Speeding fines are a common occurrence in the UK, with millions of fines issued every year. The increase in digitalization on our roads, including the use of roadside devices and cameras, has made it easier for authorities to catch drivers who exceed the speed limit. Gone are the days of relying solely on a police officer with a speed gun. Now, AI-based cameras are being used to monitor average speed contraflows on smart motorways.
It’s important to remember that speeding is an offense and if you get caught, you will face penalties. This includes paying a fine and receiving points on your license. In 2022 alone, over one million speeding fines were issued in the UK.
Speed cameras can be found almost anywhere, on roads with varying speed limits. Built-up areas typically have a limit of 30mph, but some areas, like London and parts of Wales, are transitioning to 20mph limits. Single carriageways can have a limit of up to 60mph, while the national speed limit on motorways is 70mph. However, it’s crucial to note that the speed limit is the maximum allowed and doesn’t mean it’s always safe to drive at that speed under all conditions.
It’s worth mentioning that national speed limits may differ depending on the type of vehicle. For instance, motorhomes weighing over three tonnes have a restricted speed limit of 50mph nationally or 60mph on motorways. To avoid going over the speed limit, many modern cars come equipped with a built-in speed limiter function.
If you receive a fixed penalty notice for speeding, you can either plead guilty or not guilty. Each decision triggers its own process, which you can learn more about later in this article.
But how do you know if you’ve been caught speeding? If you’ve been caught by a hand-held device or a camera installed in a moving police car, you may not immediately notice. However, cameras often release a bright flash to capture your number plate, which is hard to miss even in daylight. Within 14 days of the offense, the registered keeper of the vehicle will receive a notice of intended prosecution (NIP) and section 172 notice by post. The section 172 notice must be returned within 28 days, providing details of the driver who committed the offense. Based on the severity of the offense, either a fixed penalty notice (FPN) or a court summons will be issued.
The cost of a speeding fine depends on the specific circumstances. However, as of 2017, fines for excessive speeding have increased. The fines are calculated using three specific speeding bands (A, B, and C), with additional bands (D, E, and F) for more extreme transgressions. The amount you are fined and the number of points you receive will be determined by the speed at which you were traveling over the posted limit, combined with a percentage of your weekly income. The maximum fine is £1000 or £2500 if caught on the motorway.
If you believe you are innocent and have been wrongly issued a fine, you can plead not guilty. However, this may involve going to court, and if you lose your case, you could face increased fines and penalty points. It’s important to note that fines may be reduced if you are deemed to be of “good character,” and the court may consider circumstances like speeding for a genuine emergency.
There are various types of speed cameras used on UK roads. The Truvelo camera is commonly mounted on a pole at the side of the road and uses a front-facing lens to record speed. The Gatso camera, on the other hand, captures your vehicle after it has passed the camera unit. SPECS units measure average speed over a set distance using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR). HADECS 3 cameras are often found on smart motorways and are rear-facing with adaptive speed limits. Additionally, there are mobile speed camera units, which can be found in vehicles or handheld devices used by the police.
Accruing penalty points for speeding can have implications beyond fines and license points. Insurers often consider drivers with penalty points to be higher risk and may impose higher premiums. While penalty points for speeding are generally valid for three years in terms of endorsements and potential bans, they remain visible on your license for four years. When searching for insurance quotes, it’s crucial to be honest about any motoring offenses in the past five years, as withholding information could affect future claims.
Lastly, it’s interesting to note some extreme cases of speeding fines issued in the UK. The world’s first speeding fine was issued in 1886 when Walter Arnold was caught driving his Benz at four times the national speed limit of 2mph. The UK’s fastest speeder was caught in 2015 traveling at 192mph in a Nissan GTR, resulting in a custodial sentence and a 10-year driving ban. Other notable cases include an off-duty policeman caught driving at 159mph on the M54 and a Swiss driver fined £180,000 for driving his Ferrari Testarossa at 85mph in a 50mph zone.
In conclusion, speeding fines are a common occurrence on UK roads, and it’s important to adhere to speed limits to avoid penalties. Speed cameras are increasingly digitalized, making it easier for authorities to catch speeding drivers. If caught speeding, you can plead guilty or not guilty, with each decision triggering its own process. The cost of a speeding fine depends on various factors, including the severity of the offense and your income. Penalty points can lead to a loss of license and higher insurance premiums. It’s crucial to be aware of the different types of speed cameras used in the UK. Finally, extreme cases of speeding fines serve as a reminder of the consequences of excessive speeding.
