South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

I've seen a few unclear or incomplete stories about the new fines so went hunting for the actual facts. I'm sure no one here ever speeds but if you know anyone who does it is worth looking at the links below. Seems like the fines for minor offences stay fairly reasonably but anything above that becomes more expensive. So get caught at 75 in a 60 and it might only be £50-100 (depending on income) but 1 mph more and it starts at £220. Worth knowing although it probably won't change my habits much.

Fine guidance calculator

The general information about bands, loading and mitigating circumstances

This is only if you end up going to court though. Fixed penalties or speed awareness courses will still be offered if your speed is within the guidelines that the police can offer them. The guidelines are quite lenient, although the police don't have to stick to them. There maybe other factors why you end up in court besides your speed. IE Dangerous driving.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) issued revised speed enforcement policy guidance in 2013. It suggests that enforcement will normally occur when a driver exceeds the speed limit by a particular margin. The particular margin is normally 10 per cent over the speed limit plus 2 mph. The guidance sets guidelines for when it would be appropriate to issue a fixed penalty notice or for the driver to attend a speed awareness course, and when it becomes appropriate to issue a summons. These are guidelines only and a police officer has discretion to act outside of them providing he acts fairly, consistently and proportionately.

In summary the guidelines are:

Speed limit: 20 mph

ACPO threshold for:

a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 24 mph
summoning: 35 mph


Speed limit: 30 mph

ACPO threshold for:

a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 35 mph
summoning: 50 mph


Speed limit: 40 mph

ACPO threshold for:

a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 46 mph
summoning: 66 mph


Speed limit: 50 mph

ACPO threshold for:

a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 57 mph
summoning: 76 mph


Speed limit: 60 mph

ACPO threshold for:

a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 68 mph
summoning: 86 mph


Speed limit: 70 mph

ACPO threshold for:

a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 79 mph
summoning: 96 mph