Speeding fines issued in year
BUT AROUND ONE IN FIVE PENALTY NOTICES END UP CANCELLED
SPEEDING motorists were caught more than 100,000 times in Greater Manchester last year.
New Home Office figures show that police in our area handed out 111,493 Fixed Penalty Notices – or FPNs – last year for speeding offences.
Campaigners criticised these drivers, who “selfishly ignore speed limits”.
The figure was up from 110,065 the year before.
A motorist slapped with an FPN will usually be given a £100 fine and three points on their licence.
In some instances they can avoid the points and instead attend a speed awareness course.
However, motorists can contest the fine, and 19,936 of those in Greater Manchester – around one in five – were cancelled last year.
Road safety experts said they were ‘worried’ at the number that get cancelled because police cannot trace the driver. Other common defences for contesting an FPN include incorrect details about the nature, time, or location of the alleged offence, if the alleged speeder wasn’t driving when it happened, or if road signage for speed limits was missing or incorrect. Nearly half of the fines issued across Greater Manchester last year (47,289) saw drivers go on retraining courses.
A further 27,051 paid their fines and 16,989 resulted in court action.
Neil Greg, policy and research director of road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said: “Speed compliance surveys show that speeds are slowly coming down in general but huge numbers still ignore the limit in 30mph areas, on motorways and in 20mph zones.
“Those who break the law are more likely to speed as well so targeting them has our full support.”
A spokesperson from the charity Brake said: “Drivers who selfishly ignore speed limits put not only themselves, but other road users, at serious risk.”