November 11, 2024
Sara Davies
Articles
Five people die every day on roads across the UK, on average, and 80 are seriously injured (10-year average from 2014-2023, according to statistics gathered by Brake.org.uk). In 2023, 58% of deaths on the road had speed as a road safety factor (Source: Reported road collisions, casualties Great Britain Annual Report: 2023). With Road Safety Week running 17 to 23 November 2024 this article serves as a timely reminder of UK speeding laws in the hope that drivers everywhere can refresh their knowledge and help prevent fatailities. You may even want to book one of our driver training courses for your fleet.
National Speed Limits
Unless otherwise signposted, the three national speed limits in the UK are 30mph on roads with street lighting, 60mph on single carriageways and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways. Special speed limits apply to different vehicle categories. For example, vans weighing up to 3.5 tons can travel up to 70mph on motorways, 60mph on dual carriageways and 50mph on single carriageways. Those towing a caravan for example are not legally able to reach 70 mph. A national speed limit sign tells you that the above limits will apply (apart from for those vehicles subject to lower limits).
Local Speed Limits
Since the national speed limits aren’t necesarily appropriate for every single road across the country, traffic authorities are able to set local speed limits in situations where needs and conditions suggest a speed limit that is lower than the national speed limit. They are able to introduce 20mph limits and zones in the right places, over time and with local support in urban areas and built-up village streets that are primarily residential.
Variable Speed Limits
Variable speed limits are sometimes implemented to manage traffic flow and enhance safety, including during roadworks, and are usually displayed on electronic speed limit signs. They can change based on traffic conditions, incidents, or adverse weather and may set lower limits at peak times to ensure smoother flow of traffic. They are legally enforceable.
Minimum Speed Limits
A speed limit is more commonly thought of as a maximum speed but there are some places where a minimum limit may be in place. These will generally be imposed in areas such as tunnels, where driving at 10mph is particularly dangerous and creates more emissions in an enclosed space. A minimum speed limit will be signposted in a different way with white numbers on a blue background and when the minimum limit ends there will be another with a red diagonal line through it to indicate the limit has ended.
If you are driving so slowly that your speed could be deemed a risk that endangers other drivers then you can get an on the spot fine of £100 and three points on your licence, and if you’re taken to court this can rise to a £500 fine and nine points on your licence. There are very few cases of drivers being fined for driving too slowly, and those that are, are usually on motorways, dual-carriageways and fast-moving B-roads.
Penalties of Speeding
If you are caught speeding, then the minimum penalty is usually a £100 fine and three points on your licence. For serious speeding offences or repeat offenders the fines can increase depending on your income. This is usually decided in court rather than via the post. Exceeding a speed limit by more than 20mph in a 20mph or 30mph zone means you’ll get a fairly serious fine known as a Band C fine – six penalty points and a fine of 125-175% of your weekly income. You can also be disqualified for between seven and 56 days. You could be disqualified from driving if you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of 3 years.
For minor speeding offences, the police may offer you a speed awareness course instead if you haven’t attended a speed awareness course in the past three years and the speed was deemed to fall within the acceptable range prescribed. The cost is typically between £80 and £100 and it needs to be completed within 12 weeks of the offence. Taking a course avoids points being added to your driving licence.
For more serious speeding offences you might get a court summons, and you can also decide not to accept a fixed penalty and take your case to court. A speeding offence may lead to a change in your insurance premiums and you will need to notify your insurance provider if you receive points on your licence.
Do Your Drivers Need to Revisit Traffic Regulations?
Here at Wessex Fleet we offer bespoke driver training to ensure competence and confidence of fleets that are all shapes and sizes. Training can take many different forms to provide the right levels of support across varied areas. Once a driver passes their driving test they can go years without reviewing their skills and be unaware of any additional laws and legislation that could impact them. Not only does our driver training refresh their knowledge, it identifies areas of weakness in a driver’s skills and focuses on their specific needs. It helps meet the duty of care requirements of your company while keeping your employees and the general public safe. Driver training can take the form of any, or a combination of, the following:
- One to one in vehicle training
- In person classroom training
- Online training and assessments
It can cover areas ranging from road regulations, new driving laws and speed awareness, through to comprehensive training regarding the operation of particular vehicles. Get in touch to discuss your needs and we can arrange training at a time to suit you and your drivers.
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