Speeding offences carry between 3 and 6 penalty points on your driving licence. The exact number depends on which band your offence falls into. Band A offences receive 3 points. Band B offences carry 4-6 points. Band C offences result in 6 points or disqualification.

Penalty points remain on your licence for 4 years from the date of the offence. However, they only count towards totting up disqualification for 3 years. The points affect your insurance premiums during this period. Insurers access DVLA penalty data directly.

Accumulating 12 or more penalty points within 3 years results in a minimum 6-month driving ban under totting up rules. The ban period increases for repeat offenders. A second disqualification within 3 years results in a 12-month ban. A third disqualification leads to a 2-year ban.

New drivers face stricter rules under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995. Reaching 6 or more points within 2 years of passing your test causes automatic licence revocation. You must retake both theory and practical driving tests. This applies regardless of totting up rules.

A speed awareness course is an educational alternative to a speeding fine and penalty points for eligible drivers. The National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) lasts 3 hours. The course covers speed limit identification, consequences of speeding, and strategies to avoid future offences. Completion prevents penalty points from being added to your licence.

Eligibility requires 3 conditions. First, you must not have attended a speed awareness course in the previous 3 years. Second, your speed must fall within Band A parameters. Third, the police must offer the course as an option. The course costs vary by police force but typically range from £80 to £100.

You can choose a speed awareness course if offered, but the option is not automatic. The police decide eligibility based on the offence severity and your driving history. Band B and Band C offences do not qualify for courses. Repeat speeders within 3 years cannot attend another course.

Courses are available in-person at local venues or online via platforms. You must arrive on time and participate fully. There is no pass or fail test. Non-completion results in the original penalty being imposed. The police receive confirmation once you complete the course.

A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is a legal document warning you that you may be prosecuted for a speeding offence. The NIP must be served within 14 days of the alleged offence. Service occurs by first-class post to the registered keeper’s address. The notice includes details of the alleged offence including date, time, location, and speed.

The NIP accompanies a Section 172 notice. This requires you to identify who was driving the vehicle at the time. You must return the completed Section 172 notice within 28 days. Failure to respond constitutes a separate offence carrying up to £1,000 fine and 6 penalty points.

The 14-day rule requires the NIP to arrive at the registered keeper’s address within 14 days of the offence. The law states the notice must be served, not merely posted, within this timeframe. Delays caused by postal strikes or other circumstances may be considered. The rule applies to camera-detected offences and some roadside offences.

Exceptions exist to the 14-day rule. Verbal warnings given at the time of the offence satisfy the notice requirement. Direct hand delivery of a summons within 14 days also complies. If you were stopped by police and informed of potential prosecution, no postal notice is required.

Failing to respond to a Section 172 notice is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. The penalty includes 6 penalty points and a fine up to £1,000. This often exceeds the original speeding penalty. The offence applies even if you were not the driver.

Limited defences exist for Section 172 failures. You must prove it was not reasonably practicable to identify the driver. Examples include vehicle theft where you reported it to police. Genuine lack of knowledge about who was driving may succeed in exceptional cases. Courts interpret these defences narrowly.

A Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) is the formal offer to settle a speeding offence without court proceedings. The notice specifies the fine amount and number of penalty points. The minimum FPN for speeding is £100 with 3 points. You have 28 days to accept or reject the offer.

Accepting the FPN means pleading guilty. You pay the fine and receive the specified points. Your driving licence must be surrendered temporarily for endorsement. Rejection of the FPN leads to court proceedings. You can then plead guilty or not guilty before magistrates.

Ignoring a Fixed Penalty Notice results in the case being referred to magistrates’ court. You will receive a court summons. Conviction at court typically results in higher fines plus court costs. The court has discretion to impose greater penalties than the original FPN.

Court fines for speeding are income-based. The percentage of weekly income varies by band. Court costs add to the total amount owed. A victim surcharge applies to all fines. The combined total substantially exceeds the original Fixed Penalty Notice amount.

Speeding cases proceed to magistrates’ court for Band B and Band C offences, or when you reject a Fixed Penalty Notice. Cases also reach court if you already have 8 or more penalty points. High-speed offences are referred directly to court. All drivers facing court must attend in person.

The court hearing involves 4 main stages. First, you enter your plea of guilty or not guilty. Second, the prosecution presents evidence if you plead not guilty. Third, you or your solicitor present your defence or mitigation. Fourth, the magistrates decide the penalty. Sentencing follows the Sentencing Council guidelines.

The maximum penalty for speeding is £1,000 on regular roads and £2,500 on motorways. Courts can impose up to 6 penalty points. Disqualification may be ordered for any period the court deems appropriate. Courts must endorse your licence unless exceptional reasons exist.

Court costs add significantly to the financial penalty. Prosecution costs typically range from £85 to £150. A victim surcharge applies as a percentage of the fine. The total amount can exceed £2,000 for serious motorway speeding. Legal representation fees are additional if you instruct a solicitor.

Exceptional hardship is a legal argument to avoid a totting up disqualification when you reach 12 penalty points. The argument must prove that disqualification would cause hardship beyond normal inconvenience. The court exercises discretion in accepting or rejecting exceptional hardship submissions. Success allows you to keep your licence despite accumulating 12 points.

Acceptable grounds include 5 main categories. First, loss of employment where public transport is not viable. Second, severe financial difficulties affecting you or your family. Third, inability to care for dependents with special needs. Fourth, impact on employees if you run a business. Fifth, restriction on mobility due to serious health conditions.

Exceptional hardship requires documentary evidence and often witness testimony. Employment contracts and job descriptions prove work requirements. Medical evidence supports health-related arguments. Financial statements demonstrate business impacts. Letters from dependents’ medical professionals evidence care responsibilities.

The court considers whether the hardship is exceptional. Normal inconvenience does not qualify. Routine commuting difficulties fail as exceptional hardship. Many people face job loss from driving bans. Your circumstances must exceed typical consequences. Professional legal representation significantly improves success rates for exceptional hardship arguments.

You cannot use the same exceptional hardship argument within 3 years of a successful submission. The court rejects repeated arguments based on identical circumstances. Your situation must materially change to present exceptional hardship again. Points remain on your licence even if you avoid disqualification.

New arguments require different evidence. Changed employment circumstances may qualify. New medical conditions affecting dependents can succeed. Business developments not previously argued are acceptable. Timing matters significantly in repeat exceptional hardship cases.

Common defences for speeding include procedural errors, insufficient evidence, equipment calibration issues, and emergency circumstances. Successful defences result in case dismissal. Each defence type requires specific evidence and legal arguments. Most defences address technical aspects of the prosecution case.

Speed camera evidence can be challenged on calibration, approval, and operational grounds. All speed cameras require annual calibration by the manufacturer. Police must perform checks before and after using mobile devices. The Secretary of State must approve camera types for enforcement use. Cameras require regular maintenance records.

Calibration certificates prove device accuracy. Equipment must be accurate to within ±1mph. Tests must cover speeds from 20mph to 80mph. Documentation must exist for all calibration procedures. Missing or defective calibration evidence undermines the prosecution case. Expert evidence may be required to challenge technical aspects successfully.

Special reasons are exceptional circumstances directly related to the offence that justify not imposing standard penalties. Medical emergencies constitute valid special reasons. Driving someone to hospital for urgent treatment qualifies. The emergency must be genuine and verifiable. Special reasons do not provide a complete defence but affect sentencing.

Special reasons differ from exceptional hardship. Special reasons relate to the offence itself. Exceptional hardship concerns the consequences of disqualification. Special reasons must be argued in court. The burden of proof rests on the defendant. Success results in no penalty points or reduced penalties despite conviction.