12pts in a week - driving ban

[Jarofgoodness]

I can't believe that this is happening.

I am normally such a careful driver. I hate speeding, always use the speed limiter on my car and have never had even 3pts on my licence in almost 30 years of driving.

Last month I worked away from home for a week, and on the way to my temporary workplace there was a road which I thought was a 30mph road but which was actually a 20. I got caught speeding (high 20s) every single day, and yesterday received four speeding fines in the post at once. £400 in fines but also 12pts which means a mandatory six month driving ban!

I simply cannot believe that this is happening. I know that it is my responsibility to know the speed limit, and that I shouldn't break it. But this punishment seems wildly excessive and unfair to me. I have 30 years of spotless driving, and have not suddenly become dangerous in a week. Surely someone can see the pattern here and note that it was multiple times making the same simple mistake in exactly the same place? I didn't even have time to reflect on one speeding ticket and change my driving behaviour because they all arrived at once, after I had left the area!

What can i do? I am not expecting sympathy as I know I am only receiving the punishment due to me. But I may well lose my job. The form says that I can plead 'exceptional hardship' in court but that losing employment doesn't count.

I see boy racers all the time and yet I am getting banned! It just seems such an unfairness.

I feel your pain. Last year, my husband drove into a zone he shouldn’t have been in (traffic restriction at certain times), realised and panicked so turned around and immediately drove into a one way road trying to escape. He got two tickets in the space of about 3 mins. He tried to appeal on the grounds it was all the same mistake - it didn’t work and he had to pay. Good luck.

Not anymore by default - otherwise only the unemployed or retired etc. would be able to be banned.

Or people who could be fined and banned without losing their job or home…

It would be easier to stick to speed limits if larger engined cars were discouraged- no one needs a 2 litre engined car (or electric equivalent) unless perhaps towing a caravan.

I advocate two categories of car licence, the second being for larger engined cars and all SUVs. If you had to take your test again in such a vehicle, or even have a set period of time without any motoring convictions, many would end up with smaller cars.

Feel sorry for you... that's terrible luck. Hopefully you can appeal and not get a ban.

I once had 3 parking fines come through as one week in work I decided to park somewhere I shouldn't. As you said by the time you are alerted you're doing something wrong it's already too late.

in the future you may be best of taking public transport like trains if you work a way a lot just to give you that peace of mind. Seems everyone is out to get you unfortunately.

@Checkenberger It doesn't. There was clarification recently from the court of appeal that specifically mentioned this

That can be extrapolated to 5mph is safer, where does it stop?

At 20mph, except in car parks.

Is this genuinely difficult to grasp?!

It's non linear. The probability of dying by being hit by a car at 30 mph looks to be about 85%, but at 20 mph is about 12%.

So there is a massive reduction in deaths going from 30 mph to 20 mph, but much less so going from 20 to say 10 (10 is about 5%).

Above 20 mph the danger of death really increases rapidly as a function of increased speed, so 20 mph is about the sweet spot in balancing speed of progression for car drivers with risk of death for pedestrians.

Plus of course it is often unwise to progress faster than 20 mph in built up areas because of other dangers.

In fact when you look at the stats, to me there is a lot more justification for picking 20 mph as the limit in built up areas than picking 30 mph - I suspect there was very little science/stats behind the original 30 mph pick.

Reducing it below 20mph wouldn’t affect the death-rate significantly as it’s so low anyway. It’s the difference between 20mph and 30mph which has saved so many lives, and doesn’t make that much difference in extra time travelling, as you’re unlikely to be travelling huge distances in built-up areas.

i would definitely get a lawyer who specialises in traffic offences to petition to get your punishment reduced. It seems way harsh.
i had to engage the services of one a few years back and it was just so worth it.

There are people driving with a lot more points than that, they plead via an experienced solicitor.

IMO it is only harsh if the speed signs and the camera signs weren't clearly visible for some reason.

If the signs aren't clear then a good excuse.

But it really seems like the OP is one of those drivers that drives the same route every day and gets away with a lack of paying attention because they know the route so well that they to some degree switch off when driving and their ability to evaluate the road and awareness has suffered because of that.

Now they move to a new route their evaluation and awareness skills just aren't up to it.

Ultimately a licence to drive is a licence to drive everywhere on routes you don't know and are able to evaluate everywhere appropriately the conditions and instructions such as speed limits.

Appeal it in court. There was a case in the newspapers about a man who drove 300 miles, and by the time he'd arrived at his destination, he'd clocked up 12 points and an automatic ban. He appealed and won, on the basis that he hadn't had due notice to change his behaviour. You'll probably have to take 3 points, but not the full 12. If all the letters turn up on the same day, that's not given you proper chance to change your habits. This is the problem with automated systems.

Is the signage clear, because if not you may have a case.

This is just awful
and a huge worry. It makes me mad as drivers are being hammered with this. I live in fear of letters as whatever any driving angels here say, it’s just so easy to go over 20mph. I think write a letter from the heart, like you say you don’t suddenly become a dangerous driver overnight and I hope very much they show some common sense and compassion here. Good luck!!🤞🤞🤞

If you find it difficult to adhere to the speed limit, you are a dangerous driver and have no business being behind the wheel of a car. Drivers are not being hammered; criminals are.

This happened to a friend of my father in law. He was on holiday and used the same road several times in a week and he thought it was a higher speed limit. He didn’t get the 12 points. It was a long time ago Donn can’t remember how he got off. Get legal advice. O think there will be a way if avoiding a ban. Good luck

I feel your pain, not as bad as you, but today my husband drove thought a bus gate, a new road for us, and just didn't see the signs until we drove through, it will be his first ever fine driving of 50 years.

Rubbish and you sound ridiculous.

Exactly. I’m in Wales and I haven’t had a fine for going over 20mph yet - and I haven’t heard that any friends have either.

Agree. Do appeal @Jarofgoodness How are you by the way? Have you spoken to anyone about this? (Like a lawyer.) Or made an appointment to see anyone?

.

Go to court. You’re not going to get a ban for this. Look up totality principle. They’ll probably put you on 12 points and leave you there as a deterrent. Explain what you’ve explained here. Try and stay calm.

Yes that's true... If you are a persistant offender. The OP is not. Most people are not.

The judginess on this thread is off the scale.

I work in traffic courts from time to time. The first thing you need to do is to return the letters confirming that you were the driver. I suspect that you will then be offered a speed awareness course for the first offence and 3 points for the remaining 3 (plus a fine) which will take you to 9.

If you did get to 12, you would have to go to Court in order for a disqualification to be applied at which point your solicitor could advise as to the best route to take re mitigations etc.