Who is eligible for a speed awareness course?
Speed Limit | Minimum Speed | Maximum Speed |
20 mph | 24 mph | 31 mph |
30 mph | 35 mph | 42 mph |
40 mph | 46 mph | 53 mph |
50 mph | 57 mph | 64 mph |
HOW FAR CAN YOU GO OVER THE SPEED LIMIT? By law, anything over the official speed limit is liable for a speeding ticket. However, the police usually offer a buffer of 10% plus 2 mph above the speed limit, though this is entirely at their discretion.
31mphAs the law stands, a driver is liable for a speeding ticket the minute he or she exceeds the speed limit. That means driving at 31mph in a 30mph limit, 41mph in a 40, and so on.
If you're towing a trailer or caravan through Ireland, you should never exceed the 80 kph (49 mph) limit even when travelling on motorways and national roads....Irish speed limits for different roads.Type of roadSpeed limitSpecial. speed limits for densely populated areas30 kph (18 mph)4 more rows•Aug 17, 2021
For the speed awareness course, the speed of the offence must fall within the criteria stated below: 30 mph up to and including 42 mph. 40 mph up to and including 53 mph. 50 mph up to and including 64 mph.
the speed you were travelling at the time of the offence must fall within the acceptable speed range (Speed limit + 10% + 9mph). For example, in a 30 mph limit – you could attend a course up to 42mph inclusive.
You will not get a ticket provided your speed does not exceed the limit by more than 10 per cent, Gareth says. So for example, travelling at 35mph or above in a 30mph zone will be recorded as a speeding offence. However, Go Safe say thresholds vary and can change without notice.
Most police forces have a tolerance of 10% plus 2 mph above the limit before a speed camera 'flashes'. So on a 30 mph road, a camera wouldn't normally activate unless a car drove past at 35 mph or faster.
What is the 'rule'? The 'rule' itself is quite straightforward: if the speed limit is (for example) 30mph, the rule states that you won't get a speeding ticket unless you are going 10% plus 2 mph faster than the limit.
How far away can speed cameras catch you from? Current speed camera technology allows detailed video and images of drivers to be taken from up to one kilometre away. Most cameras, however, use markings on the road to measure distance over time and determine your speed.
You may be eligible if: you haven't attended a speed awareness course in the past three years. the speed you were caught at was within the acceptable range. This is typically between the speed limit + 10% + 2mph and the speed limit + 10% + 9mph (for example, between 35-42mph in a 30mph zone).
6. Why haven't I been offered a speed awareness course? It's entirely up to the discretion of your local police on whether or not to offer you a one of these courses. If you've already taken one within the last 3 years, or you were well above the speed limits stipulated by the police, you won't be offered one.
Exceeding a speed limit by more than 20mph in a 20mph or 30mph zone means you'll get a fairly serious fine known as a Band C fine – six penalty points and a fine of 125-175% of your weekly income.
It takes approximately 6 car lengths (23 metres) to stop a vehicle travelling at 30mph. But by driving at 40mph you are increasing that distance by 3 car lengths (that’s an extra 13 metres).
The stopping distance is a combination of thinking time and braking distance and will depend on a number of factors including: 1 your attention 2 the road surface 3 your vehicle 4 weather conditions
What is a speed awareness course? Speed awareness courses are four to five hour long sessions for people caught speeding. They're offered as an alternative to points on your licence. It’s like going back on an intensive, theoretical driving lesson where you’re retaught the dangers of speeding or dangerous driving.
Opting for a speed awareness course means that the police do not record your speeding offence as a conviction, but you may still be required to disclose your attendance to your insurer ,” said Gocompare.com's Matt Oliver.
You'll receive a fixed penalty notice with a fine between 125% and 175% of your weekly income, as well as 6 points on your licence or face disqualification for up to 56 days.
Stay aware of road signs informing you of speed changes. Remember that the national speed limit is 60mph on single carriage roads, and 70mph on double carriage roads and motorways
You'll be placed in Band A if you're caught speeding between 1 and 9 miles per hour over the speed limit. You'll receive a fixed penalty notice with a fine between 25% and 75% of your weekly income, as well as 3 points on your licence.
You'll be placed in Band B if you're caught speeding between 11 and 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. You'll receive a fixed penalty notice with a fine between 75% and 125% of your weekly income and up to 6 points on your licence or face disqualification for up to 28 days.
Depending on the conviction, your points will stay on your licence for at least four and, in some cases, up to 11 years. But if you accept a place on a speed awareness course, your licence will remain point-free.
Now, this is a very good question if you're not familiar with this course. Basically, it's a course that motorists can take if they have been caught speeding and want to avoid any points on their license and a fine.
Just because you've been caught speeding, doesn't mean that you'll get off with not getting any points and that you can just take the speed awareness course as a lesser penalty. Sadly, it doesn't work like that.
Cost is everything! Whether you'd prefer to do the course or if you have to pay the fine, speeding is going to cost you. These courses aren't much cheaper than your average speeding fine, so you'd be looking at around £85.
It all comes back down to money. Depending on your income, a fixed penalty fine might seem like the better option for you if you don't have the time to be spending around half a day doing the course.
On the big day of your speed awareness course, you should probably free up around 4-5 hours for it. Your course will be shared with around 25 other people, so you don't need to worry about all eyes being focused on you. Think of the course as a workshop. It's very much like a classroom, so expect to take part in some lively discussions.
The Honda Civic through the ages Can we use the excuse that there aren't enough car chargers any more?
How long is a National Speed awareness course? A speed awareness course lasts four to five hours. Fortunately, there are sessions available both during the week and on the weekend, plus in the evenings, so you won’t necessarily have to take time off work to attend.
Written by Kara Gammell, Finance Writer. Edited by Samantha Downes, Content Writer, 6 May 2021. Motorists caught speeding can avoid a fine and points on their licence by attending a National Speed Awareness course. We explain how the driving awareness course works and how much it costs.
The minimum fine is £100, but the maximum is £1,000 – or £2,500 on motorways.
Depending on your income, it’s possible that the fixed-penalty fine may seem a better option as the minimum amount is only marginally more than the cost of the course and does not require you to take five hours for the session.
The increase in your car insurance costs soon add up over time , particularly if you reoffend. Alternatively, if you accept a place on a speed awareness course, your licence will remain point-free and the impact on your motor cover should be less.
So, if you have been caught speeding and have been offered the chance to take a speed awareness course here’s what you need to know.
Learning speed awareness is of course requisite to achieving a driving test pass and to maintaining safe driving for life. Your driving instructor will aid in you developing speed awareness. To become speed aware, a driver must first have a good ability and confidence to control their vehicle without the need to constantly focus their attention on ...
A repeat speeder during a driving test can risk failure due to a limit of three of the same minors being permitted.
An example of driving too slowly during a test would be a clear and straight 30 mph road with little or no hazards where a learner may drive between 20 and 25 mph unnecessarily and not where hazards such as parked cars, cyclists or bends in the road may result in the learner reducing the speed of a vehicle.
The use of speed check boxes can be found number 18 on the driving test report. Whether driving too fast, too slowly or inappropriate use of speed, this can be marked as driving test minors up to 3 maximum, or a serious or dangerous mark, either which will result in a driving test failure.
Remember in general that most urban areas with street lighting will have a 30 mph speed limit. If in doubt, it’s better to go too slow than too fast. So for example if you’re not sure whether you’re in a 40mph or 30 mph limit, you’re better off going at 30 mph.
Driving too slowly can result in drivers behind getting frustrated, impatient and will to take risks to overtake. Even examiners find learners who drive persistently too slowly an irritating and tedious test to conduct.
It is of course possible to have a failed driving test for speeding. Typically during a driving test a learner driver may exceed the speed limit as they are unaware of the current speed they are traveling or they have entered a road with a lower speed limit and did not notice the signs. Failing a driving test for speeding can depend on ...
If you have been caught speeding, you will receive a letter informing you of the consequences. In many cases, you will be able to choose from three options: paying the fine and taking the points, going to court to settle it, or taking a speed awareness course with a slightly reduced fine and no penalty points.
Not every driver caught speeding will be offered the chance to take a speed awareness course, partly because not all police forces subscribe to the programme.
Different police forces use different organisations to provide the speed awareness course, and each charge a different amount, though they typically cost between £80 and £100.
The speed awareness course is a session run by a number of independent companies, including the AA. Although there’s no exam to pass, you have to display a ‘positive attitude’ throughout the course and contribute to group discussions.
Speed awareness courses moved online during the Covid-19 pandemic, so you had to join a video call to participate. Obviously that was necessary at a time in which everyone had to stay at home and meant that you didn’t have to travel to a centre to take the course, which made it a little more convenient.
A course will usually run for about four hours, with some time for a break in the middle of the session. Courses take place throughout the week but also during the evenings and weekends, so you won’t necessarily have to take time off work to attend.
This is a slightly grey area. While any speeding convictions and points must legally be declared to your insurance company (or any potential insurer when getting quotes), the onus is on the insurer to ask about whether you’ve taken a speed awareness course.
If you’ve already been on a speed awareness course in the last three years, you won’t be able to do it again and you’ll likely be slapped with at least three points and a fine.
If you’ve been caught speeding, you may be invited to attend a speed awareness course. Here’s what you can expect. Speed awareness courses - sometimes referred to as driver awareness courses – are for motorists who’ve been caught speeding and want to avoid points on their licence and a fine.
You’ll need to bring your driving licence along with you. If you don’t have it, you’ll have to show two forms of ID. If you don’t bring any ID with you, you won’t be allowed to take the course. They're usually run by organisations on behalf of police, like NDORS.
Some insurance companies may raise your premium as a result, but not all of them do. If you find that the cost of your car insurance has gone up after declaring that you’ve been on a speed awareness course, it might be a good time to shop around for a better deal.