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Original poster

Caught speeding & drop off

140 replies

Sadandstupid · 10/11/2020 06:54

I know I’m unreasonable.

I work for myself but due to timing of when I started working for myself, I’m not eligible for any gov help. So, I’ve had to pick up some contracts at lower pay.

Last week, when collecting DC from school the full parking was full. I had to go round and round, was late for pick up, and spent 40 mins on what should have been a 10 mins trip.

The following day, I was an idiot. There is no excuse. But I sped on my way to pick up. Probably did 40 in a 30 zone. No excuse and I feel awful thinking about it.

I saw the police in hi via jacket pointing a handheld speed gun at me. I don’t think they had someone else at the end to stop people. It was literally the one person.

Could I have been caught? If I lose my license, it will be even harder with work and pickups. I can’t believe I’ve been such an idiot.

OP posts:
DickAndSizzy · 10/11/2020 10:56

Whilst different forces have some leeway in whether they offer a course or not, the threshold for the course being offered is limit + 10% = 9mph.

That makes 42mph the cut off point for the course, in a 30mph zone.

Whether or not the local force will offer the course as an option is up to them, but they can offer it up to 42mph.

Fouroclockonamarblemorning · 10/11/2020 11:03

@glitterelf

Are you even sure it was the police ? Sometimes residents do this and send out letters to remind people not to speed. Even if it was the police you would be offered a speed awareness course.
It may have been a member of the local community safe group. You won’t get offered a speed awareness course at 40mph, it’s too high a speed. Usually if it’s a hand held radar held by the Police, there would be someone stopping cars.

OP take this as a warning and slow down. You hit a pedestrian at 40mph and you’re highly likely to kill them.

SunshineCake · 10/11/2020 11:06

Put a reminder in your phone for two weeks time. If you haven't had a notice to prosecute by then then breathe a sigh of relief that you have been stupid and lucky and don't do it again.

Fouroclockonamarblemorning · 10/11/2020 11:08

@RainingBatsAndFrogs

The threshold is the speed limit + 10% + 9mph, so 42mph would be the cut off for a 30 zone

Threshold for what?

The long discussed margin for being over the limit is a myth and not observed by many police forces.

Fingers crossed for you OP that this has given you the heads up without adding things to make your life even more stressful. Being in the line of fire of a speed gun doesn’t always result in it being followed up. Ask me how I know Blush

You’re right, the margin is a myth. My local force offer the speed awareness course up to 37mph in a 30.
EasttoWest · 10/11/2020 11:08

How do I know if I’m eligible for a Speed Awareness course?

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To be eligible you must meet this criteria

you admit to being the driver of the vehicle and this is received by us within 42 days of the date of the offence
you haven't attended a Speed Awareness course within the last three years
the speed you were travelling at the time of the offence must fall within the acceptable speed range (Speed limit + 10% + 9mph). For example, in a 30 mph limit – you could attend a course up to 42mph inclusive.
If under any circumstances you are unable to satisfy any of the criteria, you won't be eligible for a Speed Awareness course.

EasttoWest · 10/11/2020 11:08

Check your police force website

BefuddledPerson · 10/11/2020 11:09

Just feel for you really, yes you did the wrong thing. You could have hurt someone, but you didn't. So now learn the lesson.

I hope you feel less stressed soon Flowers

DynamoKev · 10/11/2020 11:09

Licence

vipersinc · 10/11/2020 11:16

@DynamoKev

Licence
Pedant
Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/11/2020 11:33

I was so stressed out that day that I am not sure what my reaction time would have been. I could have killed someone

The delivery driver who knocked me down and broke my hip a few weeks ago probably said the same ... afterwards, when it was a bit too late

I'm not trying to bash you because it's obvious you realise you made a mistake, but next time perhaps it would be better to avoid driving if you're not in a fit state to do so?

nosswith · 10/11/2020 11:36

The length of your car journey if it is normally five minutes each way suggests it can be walked. Perhaps try this whilst you wait to find out what the penalty is.

BlueBrian · 10/11/2020 11:39

Wouldn't worry about it too much until you get a letter, been past coppers holding speed guns before, and never heard a thing about it.

Elai1978 · 10/11/2020 11:46

Know someone who had been driving under 2 years and managed to rack up the speed awareness course and 6 points on there licence.

Took it to court and because they needed their car for work and because of the fact they live in the countryside with no public transport instead of having their licence revoked they argued that if they had been going faster then they would have only lost their licence for 30 days whether they were new drivers or not and all points would have been wiped from their licence so going slower was a harsher outcome.
They got given 6 points and banned for a fortnight. Which they thought was a result as otherwise it would have taken them months to do their test again.

This makes no sense at all. You get a fine OR points for speeding not both unless it’s a totting up ban which would be 6 months.

Osirus · 10/11/2020 11:47

This might sound terribly obvious, but why don’t you leave slightly earlier for pick up to ensure you get a parking space? It might cost you a few minutes, but not as much as 40!

Chapterx · 10/11/2020 12:12

Don’t beat yourself up OP, you shouldn’t have been going so fast and you won’t in future. We’ve all been there, despite what people post on here I’d be willing to bet that everyone has broken the speed limit at some point. I believe they even say that on the speed awareness courses. It’s the people who aren’t as aware as you and don’t care about the consequences that are the most dangerous.

madcow88 · 10/11/2020 12:30

You won't be offered a speed awareness course as they only offer these if you are going less than 10% over the speed limit.

PawsAndPhytoncides · 10/11/2020 13:00

@madcow88

You won't be offered a speed awareness course as they only offer these if you are going less than 10% over the speed limit.
This may be true for one or two locations, but almost all are 10% PLUS 9mph. For a 30 mph limit, this would be 30mph + 3mph + 9mph = 42mph.
Itsorange · 10/11/2020 13:05

Where are you? Speed awareness courses are not an option in Scotland. That offence will most likely result in 3 points and a £100 fine. If you were doing over 40mph there may be a higher penalty eg. more points and a bigger fine.

Use this as a warning to watch your speed

BoingBoingyBoing · 10/11/2020 13:22

Is it not still the case that if you are zapped by the police on foot with a handheld device they have to stop you there and then?

movingonup20 · 10/11/2020 13:26

You only have 6 point rather than 12, but it's 3 points for speeding sometimes can be avoided by going on the naughty boys and girls course aka speed awareness

Oliversmumsarmy · 10/11/2020 14:52

Elai1978

If you look at the rules closely. If you are going over the speed limit by a small amount it means you get points. Points add up and then you get banned for a year for example but if you are going faster it can mean an automatic ban for 30 days but then your points get wiped.

I know it didn’t make much sense to me at the time but I know I did look at it and found it to be true.
This was the case they argued and managed to keep driving even though they were facing having their license revoked.

TheDowagerDuchess · 10/11/2020 14:59

Fine and points or the course I agree.

You wouldn’t lose your licence unless you already had lots of points.

But yes you will likely have been caught!

Griselda1 · 10/11/2020 15:05

Tolerance levels are lower when you're speeding close to schools or hospitals so you are likely to get a ticket. There's little can be done now do maybe just anticipate the 3 points and hope the speeding course will be offered instead.

eastegg · 10/11/2020 15:05

I've recently done the speed awareness course via Teams. I was told that you are eligible for it if caught doing up to 42 in a 30. However there is no guarantee of being offered it just because you are below that speed, it's totally at their discretion.

Elai1978 · 10/11/2020 15:08

If you look at the rules closely. If you are going over the speed limit by a small amount it means you get points. Points add up and then you get banned for a year for example but if you are going faster it can mean an automatic ban for 30 days but then your points get wiped.

I’m fully aware how points work. If you exceed the threshold for a fixed penalty you go to court where you receive a fine OR points. You only get both if the points take you to 12. For your friend to have received 6 points and taken them to 12 they must already have had 6 and therefore would already have been knocked down to a provisional licence. It’s not possible for what you suggest to have happened.