Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

First ever driving offence - No speeding course offered?

99 replies

mumofaboynow · 27/09/2024 14:43

Hi, I wondered if a mistake has been made or this is just it.

I got caught speeding at 35 in a 30 zone a while ago. They sent me the letter two weeks ago. I signed it and sent it off, declaring it was me, etc.

Just got a letter with the option of a £100 fine and 3 points Sad or a court option which I obviously won't take.

I really thought a speed awareness course would be offered.

I was really shocked and upset about the speeding letter and so many people told me 'oh just take the course, no points that way'

Did you know that they didn't offer it? Even google seems to suggest a speeding course is usually offered for a first offence

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 27/09/2024 14:53

The courses are at the discretion of the police.

BulldogMumma · 27/09/2024 14:55

I'm surprised they didn't offer you the speed awareness. I was caught doing the same and I was offered the course.
If it's at the discretion of the police though that could be why.
How long have you been driving?

Coolblur · 27/09/2024 14:55

Are you in Scotland? Speed awareness courses aren't offered as an alternative to a fine and points (not a very fair system, but that's how it is)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
Imperrysmum · 27/09/2024 14:55

I think the threshold is 10% + 1. So 34 is the threshold for the course to be offered in the 30 mph zone

Toomuchleopard · 27/09/2024 14:56

If it was 33 or 34 in a 30 zone you might have been offered the course but 35 is a bit high.

notacooldad · 27/09/2024 14:58

I would guess it's because you were doing more than 10% over the limit.

Original poster
mumofaboynow · 27/09/2024 14:58

No, not in Scotland. Beds/Herts area.

Apparently, google says some forces don't offer it

Not just friends and family saying 'oh you'll be offered a course', every single thread I've googled from MN also has loads of posters saying 'you'll be offered a course OP'

Suppose it isn't offered by all forces then

OP posts:
Kind0fABigDeal · 27/09/2024 14:59

I'll PM you OP as I was in a similar situation.

Original poster
mumofaboynow · 27/09/2024 14:59

My dad was caught speeding 18 months ago - His second offence in 6 years. He was offered a course despite doing 49 in a 40 zone Confused

Different police force though

OP posts:
CrumpledBankNote · 27/09/2024 15:02

Imperrysmum · 27/09/2024 14:55

I think the threshold is 10% + 1. So 34 is the threshold for the course to be offered in the 30 mph zone

Edited

Former police officer here. That's not true. There is no 10% + whatever rule.

Imperrysmum · 27/09/2024 15:03

CrumpledBankNote · 27/09/2024 15:02

Former police officer here. That's not true. There is no 10% + whatever rule.

Show quote history

Not officially but I think it is ;-)

SiobhanSharpe · 27/09/2024 15:03

DH was doing 36 in a temporary 30 mph zone where the speed was normally 40. He did a speed awareness course, which you have to pay for, and said it was excellent. He is now very careful indeed not to speed so it worked well.

StaySpicy · 27/09/2024 15:04

I've just been caught doing 71 in a 60 (smart motorway) by Surrey police and was offered a course, so not just for under 10% +1.

Perhaps Beds police feel speeding in a residential / 30 zone is "worse"? I don't know, you'd have thought a speed awareness course would be a better option, to educate and hopefully prevent reoccurrence.

I'm kicking myself at my first driving offence but oh well!

Arafon · 27/09/2024 15:05

I'm surprised you didn't get one, google the police area and see if others had the same as it is up to the police force

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 27/09/2024 15:05

This is copied from the Beds Police website and outlines the guidance on speeding thresholds, on a national level and are the same as the Met (I had the same letter from the Met today, so am hoping for a course).

Driver awareness courses
Once you’ve responded to the notice, and done so within the required timeframe, you could be sent:

  • an option to attend a driver awareness course
  • a fixed penalty notice
  • or a letter telling you to go to court
The police will consider the following grounds when assessing your eligibility for the driver awareness course:
  • your speed narrowly exceeded the limit and falls within the guidelines set out by the National Police Chief Council (NPCC) up to:
  • 31 mph in a 20 mph area
  • 42 mph in a 30 mph area
  • 53 mph in a 40 mph area
  • 64 mph in a 50 mph area­­
  • 75 mph in a 60 mph area
  • 86 mph in a 70 mph area
  • you haven’t already completed a course within three years or are booked on an upcoming course
Please note: There's no legal entitlement to a course, these are offered at the sole discretion of police, and the courts have no powers over courses. If an offer for a course is made to you, the police can withdraw the offer at any time before the course has been successfully completed.
chestnutroast · 27/09/2024 15:07

i didn’t get offered either op

ReadWithScepticism · 27/09/2024 15:09

I've had two speeding offences (decades apart). For the first, I got points and a fine; for the second (which wasn't less serious), I was offered a speed awareness course.

I think it is good that different police forces have different (and fairly opaque) criteria. If you knew for sure you would be offered the course it might feel like you are "allowed" one offence before you had really done any thing wrong.

I don't think it makes much difference, anyway, OP. The cost of the course is deliberately similar to the fine, and (unless you work in certain job roles) the points are only a practical problem if you aren't committed to avoiding more points in future. Sure, it is humiliating, shaming to have them, but that felt quite constructive to meGrin

user1471474138 · 27/09/2024 15:09

My dp got caught doing 35 in a 30 first offence and no course was offered - Hampshire area, was a couple of years ago now

Original poster
mumofaboynow · 27/09/2024 15:10

@DeltaAlphaDelta79 that info there suggests I should've been offered a course then?

Although I'm not sure, if those are the guidelines, they'd just randomly choose not to offer one to someone within those limits, that has no prior speeding offences ever before?

At their discretion, what does that mean? They have no other information other than the speed I was going which is within those guidelines

Oh well, just find it a bit odd since so many people seem to think it's a given that a course would be offered

OP posts:
HeChokedOnAChorizo · 27/09/2024 15:13

i got caught speeding in Lancashire, i wasnt offered a course, just the points and a fine

Buffypaws · 27/09/2024 15:34

It’s very odd. I have been done four times and got a course each time. Never had a point.

People saying ten percent plus two is too high for a course 😂😂 I did 35mph in a 30 for my first one and everyone had done similar and the trainer even said none of us had done anything

Buffypaws · 27/09/2024 15:34

I guess the police must be feeling hard up so they want the money from a fine rather than spending it on a teacher?

HotDogJumpingFrogHaveACookie · 27/09/2024 15:36

I was done doing 85 in a 70 and was offered a course.

Whether they're offered, and the limits for qualifying for one, differ by police force.

chestnutroast · 27/09/2024 15:37

HotDogJumpingFrogHaveACookie · 27/09/2024 15:36

I was done doing 85 in a 70 and was offered a course.

Whether they're offered, and the limits for qualifying for one, differ by police force.

how long ago was that?

twomanyfrogsinabox · 27/09/2024 15:40

Is there a number to ring, could you ask if you could get a course instead?

Swipe left for the next trending thread