Speeding Ticket :(

[taichiperson]

Stupidly I wasn't paying attention to my speed, and was clocked doing 36 in a 30 zone. I've never had a ticket before - can anyone tell me what the penalty is?

[Buenchico]

https://www.gov.uk/speeding-penalties

[joggerjayne]

You'll probably be allowed to go on the Speed Awareness Course ...

So you won't get any penalty points.

[rockyracoon]

Usually 3 points and a £60, you may get offered a speed awareness course which will cost around £100 but will write off the offence with no points on your licence.

[taichiperson]

Thanks Benchico

Jayne, any idea how much the course might cost?

[joggerjayne]

It was £80 when I did it.

It may be a bit more now, as Rocky says.

But you avoid the £60 fine, and you avoid any increase in your insurance premiums, so it's worth it.

[aelmpvw]

i can only imagine that you were being overtaken constantly

[WELSHYORKIE]

From what my fleet manager has said, some insurance companies are now reuiring drivers to disclose any driving awareness courses

[Buenchico]

Those who are quoting a £60 fine are out of date. (See my link above).

[WELSHYORKIE]

^^requiring

[joggerjayne]

I agree with ael ...

If you drove at 36mph around here, you'd have people behind you flashing and hooting to stop holding up the traffic.

[wiltsman]

Six years ago in Evesham I was booked for doing 36mph in a 30mph zone. I wasn't offered a speed awareness course, and was fined £60 and had 3 points added to my licence.

If you are offered a chance to go on the course I would take it. Because I had points on my licence I had to declare it for the following five years. I discovered though that on the final year I had to declare it, 99 pence was added to my premium, but it was considerably more during the early years.

[grasscarp]

I did 37 in a 30. Was offered speed awareness course, so of course to avoid points I went. Think it was around the 90 pounds mark - and it was within the last year.

[rockyracoon]

Chris, I wrote a chq last week for £60 for my husbands 3 points. The speed awareness course offered was £97 with the AA.

[Buenchico]

My local police force's website gives the cost of a speed awareness course around here as £83.75:
http://www.suffolk.police.uk/safetyadvice/roadsafety/safecam/faq.aspx

[joggerjayne]

Wasn't he offered the course, Rocky?

:0(

[Buenchico]

Rocky:
The fine went up to £100 for speeding offences committed on or after 16 August.

[taichiperson]

Thanks all. I hadn't considered the effect it might have on my insurance.

I live in Cumbria where 90% of the cameras here are mobile, and you tend to either know when and where they are, or oncoming drivers flash their headlights to warn you. Of course, I got caught by just about the only fixed camera in the area, which I wasn't aware of as it's an area I don't often travel through. I also passed it six times over the weekend - I got caught the fourth time and was silently crossing my fingers that I hadn't triggered it more than once. It was also hubby's car, so I couldn't hide it from him!

[Dodger666]

The cost of the course is usually much the same as the fine. The benefit is not getting points on your licence.

Some insurance companies may like to know if you've attended the course, but on the one I attended about three years ago the instructor specifically said a bonus was not having to tell your insurance company as you don't get convicted of anything. For all I know they may included it in the policy small print these days.

[rockyracoon]

Ah Chris, his conviction was in June.

JJ, he got clocked on a monday doing 58 in a 50 then again on the Tues, we were crapping ourselves as he uses to the road everyday, anyways he got a speed awareness for one lot and 3 points for the other.

[rockyracoon]

This has reminded me that I need to email the insurance company and tell them.