Drivers have been urged to monitor their speed as they could be unknowingly breaking the speed limit. Experts at car parts sellers Ovoko have warned motorists they could be at risk of getting a ticket despite driving at what feels like a reasonable speed. Supplier excellence manager Kazimieras Urbonas said: “There’s one specific speed that triggers more UK speeding fines than any other.
“It’s not what most people expect, and it happens on roads where drivers feel completely safe and in control.” The group revealed the most common speed where people get a ticket is when driving at 36mph in a 30mph zone.
The reason for this is most police forces operate under unofficial guideline where you will only get a ticket if you drive at the limit plus 10 percent and an extra 2mph on top of this.
So if you are driving in a 30mph zone, the point where you would get a ticket would be from 36mph, as the limit is 30mph plus 3mph (10 percent of the speed limit) with an extra 2mph, giving 35mph.
But even if you know this, you could be mistakenly driving at speeds above 35mph even though you think you are not. Mr Urbonas said: “Here’s the catch – your speedometer isn’t always perfectly accurate, and many drivers push just that bit further, thinking they’re still safe.”
Another issue is if you are heading downhill, gravity will naturally increase your speed, and the speed camera may be positioned at the bottom of the hill.
Some 30mph zones have much more 36mph violations than others. The top place for this is school zones, especially during drop-off and pick-up times when parents are busy looking for somewhere to park rather than thinking about their speed.
Police sometimes enforce the rules more strictly in school zones to protect children’s safety. Mr Urbonas said: “Town centres with wide main roads are another major hotspot.
“These streets were often designed when traffic moved differently, so they feel like they should have higher limits than they actually do.”
Drivers are often caught out on rural roads as well when entering a village. The speed limit may suddenly drop from the national speed limit of 60mph down to 30mph, and you may miss the signs.
Mr Urbonas explained why people are so often caught out driving at 36mph: “What makes this speed so dangerous from a penalty perspective is that it sits right in that grey area where drivers feel confident they’re being safe, but they’re actually over the enforcement threshold.
“Modern cars are so smooth and quiet that 36 mph can feel like you’re barely moving, especially on wide, well-maintained roads. But the camera only cares about the number, not how safe it feels.”
He urged drivers to be err on the side of caution, as you may think you are driving at 30mph, when in reality you are over the speed limit.
The expert warned: “A small miscalculation can cost you three points and a £100 fine, not to mention the impact on your insurance premiums.”
