Increased speeding fines are effective from Monday, 24th April 2017. The key difference is the introduction of a three band system that will determine a driver’s fine and number of penalty points.
Up to the 24th April 2017 the minimum penalty you could have expected to of received for speeding was a £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to your licence. The new penalties are significantly above the previous level to reflect the punishment to meet the offence. So what are the new penalties?
The new three band system is directly linked to the amount of speed the driver was doing above the stated speed limit. Accordingly, the punishment increases depending on the offence. The bands are:
Band A: 3 penalty points and a fine which will be around 50% of the driver’s weekly income.
Band B: 4 to 6 penalty points OR disqualification from driving for 7 to 28 days and a fine which will be around 100% of the driver’s weekly income.
Band C: 6 penalty points OR disqualification from driving for 7 to 56 days and a fine, which will be around 150% of the driver’s weekly income.
These bands are based on a driver’s speed. The speed limits, recorded speeds and relevant bands are shown below:
|
Speed limit (mph) |
Driver’s recorded speed for Band A |
Driver’s recorded speed for Band B |
Driver’s recorded speed for Band C |
|
20 |
21 to 30 |
31 to 40 |
41+ |
|
30 |
31 to 40 |
41 to 50 |
51+ |
|
40 |
41 to 55 |
56 to 65 |
66+ |
|
50 |
51 to 65 |
66 to 76 |
76+ |
|
60 |
61 to 80 |
81 to 90 |
91+ |
|
70 |
71 to 90 |
91 to 100 |
101+ |
For example, if you earn £25,000 per annum and you are detected within Band C then 150% of your weekly income equates to £720 which would be your fine.
The speeding fine is capped at £2,500 for those caught on the motorway, and £1,000 elsewhere.
For a first time offender, the chance to take a speed awareness course may be offered, which would mean avoiding the penalty points, but not the fine. This, however, won’t be offered to repeat offenders.
Should your case proceed to a hearing before a Magistrate then the tribunal retains power to sentence outside of these guidelines should particular circumstances warrant it.
The above latest change, comes in the wake of the offence for using a mobile device whilst driving being increased to a £200 fine and 6 penalty points as of 1st March 2017.
The increased penalties for using a mobile device whilst driving and for speeding is perhaps not unexpected given the Government’s latest statistics for the 12 month period ending in September 2016 confirmed that a total of 25,160 people were killed or seriously injured on our roads, up by 6% on the previous year.
Speed and/or distraction remain a significant cause of road traffic collisions. A number of road safety charities, including RoadPeace, have campaigned for a review of sentencing powers for road traffic offences in response to serious injury and death on UK roads.
I am regularly instructed to act on behalf of those who have suffered life changing injuries or have been bereaved as a result of a road traffic collision. In a significant number of those cases the driver responsible is proven to have been driving at an excessive speed for the circumstances and/or been using a mobile device. I am hopeful that the revised penalties will influence a positive change in driving behaviour to reduce road traffic collisions on our roads. Only time will tell.
Matthew Claxson is a Solicitor and a Partner at Moore Blatch who are a leading UK personal injury firm. To speak with one of our solicitors then Freephone 0800 157 7611 or e-mail matthew.claxson@mooreblatch.com.
