If you’re caught speeding, you might get a fine, along with some points on your licence.
But in some cases, you might be able to avoid the fine and the points by taking a speed awareness course.
What is a Speed Awareness Course?
A speed awareness course is a workshop, usually lasting a day, that’ll help you understand the dangers of speeding. It’ll also offer you various tips on safer driving, to help you avoid future speeding offences.
Do You Have to Pay to Do a Speed Awareness Course?
You’ll have to pay for your speed awareness course, and it usually costs the same amount as a speeding fine. But given that it can help you avoid getting points on your licence, it’s certainly a price worth paying!
Who is eligible for a speed awareness course?
Not all motorists are invited to attend speed awareness courses. It largely depends on the nature of the speeding offence. If you do 24 mph in a 20 mph zone, for example, the police will likely give you the opportunity to take an awareness course. But if you do 60 mph in a 20 mph zone? Don’t expect an invite.
Also, speeding offences that result in damage to property, injury, or death are more likely to result in court appearances and jail sentences than speed awareness courses – especially if drugs and alcohol are involved.
How Often Can You Do a Speed Awareness Course?
You’re only allowed to take the speed awareness course once every three years. Beyond the nature of your speeding offence, this is the biggest criteria that decides whether or not you’ll be invited to attend a course.
If you’ve already attended a course within the three years prior to your current speeding offence, then you won’t be given the opportunity to attend a speed awareness course.
What Happens If You Can’t Do Another Speed Awareness Course?
If you can’t do another speed awareness course, you’ll have no choice but to pay the fine and accept the points on your licence. The fine will be at least £100, and you’ll get at least three penalty points on your licence.
If you build up 12 or more penalty points in a period of three years, you could get disqualified from driving. The rules are even tougher for new drivers: You’ll lose your licence if you build up six points on your licence within your first two years of driving.
If you get points on your licence for speeding, you can also expect your insurance to go up. Read more about how penalty points might affect your insurance.
Car Insurance for Convicted and Disqualified Drivers
If you’ve any driving convictions, or if you’ve been disqualified from driving, you might struggle to find car insurance.
Many insurers refuse to cover convicted or disqualified drivers, as they consider that the risks are too high. But at Go Girl, we understand that your past behaviour is no indication of your future behaviour. That’s why we offer specialist car insurance for convicted and disqualified drivers.
