Speeding on Motorway

[Somersetmum100]

Anyone able to help. Think I might have been caught speeding. On the motorway this morning, think I got clocked by a police van on the bridge above. I was definitely not doing 80 but was constantly fluctuating 77/78/79. There is often 3mph between my Speedo and Google maps on my phone. No other speeding fines ever but really worried what might happen. Struggle with anxiety and worry about absolutely everything but I can't think straight and can't eat - please help, how much trouble am I likely to be in

I hope so, it's just the uncertainty of points or a course, or there is the possibility it didn't even get me. I don't know why I'm so worried, I just am

Thank you for helping, only adult in the house with children so no one to share these things with

If they’re going to prosecute (which is how they word it) you’ll get the letter within 28 days of the offence.

They’ll offer you either £100 fine plus a motorway/speed awareness course which is 2.5 hours online or 3 points plus the fine.

Take the course - once it’s completed the offence is considered spent

Either way 3 points aren't the end of the world.

I was caught recently doing 40 in a 30. I wasn't sure whether the speed was 30 or 40 and I got it wrong (had turned off a side road onto a busier road).

The first letter that came through threw me a bit as I was expecting the details regarding speed awareness course to be on it but that gets offered after. Don't let the way it is all worded scare you.

Well as the only adult, you'll need to drive, so please take this as a wake up call and change your behaviour. I think you'll get the course of caught, which will be fine, but do learn from it.

So best case is nothing happens - you may have been below the amount the police deam a problem, the may have still been setting up or something else.

Otherwise expect contact in a few weeks and either a 3 point plus fine or a speed awareness course. Either of these will be a couple of hundred quid, and the 3 points will add a bit to your insurance costs until they age off. Important not to get another 3 points as this will have a greater impact on your insurance.

It's the words like 'prosecute' that make it all sound really bad and makes it harder to understand

It’s just the terminology they use. It’s a simple online session

I completely get your anxiety @Somersetmum100 . I was caught speeding on the motorway about 5 years ago. I hadn't realised, until I got the letter through the post, and then I got so insane with anxiety I couldn't even read the letter properly. I managed to misread it in a way that made everything seem even worse.

Less anxious people would just shrug, take the points or do the little speed awareness course and move on. But it killed me.

The reality is that even if you do meet the threshold for action, NOTHING terrible has happened. No one is judging you. An automated system has just kicked in to give you points or an invitation to a course.

If you get points, it isn't a big deal because you will clearly be committed to driving legally in future, and the points only become a problem if they mount up due to future lapses

If you attend a course (either virtually or, less likely(??) in person) it will likely match my experience: a friendly guy just giving you useful strategies to help you make sure you don't speed again in future. I thought I would be made to feel small, wicked, etc. But it was all just practical: How to be a better driver. And we could ALL do with that.
xxx

If you have been caught you will only get a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) through the post in the next 2-3 weeks. Usually they are sent out if you’ve gone over 79 because ACPO (Association of chief Police Officers) set the guidelines at 10%+2 above the speed limit.

However if it was a van, usually the cameras are at the back not the side, so you probably have nothing to worry about. If it was a police officer with a speed gun, you would have been pulled over as thy don’t have the technology to send NIPs from speed guns.

The NIP will ask you to confirm you were driving the vehicle and if not who was, you then send this back and they will then send you a result, either a letter and, assuming you’ve got no points) the police area you were in at the time will offer you a speed awareness course (means no points unless you don’t turn up), 3 points on your licence or you can opt to go to court.

You must received the NIP within 14 days of the date of the letter.

I’d think you’ll be fine!

Because it's a mark on a clean record. My driving license is clean as it has been since I got it 16 years ago and there have been a handful of times where I've sat worried stupid for two weeks bracing for a NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution) to fall through my letterbox just because I went 1mph over the limit. Fortunately not a single NIP. But it sucks to worry about this stuff when there was no endangerment and you were driving safely the whole time.

i understand you’re anxious but you were driving well over the speed limit. Don’t do that and you won’t ever risk being caught.

Thank you for helping, reassurance is needed. Thanks

I can understand how worrying it is @Somersetmum100 Before the pandemic I was caught speeding and was mortified as I work in a job where I should really know better, knowing the consequences of crashes. I was both worried and ashamed.

Took the speed awareness course (face to face at that point) and it was brilliant. I learnt so much, despite still feeling ashamed. It turned out to be a really positive experience.

I regularly have my cruise control on 77 (because it looks nice on the dashboard, I’m aware it’s a stupid reason) and it’s never happened.

I think that is part of it as I know if should know better. Then then next few weeks will be an absolute worry whilst I wait and hope for the opportunity for the course

Assuming the speed limit hadn't been altered (there's a long stretch of roadworks on my commute where the motorway is restricted to 50) I'm sure you'll be fine.

Thank you for a detailed and thoughtful response

I’ve driven past 2 speed vans at 78 and got nothing. That’s my speedo at 78.

its all police force by police force but there’s a standard limit that’s typically accepted which I’ve attached. This is in line with what the safer roads team told me when I was caught speeding.

This is what will happen

Speed awareness possibly. I had one doing 76 mph through average speed. Lesson learned now I keep the limiter on and generally I think I am a much better driver for having done the course.

Are you saying that because you've never been caught speeding no one else will be?

You don't really believe that do you?

Sometimes I make a journey that involves going on a motorway that has automatic speed cameras set at 70 and I regularly see them going off. How do you explain that?

Don’t worry op we’ve all screwed up!

I had the course few months ago , it was sooooooo long and the trainer so condescending at the end I was praying for those 3 points 🤔🤓

@Somersetmum100

I was definitely not doing 80 but was constantly fluctuating 77/78/79

Highly likely you won't even be charged at that speed.

Generally the prosecution boundary is (speed limit) * 110% + 2

So, 70 + 7 +.2.= 79mph

So, after an afternoon of panic thank you all of you who have reassured me (for now) if I am to receive a letter about being caught speeding what is a likely time frame for it to arrive. I have read about it being within the 14 days but is it likely to be before then or last minute before the deadline? I am the registered keeper and have not changed address for a long while