Urgent warning for drivers as they could face fines for going just 1mph over the speed limit
AN URGENT warning has been issued to drivers they could be slapped with fines for going just 1mph over the speed limit.
Many Brits catch themselves pressing a little too hard on the accelerator sometimes - but wonder if they'll be caught out.
While any speed above the limit is technically punishable, by the RAC found most speed cameras won't snap your licence if you're driving a few mph over.
This discretionary leniency was created by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NCPP).
New guidance introduced in 2019 states their is a threshold of 10 per cent plus 2mph - meaning the boundary is 24mph in a 20 zone.
But, according to a parliamentary group with 38 MPs and 20 peers who want to crack down on road safety, this needs to be cut.
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Members are determined to stop Brits getting behind the wheel "impatiently, discourteously, or, worse, maliciously".
In a road justice report from the group, they stated: “If the working assumption is that one can speed (to an extent) with impunity, this fosters a belief that traffic law does not need to be taken seriously.
“We hold the view that speed limits and their enforcement represent the foundation of road justice because speeding accounts for the lion’s share of offences committed on the roads.”
Richard Owen, chief executive of Agilysis, told speed cameras must be accurate within 1mph.
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This means drivers would be caught out and slapped with a fine travelling 31mph in a 30mph zone.
Richard explained when he was in charge of lowering the Thames Valley partnership he reduced the threshold within 1mph.
And, this led him to see 50 per cent more motorists being handed a penalty.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said people "should respect" speed limits.
But, if drivers become "too paranoid" about speeding by a few mph, it is "not conductive to road safety".
"It is better to be able to see a cyclist on the left hand side of the road, or a pedestrian stepping out from the right, rather than just to stare at the speedometer," he continued.
A government spokesman added: “There are tough penalties and rigorous enforcement to crack down on motorists who break the rules.
"We will consider the [all-party parliamentary group] report’s findings.”
HOW MUCH IS A SPEEDING FINE?
There are different bands of speeding offences, that warrant varying degrees of punishment, in the eyes of the law.
The bands and penalties work their way up for all the speed limits, 30mph, 40mph, 50mph, 60mph, and 70mph.
Those who already have points on their license, or have committed more serious speeding offences, will get a minimum £100 fine and three or six penalty points on their license.
The penalty can rise as high as £1,000, or £2,500 if you were caught on a motorway.
If you collect more than 12 points within a three years, you face being disqualified from driving and waiting four years to see the points wiped.
This comes as one driver was slapped with fines worth nearly £50k and banned from the road for three years.
The motorist was caught speeding a staggering 57 times in just two months.
Meanwhile, Brits have also been warned they could risk a heavy penalty if they have a family argument while on the road.
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Plus, car experts have urged motorists about simple errors that could result in fines of up to £2,500.