A lorry driver has had his vehicle seized and is facing legal proceedings after driving nearly twice as fast as the speed limit in a residential area. Moreover, the trucker didn’t initially stop when the police requested he do so. When he finally did stop, officers police found out he was a disqualified driver with 25 penalty points.
The incident happened on Wednesday, in Graveley, Cambridgeshire, UK. The driver drove at 58mph through the 30mph zone, according the the BCH Policing Unit. He tried to evade the officers but was stopped and found to be a disqualified driver with 25 penalty points.
As a result, his vehicle was seized and the driver was summoned to court.
This driver drove at 58mph through the 30mph Graveley village.
He tried to evade police but was stopped and found to be a disqualified driver with 25 penalty points.
Vehicle seized and driver summoned to court.
410582/410321 pic.twitter.com/AODfYuFPMU
— BCH Road Policing Unit (@roadpoliceBCH) June 23, 2021
National Speed Limits in the UK
| Built-up areas mph (km/h) | Single carriageways mph (km/h) | Dual carriageways mph (km/h) | Motorways mph (km/h) | |
| Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles | 30 (48) | 60 (96) | 70 (112) | 70 (112) |
| Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles when towing caravans or trailers | 30 (48) | 50 (80) | 60 (96) | 60 (96) |
| Buses, coaches and minibuses (not more than 12 metres overall length) | 30 (48) | 50 (80) | 60 (96) | 70 (112) |
| Buses, coaches and minibuses (more than 12 metres overall length) | 30 (48) | 50 (80) | 60 (96) | 60 (96) |
| Goods vehicles (not more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) | 30 (48) | 50 (80) | 60 (96) | 70 (112) 60 (96) if articulated or towing a trailer |
| Goods vehicles (more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) in England and Wales | 30 (48) | 50 (80) | 60 (96) | 60 (96) |
| Goods vehicles (more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight) in Scotland | 30 (48) | 40 (64) | 50 (80) | 60 (96) |
Speeding penalties – how could he have 25 penalty points?
The minimum penalty for speeding in the UK is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to the driver’s licence. If a driver builds up 12 or more penalty points within a period of 3 years, they could be disqualified from driving.
Many asked police on Twitter how was it possible that the driver had much more than 12 points. The answer is simple: he didn’t give up driving once he had been disqualified, so he must have been punished again and again for different offences.
In the UK, speeding is taken seriously especially if the offender is a professional driver. If a professional HGV driver is caught speeding (whether in an HGV or a car), they face not only criminal proceedings such as a Fixed Penalty Notice, or Magistrates Court summons, but also regulatory action by the Traffic Commissioner.
Learn more about speeding penalties and fines in the UK in our guide HERE.
Photo credit @ twitter.com/roadpoliceBCH