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.

Professional experience, but a vague memory
I don't think I have to provide things you demand

Why are you trying to get her off? At best she’s driving without due care and attention- unfamiliar road or not - I always drive more carefully when I don’t know where I am or what lies ahead.

How on earth does she sound nasty?

What are you suggesting they don't take into account previous road traffic offences?
surely not. They do.

Duplicate post!

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They don't.

If you're caught speeding, you're caught speeding. It doesn't matter if you've had 10 previous offences or have never been caught in 40 years.

Duplicate post!

Well you are correct in your first sentence, BUT the 4 fines all coming out at once, for 4 separate speeding offences in the same week (with no warning or ticking off for the first 1, 2, or 3, and no opportunity to do a speed awareness course,) is unfair, wrong, and ludicrous.

This needs challenging, seriously challenging. It's ridiculous, and should not be happening. I think the last 3 speeding incidents and fines should be withdrawn/cancelled, as the OP didn't get any chance to do a speed awareness course.

Once again, I'd like to reiterate that repeater signs are not mandatory, so she can go and look at all the signs as many times as she wants, but as long as there's one at the beginning that's all they need to do

I don't understand this at all.

You're basically arguing "she wasn't told off the first time so the other three offences are unfair"

any 20 mph zones should be VERY clearly marked on the actual road surface, similar to bus lane markings or yellow box junctions. If you are driving in an unfamiliar area you are often concentrating on the road and it’s very easy to miss a lamppost sign. Driving last year in busy south west London was a pain, 20 mph on a busy road nowhere near a school at 8 pm on a sunny evening is too slow a speed.

I think she will get a speed awareness course for the first one then stay on nine. If not, they will just keep her on 12 if she appears in court.

Was it Wales as speed limit is 20mph unless there’s signs so say otherwise

Not in Wales though

Although could be say six points and no separate penalty for the other two. Depends on who's there on the day.

Speeding is absolute. They definitely do not take into account 30 years of perfect fine free driving

But it’s not just 1 mistake. She make the same mistake every day for a week

Yes, that is exactly what I am saying, and ALSO, a speed awareness course should have been offered after the first speeding ofence and it wasn't.

The other 3 fines need cancelling, and the OP needs to be offered a speed awareness course.

Yes, that is exactly what I am saying, and ALSO, a speed awareness course should have been offered after the first speeding ofence and it wasn't.

The other 3 fines need cancelling, and the OP needs to be offered a speed awareness course.

Driving on an unfamiliar road is not a defence. It would argue that you are not aware when driving, therefore a dangerous driver.

Me too. Lots of town centres in my county have a 20mph limit. They're always clearly signposted, with "repeater" signs every few hundred yards and the limit painted in a roundel at intervals on the carriageway as well, but I know that other areas don't have anything like such good signage.

I'm grateful for the tip about the 20mph limit in Wales though, I had no idea.

Speed awareness courses are at the discretion of the police force. They do not have to offer you one.