At the end of April, new rules and fines on speeding came into effect. These tough new measures may seem draconian to some, but they are absolutely essential to maintaining safe standards on our roads. In 2015, for instance, 244 people were killed in speeding-related incidents on British roads, with 23% of all fatal collisions involving speeding.

So, what are the new penalties?

Changes to Speeding Fine Bands

The update to legislation splits the seriousness of speeding offences into three distinct bands:

Band A – The lowest speeding level, this refers to anything over the limit, technically. That means, from a legal standpoint, you could be fined for driving 31mph in a 30mph zone.

Fortunately, there will likely be some leeway here – many drivers could have faulty speedometers, for instance, and the police would also prefer it if you didn’t drive with your eyes constantly monitoring how fast you’re going rather than paying attention to the road ahead.

A ‘Band A’ penalty (three points on their licence and a fine of 50% of their weekly income) will be issued if drivers speed between:

21mph-30mph in a 20mph zone

31mph-40mph in a 30mph zone

71mph-90mph in a 70mph zone

Band B is for more significant offences, and is used when drivers speed between:

31mph-40mph in a 20mph zone

41mph-50mph in a 30mph zone

56mph-65mph in a 40mph zone

91mph-100mph in a 70mph zone

Penalties and fines within this brand bring with them 4-6 points on a licence, or disqualification, and a fine of up to 100% of weekly income.

Band C – This band is reserved for the most serious speeding offences, and will affect offenders driving:

41pmh+ in a 20mph zone

51mph+ in a 30mph zone

100mph+ in a 70mph zone

Drivers risk six points on their licence and a fine of up to 150% of their weekly income if they break the law to this degree.

You Should Also Know…

There a couple more changes and rules that you should know about. Namely, it’s that the circumstances in which you’re caught speeding could affect the penalty and fine you face. For instance, if you speed near a school the punishment could be increased, but it could be dropped entirely if you’re speeding because of a genuine emergency.

It’s also worth noting that while the minimum punitive measure remains at £100 and three points, the maximum fine is capped at £2,500. This is the same fine you could face if your tyres are below standard and have a tread depth of below 1.6mm. Balding tyres are a huge problem on British roads – you can read more about it here, but for more comprehensive information you should contact the team at Universal Tyres today.

Universal Tyres are the foremost provider of tyre services in Southern England. With over 90 years of experience in the motoring industry, no one is better placed to supply, fit and maintain your tyres than us. For more information about our range of services, including MOTs, servicing and repairs, simply contact our friendly team today!