EXCEEDING the speed limit is against the law and can lead to financial penalties – or worse.
But will you be fined even if you only marginally exceed this?
Can I be fined for going over the 1mph limit?
Drivers can receive a fine if they travel 1 mph over the speed limit.
Fines and consequences are determined according to what the circumstances amount to – taking into account the speed limit, how far you exceeded the limit and other factors such as whether there is a school nearby.
Drivers are placed in Band A if they exceed the speed limit by between 1 and 9 mph, and can receive a fixed penalty notice, three penalty points and a fine.
However, if you have a sat nav system, dash cam or radar speed detector that has its own built-in speedometer, you will notice that it is different to your car.
That’s because they use GPS, while car dials are calibrated to be slightly “under-read” – which is why cops have introduced a tolerance level.
Often, when you’re going 70 mph, you’re actually only doing about 68 mph.
Therefore, if you reach 71 mph on the speedometer, you will generally still be within the legal limits and will not be detected by a speed camera.
This doesn’t mean you should drive like this as standard, as it’s always safer to drive within the limits.
But in most cases, if you make a mistake, you won’t get a fine.
How much is a speeding ticket?
The minimum penalty for a speeding fine is £100, but the punishments depend on which category of speeding you fall into.
Band A penalties are for exceeding the speed limit by smaller amounts and can cost drivers between 25% and 75% of their weekly income.
Band B penalties – when drivers are between 18 and 20mph over the speed limit – can incur a fine of between 75% and 125% of their weekly income, as well as points on their license or a driving ban.
Band C penalties can see speeding drivers receive six points, as well as a fine of between 125% and 175% of their weekly income, for traveling 21mph or more above the legal limit.
Other factors can push you into even higher brackets, which in turn carry higher penalties.
Will I have to take a speed awareness course if I am caught speeding?
Drivers who have committed their first speeding offense or who have not received any speeding penalties in the last three years may be eligible for a speed awareness course.
This allows drivers to avoid heavy fines and get points on their driver’s license.
Only certain speeding violations qualify for this option, so not everyone has this option.
The courses are designed to educate road users about the dangers and potential consequences of speeding, to encourage them not to do it again.
Drivers can only attend a speed awareness course once every three years.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
