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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:
NewWinger · 27/09/2024 15:42

10% plus one or two is not a thing. (Though I suspect 10% is a thing to allow for minor inaccuracy in speed camera/speedos, etc.)

That said, surprised you weren't offered the course, as a PP shared, it can be offered for up to 42 in a 30. Might be worth asking about it, if there’s a contact number.

MonsteraMama · 27/09/2024 15:42

To be honest, the courses cost almost as much as the fine. I had to do one last year and it was £96. So... Take the points on the chin and don't speed again.

Bjorkdidit · 27/09/2024 15:45

I'm surprised you didn't get a course for that.

According to the guidance, 35 is the lowest speed they'll take any action and it's usually a speed awareness course.

I've been caught 3 times at that exact speed and always had a speed awareness course (this has been in over 20 years before I get jumped on. If it's a choice of watching the road or my speedometer, I choose the former, so occasional lapses are to be expected).

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
Ozanj · 27/09/2024 15:47

Call them. the same police force changed DH’s letter to include a course when he called them last week x

NewWinger · 27/09/2024 15:51

MonsteraMama · 27/09/2024 15:42

To be honest, the courses cost almost as much as the fine. I had to do one last year and it was £96. So... Take the points on the chin and don't speed again.

But if OP does the course, their insurer won’t need (or want) to know, so I’d expect the overall longer term cost to be a fair bit lower.

autumn1610 · 27/09/2024 15:53

Don’t think it’s related to the speed I got 40 in a 30 missed the sign that it had changed and got caught just inside the change of limit. I know it’s really bad and I was in a New city for work so I’m always really cautious on my speed when I don’t know a place. Honestly I felt awful but only offence and got offered the course

MonsteraMama · 27/09/2024 15:55

NewWinger · 27/09/2024 15:51

But if OP does the course, their insurer won’t need (or want) to know, so I’d expect the overall longer term cost to be a fair bit lower.

Show quote history

Yes of course, but they haven't offered her a course so there's not much she can do about it. The courses are offered at the force's discretion and for wherever reason they've chosen not to offer it this time - maybe she was near a school at let out time or something so they've been harsher than normal?

She can query it obviously, and I would just in case there's been an admin error somewhere along the way. I was just pointing it out as a lot of people don't know you actually have to pay for the course too so it doesn't actually get you out of the fine, just the points!

Bjorkdidit · 27/09/2024 15:56

MonsteraMama · 27/09/2024 15:42

To be honest, the courses cost almost as much as the fine. I had to do one last year and it was £96. So... Take the points on the chin and don't speed again.

But 3 points on your licence can increase your insurance, especially if you get caught a second time before they drop off.

Also, you never know, you might benefit from the course.

CharlotteBog · 27/09/2024 15:59

MonsteraMama · 27/09/2024 15:42

To be honest, the courses cost almost as much as the fine. I had to do one last year and it was £96. So... Take the points on the chin and don't speed again.

Maybe the OP wants to do the course to learn how she can be a safer driver, not just save money or avoid the insurance hike.

MonsteraMama · 27/09/2024 16:01

MonsteraMama · 27/09/2024 15:55

Yes of course, but they haven't offered her a course so there's not much she can do about it. The courses are offered at the force's discretion and for wherever reason they've chosen not to offer it this time - maybe she was near a school at let out time or something so they've been harsher than normal?

She can query it obviously, and I would just in case there's been an admin error somewhere along the way. I was just pointing it out as a lot of people don't know you actually have to pay for the course too so it doesn't actually get you out of the fine, just the points!

Show quote history

@Bjorkdidit @CharlotteBog I can't be bothered typing all this out again so here you go.

CatamaranViper · 27/09/2024 16:01

I was caught doing 36 in a 30 and I was offered a course. This was about 6 years ago mind and I know that different areas enforce the rules differently but 34 in a 30 definitely should have been a course.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 27/09/2024 16:02

It's totally at the discretion of the police whether you get a course or not, unfortunately. DH was caught doing similar during COVID got the option of a Zoom course.

Buffypaws · 27/09/2024 16:09

There’s nothing stopping you ringing the police to cry and beg if you’re so inclined. It might work. My friend got a fine halved during Covid because she called and said she had moved in with her parents for three months and hadn’t seen the initial letter before it doubled.

CharlotteBog · 27/09/2024 16:17

MonsteraMama · 27/09/2024 16:01

@Bjorkdidit @CharlotteBog I can't be bothered typing all this out again so here you go.

Show quote history

You're coming from the angle of the OP wanting a course to save money, and I'm coming it from the angle of OP wanting a course to learn how to be a better driver (and assuming OP knows there is a cost). We have different view points.

CharlotteBog · 27/09/2024 16:17

Buffypaws · 27/09/2024 16:09

There’s nothing stopping you ringing the police to cry and beg if you’re so inclined. It might work. My friend got a fine halved during Covid because she called and said she had moved in with her parents for three months and hadn’t seen the initial letter before it doubled.

This isn't OP's situation at all.

Thfrog · 27/09/2024 16:22

Does it matter? You'll just have to take the points you did the crime after all

RechargeableGnu · 27/09/2024 16:22

I was caught doing 40 in a 30 but have been offered a course - as pp says, these are the speed boundaries for the course on my letter:

  • 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
Original poster
mumofaboynow · 27/09/2024 16:22

Thfrog · 27/09/2024 16:22

Does it matter? You'll just have to take the points you did the crime after all

Well, yes it does matter Confused what a strange response

OP posts:
sunsetsandboardwalks · 27/09/2024 16:33

Thfrog · 27/09/2024 16:22

Does it matter? You'll just have to take the points you did the crime after all

Well, yes, it matters in the sense that she'll have to declare the points to her insurance, whereas she wouldn't have to if she could take the course Confused

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 27/09/2024 16:46

When I was offered the course I had to pay around £100 - I'm not sure if this was a fine or a fee for the course . This was around 10 years back .

LIZS · 27/09/2024 16:50

How long have you been driving? Penalties for more recently passed drivers can be harsher. The fee for the course is around £100, so the main difference is points,

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 27/09/2024 16:51

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

It says you "could" be offered a course, and there is no legal entitlement to one unfortunately.

Uol2022 · 27/09/2024 17:13

That does seem harsh. I suppose you could ask them (very politely, and acknowledging that they don’t have to offer it!), maybe it was just an admin error.

Onelifeonly · 27/09/2024 17:15

When I was on a speeding awareness course they told us they weren't offered to people whose speed exceeded the limit plus 10%. So 33 mph in your case.

Onelifeonly · 27/09/2024 17:19

MonsteraMama · 27/09/2024 15:42

To be honest, the courses cost almost as much as the fine. I had to do one last year and it was £96. So... Take the points on the chin and don't speed again.

But when DH had points on his licence he had to pay significantly more on his insurance for, I think, 4 years. The course is therefore much cheaper.