New Speeding Laws Starting Monday
On Monday 24th April speeding penalties will increase across the UK.
It comes as no surprise to us that many people haven’t heard of this news yet, and also that a lot of drivers are unsure of the current laws on how fast you need to be speeding to get a fine, how many points you may get on your licence or how exactly you can get caught in the first place. We therefore find it important to outline the new laws coming into force and what it means for you as a driver on UK roads.
How fast do I need to be speeding to get a ticket?
As it stands, no matter how much you exceed the limit by, you’re liable for a penalty ticket. Whether you are going 31mph or 39mph in a 30mph limit, if caught you will be fined whether you like it or not. However, many drivers have complained that this is unreasonable as you cannot pay that close attention to your speedometer and also, not all speedometers are accurate, so this could be an unfair penalty.
It is for these very reasons that the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) have suggested that drivers cannot be prosecuted until they go at least 10 per cent over the speed limit.
What is the new penalty for April 2017?
As of Monday, an Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for speeding will land you three points on your driving licence and a £100 fine. Moreover, if you were caught speeding at a high figure you are likely to receive a court summons and if you are to reject the FPN, the penalties are set to rise anywhere up to £2,500 and your licence could be taken away.
The precise details of these changes are complex, but here are the three main ‘bands’ for speeding in the UK, as taken from the Telegraph:
• Band A – This refers to the lowest level of speeding. For example, you could be driving at between 21mph and 30mph in a 20mph zone, 31mph to 40mph in a 30mph zone, or 71mph to 90mph on a 70mph road. You can expect 3 points on your licence, and a fine of around 50% of your weekly income.
• Band B – This is for more serious cases of speeding. If you’re in a 20mph zone and you drive at 31mph to 40mph, or in a 40mph zone at 56mph to 65mph, or up to 100mph in a 70mph, that’ll be a Band B fine. That means 4 to 6 points on your licence, or disqualification for between 7 and 28 days, plus a fine of 100% of your weekly income.
• Band C – This is for the most egregious speeding. If you’re doing 41mph or above in a 20mph zone, 51mph or above in a 30mph zone, or above 100mph in a 70mph zone, that’s a Band C fine. That means 6 points on your licence or disqualification for between 7 and 56 days, as well as a fine of 150% of your weekly income.
How are speeding drivers caught?
Speed cameras are the most common practice for monitoring speeding drivers. Speed cameras in the UK are usually bright yellow in colour and a box shape, facing away from the direction you are travelling. Many drivers claim that they know when they have been caught by a speed camera as they saw the bright flashes of light as it took the picture.
However, not all speed cameras work in this way, speed camera systems are also in use today and these act like a regular CCTV camera but are designed to record vehicle registration numbers. The cameras then act in accordance with one another as they calculate how much time it takes for you to get from one to the other, and therefore can give a fine when a driver exceeds the average speed.
Other uses of cameras for speeding is those used by the authorities on mobile speeding vehicles. These are set up at random and in a variety of places to catch people breaking the speed limit. Finally, you can also be caught by a police officer. The office only needs evidence that you are speeding to be able to pull you over, which is simple enough as they are equipped with speed guns and cameras.
There are many ways in which a driver can be caught for speeding and reckless driving, which all result in penalties. When caught speeding you can expect the DVLA to send a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) to the address of the owner of the car caught. When details are then confirmed of who was driving the car at the time of speeding, that person will receive a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or a court summons, depending on the speed you were travelling.
Final thoughts
We believe that it’s highly important to know how fast you are allowed to be driving at all times on the road. If you feel uncertain in these areas, we are able to teach you some general lessons about speed awareness and how to drive carefully and efficiently.
For more precise information on speeding and fine figures in the UK please see this article by the Telegraph. Also, if you need any advice on how to drive safely and legally, do not hesitate to get in touch with us today!
