While many people view the law with respect, there is one domain
where reverence of rules isn’t always demonstrated by swathes of the
population: the speed limits on roads. There is a large variety of punishments
that can accompany speeding offenses, from a verbal warning to a large fine or
even a prison sentence.
How to Avoid a Speeding Ticket
The first step in avoiding a speeding ticket comes from planning
ahead. Driving familiar roads is a great way to make sure your car is not
inadvertently traveling at a higher speed than permitted. Alternatively, if
the destination requires an unknown route, having a quick look online can make
all the difference. We offer a map service that shows
not only speed cameras but also red-light cameras, CCTV cameras, and pay tolls.
Checking before starting the journey is by far the safest way of
looking for potential speed cameras, but, for those in a rush, having an app
such as Waze can prove useful. When a route is unfamiliar, it can be easy to
miss warning signs; having an app that makes a noise
when the car has crossed the speeding threshold is a help to many.
What to Do When Facing a Fine
After receiving the fine through the post, responding quickly is
the best thing you can do. If the driver of the car has not had any other
spending offenses within the past three years, or the car was not traveling at
a speed more than 10% over the limit, a speed awareness course can be offered.
If this has not been suggested, the driver will have to accept the points and
fine. Once the letter has been received, it has to be filled in with the
required information and sent back to the police within 28 days.
The amount that one is fined differs depending on the severity of
the offense; the minimum fine is £100, rising to £1000 and finally going up to
£2500 for dangerous speeding on the motorway. Although the policy behind
speeding fines has recently changed, with the aim of keeping them more in line
with one’s wages, receiving an unexpected fine can often take a severe chunk out
of a budget. Those who are not able to access the required funds within the
permitted time limit, unfortunately, face the potential of this increasing. Services
such as Cash Lady offer high-cost short-term
loans for those facing financial emergencies, no matter how poor their credit
score and these solutions can help prevent further police action. The Money Advice Service can offer
help with ensuring a secure plan is in place for repayment of such loans to
avoid any situation where debt rises.
Although receiving a speeding ticket is never welcome, it isn’t
the end of the world. As long as the action is taken quickly both to deal with the
speeding ticket and to prevent further such situations, those added points
shouldn’t prove too troublesome.