In trouble, what do I do?

[Hammondhugh]

I, after my family member fell really ill sped to the hospital. I did 30 mph over the limit so 80 in a 50. I could’ve taken the points and called it or taken a ban. I’m asking for a reduced ban in court.
I now need to explain this to my employer and I work in education. I really really don’t want to have to explain this. I’m so embarrassed. What do I do? It’s actually very embarrassing to explain and I work with very intimidating management

At this point you don't need to tell them you are facing a van as you might not get one. And it's none of their business how fast you were going. Just say "I'd rather not discuss it further, I'll let you know if there is anything you need to be aware of"

*ban

the only issue I have is my employer could say well how fast were you going if you’re facing a ban??

It's nothing to do with them and you don't have to tell them. Even if you do tell them, they don't have some kind of speeding threshold whereby you can carry on working if you were doing 50 but get sacked if you were doing 70.

They're your employer, not the magistrate. All they need to know is that the points you got for speeding will take your points over the limit. They don't know whether you had points before - if you already had nine points on your licence before the offence, even doing 35 in a 30 limit could see you get banned.

Given that you were following an ambulance, though, I doubt they'll be particularly interested in the numbers.

I'm former SLT of a large school, pastoral including staff pastoral and union rep.

I'm afraid to tell you that your solicitor is incorrect and I suggest that you find another one.
A driving ban will show up on your DBS.
Please see here under the heading More Serious Offences.
I have seen many things show up on a DBS.
@Hammondhugh SLT are human, not Gods and not untouchable, they have their own lived experiences, they have families.

Inform the Head asap, it is better that you tell them than they find out during a routine DBS check.
Write down what you will say, if you can provide evidence of the relative's hospital stay and any other relevant evidence, do.
Be clear.
Be contrite.

They will understand, it does happen with reasonable frequency.

If you are banned for the maximum number of days and getting to work will be difficult find an Airbnb or, if you know someone, ask a local colleague if you can stay in return for a small payment.

This is written assuming that this is your first offence?

Please don't do it again.

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-court/item/speeding-revised-2017/
Just bear in mind that a ban will have an impact on your insurance premiums.
It is not clear why you would opt for a short ban rather than points, unless you already have points on your licence.

Take a sick day. Honestly, why is this such an ordeal? You don't have to tell your boss anything.

@Hammondhugh with working link

clearcheck.co.uk/driving-offences-and-dbs/#:~:text=Driving%20offences%20will%20only%20be,dealt%20with%20through%20the%20court.

You are really lucky no one was harmed by your actions.

So grow up and start acting with integrity from this point forward.

Or ask mumsnet to excuse you and hide this from your head.

This comment makes me feel like I will be judged which is every reason why I’m scared to explain the situation to my head.

If you are going at a certain percentage over the speed limit, points and a ban are not always offered - it may be that the OP is facing a blanket ban, in which case, going to court and pleading her case may well mean that she does get points and a fine, rather than a ban - depends on the magistrate. So it may not be the case that she already has six points and that another six would result in a ban.

I think in cases like this, honesty is probably the best policy - you could just call in sick, but if you ever got found out, you could lose your job.

Either tell the truth, or say you need a days unpaid leave ( not sure if this is an option in education, but it's worth finding out if it is)

On what grounds did the senior officer decide that driving with a flat tyre should be tried in Court?

It is in your interest to disclose this all to your employer. I know of a situation where somebody was dismissed for lying about attending court when they should've been in work. The offence didn't get them sacked but the calling in sick to attend court did.

@ManateeFair "Given that you were following an ambulance, though, I doubt they'll be particularly interested in the numbers."

I think it makes it worse, OP was endangering the ambulance and patient too.

Well I think you need to educate yourself on the highway code. Sorry for an ill family member, but it doesn't make you entitled to break the law.

I didn't need time off because my solicitor attended court on my behalf, and even if I had needed to go, I was off on LTS at the time.

which is every reason why I’m scared to explain the situation to my head.

Is your head not a very nice person?

I would probably speed after an ambulance also. It is understandable.

I wouldn’t get into the specifics with work. If they pry just say ‘too fast’. I wasn’t focusing on the speedometer. I was focusing on the ambulance and driving.

Which is true. No one drives 80mph in a 50 without killing yourself or someone else whilst focusing on a speedometer. It sounds like you were VERY focused on driving.

In a way it’s quite impressive. Shame you will have these points as perhaps you should go into professional driving. I hope your family member was ok.

I would be honest if I were you. It might be easiest to inform them in writing then you can be clear exactly what you want to say - keep to the facts and keep it simple. I would also comment on how you are feeling about it now.

An ambulance can not do 80 mph with a patient in the back. This story does not make sense.

I have no idea!! It backfired though. If I had accepted the caution, the points and the fine, as I was willing to do, it would have been more 'punishment' than I had through it going to court, my solicitor explaining that I was a decent human being with an innocent 40+ year driving experience, and taking the safe driving course!

I have no points on my licence, and no criminal record!

Maybe because it’s not entirely the truth? The ambulance was hardly going at 80mph?

I am requesting a LoA for a court date. I was speeding. End.

OP - to be completely honest, your late night posts read as quite woolly and muddle-headed, with surprising typos for someone who works in education. I hope you won’t take this wrongly but can I ask if you’ve been drinking prior to posting?

Your levels of shame and fear of judgement seem disproportionate for “just” speeding…. Can I ask if alcohol was also a feature of the ban?

@Hammondhugh do you already have any points on your license?

OP, I've dashed behind a family member in an ambulance who was having multiple brain haemorrhages. I didnt get caught speeding and didn't give a fuck if I did. Traffic pulled over letting me through totally understanding what I was doing.

If like you I'd have been caught speeding I'd have owned it. I'd tell my employer and go to court and have a chat with a judge. Anyone - employer, judge, police etc who don't agree it was exceptional circumstances and show compassion are arseholes.

Anyone in their hour of need would want someone like us dashing behind the ambulance supporting them and their fight to survive.

Go to court, tell everyone what happened. Own it. Have a good battle.

I hope your judge backs you. Best of luck x

You really have no idea what it's like to have someone you love dying in an ambulance as you follow behind. You hope you see them alive in Resus to tell them all the things in life you wish you had said to them years ago