeding in 30 zones is because most people survive being hit at 30 but are killed if they're hit at 40).

Snittle · 08/09/2023 16:28

Given you were going 40, it does seem as though you thought you were in a 40 but it was actually 30. Can you re-do the journey on Google Street Maps and see if it 1) is in fact 30, 2) if that’s clear and 3) if you might have thought it was 40?

OMGitsnotgood · 08/09/2023 16:29

I have twice been done doing bang on 40 in what i would have sworn we're 40 areas and turned out they were 30 . One had been 40 and had recently changed. The second was my ignorance, after which I did. the speed awareness course and it was clearly a much needed refresher!

kimchiforever · 08/09/2023 16:31

BarbaraofSeville · 08/09/2023 16:25

That's a shame because the courses can be very useful, reduce speeding and massively improve pedestrian safety (spoiler - the reason why there's so much focus on speeding in 30 zones is because most people survive being hit at 30 but are killed if they're hit at 40).

Is there any evidence of that?

kimchiforever · 08/09/2023 16:32

Genuine question

MaybeSmaller · 08/09/2023 16:37

I don’t think she will because it’s proportionally very substantially over the limit

I was 9 mph of on a 40 zone and no offer of a speed awareness course

It's within NPCC guidelines for a course (up to 42 in a 30) so the likelihood is she'll be offered a course. However it's up to the individual police forces as to whether they offer them, and not all of them do.

RavingStyle · 08/09/2023 16:38

Worst case scenario is 3 points and a £100 fine. It may impact on your insurance for a couple of years, but won't otherwise affect you... unless you continue to accrue points!

I got a circular today announcing that most 30 MPH roads are switching to 20 next week ... that will take some getting used to! 😬

Changes17 · 08/09/2023 16:42

They can be wrong - worth challenging if you disagree.

RavingStyle · 08/09/2023 16:55

Changes17 · 08/09/2023 16:42

They can be wrong - worth challenging if you disagree.

I may be wrong, but as I recall if you challenge it then it goes to court. You’ll have the hassle of that, plus have to provide proof that you weren’t speeding. Then probably lose.

I had similar to OP about 16 years ago… I wasn’t speeding (there were roadworks with badly or wrongly marked speeding restrictions) but thought the easiest thing to do would be to take it on the chin and accept the points!

TenderDandelions · 08/09/2023 16:59

If it was so far away from you OP, you're unlikely to be recognised in real life - would you share where it was? There's bound to be someone local on here that can tell you if it's changed recently.

I do wonder why you have a black box if you've been driving for 35 years?? I got a quote for one and it wasn't any cheaper than without for me (20+ years).

Original poster
pickledandpuzzled · 08/09/2023 17:00

Hmm. Lots to think about.

Obviously a course isn't the end of the world- never too old to learn and all that.

When I say I don't speed, @BarbaraofSeville , I mean I'm not someone who keeps an eye on cameras and slows down just in time, or gets the odd fine but takes it on the chin knowing I've got away with it on other occasions.

I'm the kind of driver who keeps an eye on it, occasionally panics if it's been a while between signs or the rest of the traffic is behaving differently, intends to stay within the limit. I don't complain the limit is ridiculous.
And hasn't had a ticket in 35/7 years of being the only driver in the house.

I'm just a bit indignant, I suppose. Pride before a fall and all that.

OP posts:
Furryrug · 08/09/2023 17:03

TenderDandelions · 08/09/2023 16:59

If it was so far away from you OP, you're unlikely to be recognised in real life - would you share where it was? There's bound to be someone local on here that can tell you if it's changed recently.

I do wonder why you have a black box if you've been driving for 35 years?? I got a quote for one and it wasn't any cheaper than without for me (20+ years).

I was wondering about the black box too , after 35 odd years of clean driving, insurance shouldn't be that expensive to need one.

Original poster
pickledandpuzzled · 08/09/2023 17:05

@TenderDandelions it was just the cheapest quote by a long way, this year. Possibly because my 27yr old son is on? He doesn't drive it often though. Hastings direct.

I was in a no fault crash about 6 years ago- luckily I was going slowly as I was looking for a turning. She came around on the wrong side of the road and hit me almost head on. Bloody lucky, car was shunted backwards up onto pavement. Car people tell me it was very nasty.

Just recovered from declaring that every time.

Heyho.

OP posts:
Original poster
pickledandpuzzled · 08/09/2023 17:07

I really didn't mind having the box. I'm a very calm driver. I thought I had a good chance of getting it even cheaper next year.

I'm on 98 out of 100, score wise. About top 8% on their 'compared to other drivers' bar.

But of course it doesn't think I was speeding last week.

OP posts:
MrsAukerman · 08/09/2023 17:39

I hope you're right of course but if you are offered an in-person speed awareness course then it'll be in the jurisdiction of the local police force who prosecute.

KnickerlessParsons · 08/09/2023 17:40

kimchiforever · 08/09/2023 15:47

Your black box gives you the speed at every given second of every given journey and keeps records for weeks?

Isn't that the point of a black box?

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 08/09/2023 17:44

You got caught, suck it up.
I had the same recently, 57 in a 40.
£100 fine and 3 points, in Scotland so no speed awareness course.

Original poster
pickledandpuzzled · 08/09/2023 17:49

Can they make me go to Northumberland?

I'm starting to get anxious. I mean, how could I not know I was speeding? I know the arm wavy man distracted me- really did-, but usually you see the most important thing. How could I miss it? What else might I miss? It's honestly so unlike my usual driving.

OP posts:
grass321 · 08/09/2023 18:05

It might still be online but you can do the speed awareness course wherever is most convenient.

I've only ever had one speeding ticket but I'm slightly surprised you're adamant you can't have been speeding. It's very easy to think it's a 40 not a 30.

RavingStyle · 08/09/2023 18:38

pickledandpuzzled · 08/09/2023 17:49

Can they make me go to Northumberland?

I'm starting to get anxious. I mean, how could I not know I was speeding? I know the arm wavy man distracted me- really did-, but usually you see the most important thing. How could I miss it? What else might I miss? It's honestly so unlike my usual driving.

No, they can't make you go to Northumberland. A speed awareness course is a choice; you can decline it and accept the points and fine instead.

However, I did an online speed awareness course in April, so I imagine the online option is still available now, if you are, indeed, offered an SA course.

Bobbotgegrinch · 08/09/2023 18:43

A lot of black boxes use the same data source as Google Maps, which is often wrong about speed limits. Google Maps happily tells me the main road by me is a 40, when it changed to a 30 over a year ago.

It doesn't bother the insurance companies, because they average it all out to see what sort of a driver you are, so it doesn't matter too much to them if it's wrong for 2% of every journey.

It does however mean that it's not going to stand up as evidence that you weren't speeding, so you're probably going to have to take this one on the chin.

Wiii · 08/09/2023 19:01

You do it online. Takes 3 hours and is as boring as fuck. Costs about £80 I think.