A little bit of speeding could land you in a lot of trouble
You’re running a little bit late. You’re only a little bit over the speed limit. The roads are quiet. You’re just doing what everyone else does. You’re a careful driver, you’re in control. These are the things we all tell ourselves when we drive too fast on Scotland’s roads.
But speeding can have devastating consequences and, every year, people die or are seriously injured because of drivers who are ‘just a little bit’ over the speed limit. And the damage doesn’t stop with the victim – you could lose your licence and your livelihood, even your own family – all to try and save a little bit of time.
A little bit over is still too much – there’s no excuse for speeding.
Do the RIGHT thing
Start by admitting that speeding has serious consequences for everyone involved then make an active choice to stick to the limits when you drive.
Stay safe - always drive at the right speed
Most drivers admit to at least occasionally exceeding the speed limits on our roads.1 Yet even just a little too fast is dangerous – especially in hazardous conditions. Are you familiar with these common excuses for driving too fast?
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Excuse #1
Quiet roads – particularly at night
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Excuse #2
Familiar roads that you drive regularly
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Excuse #3
Trying to ‘beat the traffic’ because you’re running late or want to save time
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Excuse #4
Speeding up to overtake safely
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Excuse #5
Not realising you were speeding because you were distracted or you sped up to keep up with other drivers
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Excuse #6
You think the speed limit is too slow for the road
But how would you feel if your careless driving killed someone? How would you cope with the devastating impact on the victim’s family, the paramedics at the scene or the people who witnessed it?
Slow down! Save lives and your licence.
- A fixed penalty notice for speeding could mean a £100 fine and three points on your licence
- 12 or more penalty points in a three-year period can lead to disqualification. If you’re a new driver, 6 points lead to disqualification.
- Speeding fines can cost you up to £1,000 (up to £2,500 for motorway driving) following a court appearance.
See our speeding stories
