Speeding ticket, Speed awareness course?

Waitrose

I just got a speeding ticket, first one in years and years, and not sure of the procedure?

Is it still 3 points and £60 fine? Or do i forgoe this and attend a driving course? - Does this knock off the points or the fine?

Also will one ticket affect my insurance when i renew next year?

Kiran

I beleive it's different depending on regions/authorities. The course is an alternative to the points. I beleive to have to pay for the course £85 was the one a friend of mine did.

tetley_les

i did the course a couple of years ago in the northeast.
had to pay i think £80 but you dont recieve any points as long as you attend the course.

david39

Sister in law took the course option and was glad she did so.

Although she had been driving for some 30 years, she said she learned a lot of helpful tips and also began to realise how much new content was in the Highway Code since she last looked at it - that was when she took her original test!

It seems that if you approach the course with the right attitude, you can benefit from it, unlike those who think they know it all and see it as just a way of avoiding the points.

Lum

The price of the course varies depending on which area you choose to take it in, you can shop around which may be worthwhile if you live near to the border between police force areas.

As to whether you get offered it. Each police force has a defined threshold at which the offer of speed awareness is made available, for example one force my only offer it for <= 35 in a 30, 46 in a 40 etc. Another force may offer it for up to 40 in a 30.

Thresholds have been gradually rising this last year or so, as the local council makes a profit from speed awareness courses and the local council is also responsible for funding the safety camera partnerships.

The highest threshold I am currently aware of is 85 in a 70.

If you post the speed you are alleged to have done, the speed limit in question and which police force you are being done by, someone may be able to tell you the likely outcome.

interstellaflyer

david39 wrote: »

Sister in law took the course option and was glad she did so.

Although she had been driving for some 30 years, she said she learned a lot of helpful tips and also began to realise how much new content was in the Highway Code since she last looked at it - that was when she took her original test!

It seems that if you approach the course with the right attitude, you can benefit from it, unlike those who think they know it all and see it as just a way of avoiding the points.

Yep, that was my experience as well, I found the course really good, well presented and I feel I'm a better driver, that said, I'm sure that with some on the cousre, it went in one ear and out the other judging by the way they speed away from the venue.

Waitrose

So you have to pay for the course as well as the fine? Had no idea..

sexyshark

no you just pay for the course not the fine.

TonyMMM

Have you actually been issued with an Fixed Penalty Notice asking you to pay £60 and get 3 points, or have you recieved a Notice Of Intended Prosecution asking you to identify the driver ?

If you have already been given/sent the FPN, then no offer of a course is going to be available ... if you have received the NIP, then an offer of a course may be made when you return the driver's details. It will depend on the margin over the limit and whether you have done a course in the previous couple of years.

Yes you pay for the course (about £90 in most areas - they vary), but don't pay the fine or get points.

Yorkie1

The speed awareness course is an alternative to prosecution. If you are offered, accept, and attend the course, then you will not be prosecuted - so you have no conviction and no penalty points.

The course generally costs a bit more than the fixed penalty ticket and will be more inconvenient as you actually have to attend it, but the general advice on here is to take the course if you get offered it.