As a veteran of speed awareness courses it used to even say on the letter that you could go 10% +2mph over the speed limit without getting a fine or a course. It said something along the lines of 36mph to 39mph (higher number may have been different but the lower one was definitely 36) in a 30 limit speed awareness courses, over that was auto prosecution. Implications being that 35 and below was nothing Anyway I’m just about to book my third speed awareness course for doing 35 in a 30 so that changed! Just thought others might want to know (I realise there is an easy way for me to avoid being caught speeding thanks…)
done 3 of those courses myself, to be fair they make you drive really carefully after, when they highlight the difference it can make to stopping distances,, etc. soon forgotten a few weeks later when youre desperate to get home for your tea unfortunately...
They seem to last long enough for me to never actually get fined tbf I did genuinely think 35 was ok though
Must be 5/6 years ago my Mrs got a speed awareness course for doing 34 in a 30 mph zone in Hibaldstow - oh how she laughed when the letter had my name on it (registered keeper); she didn't laugh so much when I pointed out that it was her driving to her regular chiropractors appointment
Honestly feel like I've done so many of these that I could run them myself. (Think I've done 4). Anyhow, after the first one some young lad jumped into his flash sports car and wheelied off at about 50 down Preston Road . Next time any of you do one of these I bet the smart-arse running it says "We aren't here to make money." Well in that case give me my £95 back.
I could well be wrong, but I think the tolerance is at the Chief Constable's discretion so can vary from region to region. Did you get caught locally?
I got caught at 77 on the M62 and got a fine and points. It seems there’s no tolerance now. I had always worked to 10% + 2.
Interesting So it definitely used to be Speed limit +10% +2 was ok in Humberside because that’s what it said on the letter. However they now say that their normal threshold is to start prosecuting at 10% +2 (so 35 in a 30) as per national guidance, but the officer on scene can decide not to follow that, because it’s only guidance. “Safer Roads Humber and Humberside Police apply the NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council, formerly ACPO) Speed Enforcement Policy Guidelines and the enforcement thresholds specified therein. It is our policy to adhere to the ACPO guidelines, but these are guidelines only, so are not mandatory. While Safer Roads Humber camera enforcement adheres to the thresholds, a Police Officer at the roadside may choose to deal with an offence below the thresholds as a fixed penalty, at his/ her discretion.”https://saferroadshumber.com/camera-faqs/ Other Forces like Avon are more clear they only start at 10% +2 rather than using any discretion https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2025/05/speed-enforcement-your-questions-answered/ Looks like your Mrs was very unlucky
It’s the Officer on scene, or dealing with camera results, discretion (although the Chief Constable can tell them not to use any discretion and just follow a set policy
Nowhere says that, although the College of Policing guidance (who set Police policies nationally) recommends starting prosecutions at 10% +2 They don’t have to follow the guidance though so it could be 1mph (although they also published camera tolerances which mean that’s unlikely as it’s easily challenged)
Tbf I don’t think it really is to make money from the courses If they just issued you with a fine you’d pay £100 immediately whereas here they charge £100 and have to pay the person running the course, so courses raise less money that fines
What do you mean by OK though? Just that you thought it couldn't be enforced or that it's actually allowed? I think there's a big difference and I think it's dangerous that this information about the tolerance is passed around if it leads to loads of people aiming for 35 because they believe it's legal. You obviously give up any room for error doing that and lots of people will be routinely driving more dangerously than they could be as a result. I know I'm an uncool bore saying it, but driving standards bother me. I don't like a lot of the conversation around driving, the way people get frustrated about having to follow rules or about getting caught. We have so much responsibility to not put others in danger every time we take to the wheel but people are incredibly laid back about it.
Oh and on course costs I shall report back. Not all Forces charge the same and as you can do online you can book one somewhere else I’ll report back when booked but last time I saw the charges it was £20 cheaper to do it online with Hartlepool
I merely thought it wouldn’t be enforced, but I was wrong Don’t disagree with anything else you said I’m busting that myth and therefore probably saving people’s lives. I should get some type of award really
Not need for a margin of error when driving a vehicle with sat nav. Riding an MZ motorcycle should give you a 50% margin of error at 30mph as the speedo fluctuates between 20 and 40.
I don’t speed in residential areas, at all. Motorways the speed limit should be increased in my opinion. Even if it’s 80mph in the dry and 70mph in the wet. They operate a similar system across most of Europe 130kmh if dry 110kmh if wet.
I think what is missed in the speeding debate is that it's not necessarily breaking the speed limit that is the danger. Many of them are arbitrary, and aimed at a certain level of driver and motorways, with the higher limit, are generally the safer roads unless they ball sit up with 'smart' motorways. The danger is excessive speed, and that can often be well within the posted limit in certain conditions and road types,
