Oops

[meriad]

got home today and in the post was my first ever speeding fine. Given I've been driving for 32 years and (OK most of you look away now please!) rarely stick to speed limits I think I've done well to get this far.

It was for speeding in a variable speed limit area on the M25 motorway after dropping my niece off at the airport. Thing is that stretch always has them - and 99.9% they're not needed and cause more issues vs doing good; it's 5 lane motorway there and people stick to the speed of the flow of traffic.

Oh well, not holding out much hope of a speed awareness course but finger crossed

[Workingman]

Sorry Ria, but unless you have a rock solid defence you are unlikely to get the fine thrown out.

You could appeal, and google is your friend for ways to do it, but the ones I looked at some time ago were not, how to say, confident of success.

I suppose the thing to do is weigh up the financial implications of paying the fine and taking the points plus the insurance hit v a course more costly than the fine plus time off work.

A friend of mine took the course and found it so patronising she nearly walked out and said that she would have been financially better off taking the points and letting them drift out of the system over three years.

[meriad]

Frank, i definitely don't have a rock solid defense and I'm not denying I was speeding. But..... I am hoping that because it's a first offence they'll let me do the course - quite honestly it's a day off work so why complain. But given this was on a motorway I do suspect it'll be the fine and points.

vs a course more costly than the fine plus time off work.

do I have to pay for the course?

[Workingman]

.... do I have to pay for the course?

You bet! Put away £100 at least, and remember the points still go on your licence, though insurance companies do look at them favourably, but they might still give you a hit.

[TheOstrich]

Firstly, commiserations, meriad. There but for the Grace of God go us all.

I find variable speed limits on motorways are often frustrating, simply because they seem to vary them without any rhyme or reason, and often leave them imposed even when the road is clear. I know all about them from the M42, and it's difficult enough to keep track of them when you're also trying to cope with traffic coming in and out of the motorway at multiple junctions, but the biggest scare I got was rounding a bend on Spaghetti Junction to suddenly find a 20mph limit imposed in front of me. And don't get me going on average speed cameras which are all the rage these days.

A friend of mine did the course last year (38 in a 30 limit) I think it cost him around £90? He didn't particularly rate it as worthwhile, but they did stress the "3rd gear when in a 30 limit" technique, and I've started using that myself.

My biggest bugbear though is the plethora of 20mph limits on main roads we have around here, especially in Somerset. Very difficult to consistently keep your speed down that low for a mile or so …..

[TheOstrich]

and remember the points still go on your licence

Is that right, WM, I thought it was either / or ? Pretty sure my mate didn't get points.

[meriad]

I just checked with Nadine, my SIL and she said she had to pay the fine but could chose between points or course..... so I think it is one or the other. But you're not always given the option of doing the course

[TheOstrich]

But you're not always given the option of doing the course

I think it depends on the severity of your offence, meriad.

[Workingman]

The law is not exactly clear, course or points depends on the severity of the offence, and even going on a course could still put up your insurance premiums.

Put it this way, whatever you do the insurance companies can (will) screw you.

[meriad]

but they did stress the "3rd gear when in a 30 limit" technique,

I do the same and 4th gear for 40 limit; and certain other things I was taught that I still adhere to - the two second distance following rule and also if you're stopping behind another car in a queue always make sure you can see their rear tyres; that should give you enough space should someone hit you from the rear and you're propelled forward