Watch Your Speed – new fines from April 24!

New laws in the UK from 24th April  will see speeding motorists face much heavier fines. The maximum fine goes up from £1,000 to £2,500 in a bid to deter drivers who break the law.

New fines will hit drivers convicted of travelling at over 100mph on a motorway, on other roads with a 70mph limit, those going at more than 50mph in a 30mph zone or more than 40mph in a 20mph zone.

A new three-band system will determine how much a driver should be charged and how many penalty points they will get added to their licence.

• Band A offences are for drivers travelling between one and 10mph over stated speed limits.
• Band B offences relate to drivers exceeding speed limits by between 11 and 20mph.
• Ban C offences correspond to offences which are 21mph and above stated speed limits.

Band A offences begin at 50 per cent of the driver’s weekly wage but can range from 25 per cent to 75 per cent. Band B offences begin at 100 per cent of the driver’s weekly wage but are variable from 75 per cent and 125 per cent. Band C offences begin at 150 per cent but are variable from 125 per cent to 175 per cent.  If found guilty of the most serious speeding offence, a motorist earning an average salary of £28,000 could be fined around £800.

Having penalty points also drives up motor insurance premiums. A recent UK comparison site reported that drivers given 6 penalty points are very likely to see their motor insurance premiums jump by 75 per cent.

Speeding makes driving more expensive for everyone. With the average motor premium rising 7% year on year, any moves to improve road safety and reduce traffic accidents for all UK road users are to be welcomed.