Speeding fine advice

andygb

First of all, I am not going to deny that I did it, but just want some advice regarding my options.
I was nabbed by a mobile camera (on top of a series of bridges) on a two lane dual carriageway, where the 50 limit has been extended in the last couple of months, and the national speed liimit signs are now a couple of hundred yards away from the bridge in question. So, I was doing 59 in a 50 limit.
I have a choice of taking the £60 and 3 points option, or paying £85 to go on a driver awareness course.
As this is my first ever offence in over 30 years driving, and I have a full NCB on my insurance, would I be best to shell out the £85 for the government cash making scheme?

kazwookie

£85 and the course!

maninthestreet

£60 and 3 points on your 30-yar, point-free licence, or £85 and the driving awareness scheme, but no points on your licence - your choice.

neilmcl

OP, it all depends on your own circumstances.

shaun_from_Africa

£60 and 3 points option

+ a possible rise in insurance premiums. Not all companies will charge extra for a single offence, but it's certainly worth looking into before you make a final decision.

vax2002

Ask the highways to provide the traffic regulation order for the moving of the signs, quite often they have not bothered and just hope no body realises the old one stops short.
They have to provide this free.
No order= not guilty

iolanthe07

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

+ a possible rise in insurance premiums. Not all companies will charge extra for a single offence, but it's certainly worth looking into before you make a final decision.

Apparently (according to the Saturday Telegraph motoring section) some insurance companies are increasing premiums on renewal even if you opt for the course - which undermines the whole point of it.

Joe_Horner

Except that most insurance companies still only ask for convictions. If you take the course you don't have a conviction and they can't charge extra for what they don't know.

For all those who will no doubt jump in now with the "any material fact" bit, that doesn't make sense because, following that logic, you must also tell them about every time you've broken a speed limit without being caught - which is clearly ridiculous!

In fact, on that basis, any attempt to ask you about awareness courses would probably be deemed an unreasonable question in the first place which would explain why it's never on the quote forms - insurers are generally pretty good at asking everything they can!

eta: OP: take the course and continue to answer "no convictions" when asked on proposal forms.

You may even get something worthwhile from it - some do, some don't. It seems to depend on your attitude when you attend, if you approach it as "it'll be a waste of time" then it'll be a waste of time, but if you approach it as "I'm here anyway so let's see what I can take from it" then you might find it interesting

Lum

This question basically boils down to:

Do I pay an extra £25 (plus time off work) to not have points on my licence.

Is a clean licence worth £25 to you?

andygb

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Except that most insurance companies still only ask for convictions. If you take the course you don't have a conviction and they can't charge extra for what they don't know.

For all those who will no doubt jump in now with the "any material fact" bit, that doesn't make sense because, following that logic, you must also tell them about every time you've broken a speed limit without being caught - which is clearly ridiculous!

In fact, on that basis, any attempt to ask you about awareness courses would probably be deemed an unreasonable question in the first place which would explain why it's never on the quote forms - insurers are generally pretty good at asking everything they can!

eta: OP: take the course and continue to answer "no convictions" when asked on proposal forms.

You may even get something worthwhile from it - some do, some don't. It seems to depend on your attitude when you attend, if you approach it as "it'll be a waste of time" then it'll be a waste of time, but if you approach it as "I'm here anyway so let's see what I can take from it" then you might find it interesting

These were my thoughts as well, including the advice re the course. I may as well protect the licence, particularly as it would need to be sent off, and we are going to Italy in the Summer - by car.

david39

I have two relatives who plumped for the course option. Neither of them showed any enthusiasm before going - lookin on it as a waste of time but something they had to do to keep their licences clean.

Both of them came back saying that they were pleased they had chosen that option as they had found it interesting and had learned quite a few new driving tips from it.