Any motorist dreads the moment a speeding ticket lands on their doormat and it is certainly one of the most common reasons you'll find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
According to the latest official data, a massive 74 per cent of all motoring offences are speed-related.
Speeding is very much frowned upon of course as it is a major factor in deaths and serious injuries on roads the length and breadth of the country.
READ MORE: Discover more traffic and travel stories on Leicestershire Live
Quite rightly, the penalties can be harsh, so it's not surprising that drivers in the UK wonder what the leeway is when it comes to speed cameras.
It depends on where you look as different police forces have different thresholds - meaning the speed you hit in one part of the country might you a ticket there whereas in another force area you might escape sanction.
Riverdale Leasing has done the hard work for us, sending Freedom of Information requests to all 43 police forces in Egngland and Wales, asking them for their speed camera thresholds, CoventryLive reports.
Out of the 21 responses received, the majority of them said that the advised threshold is ten per cent plus 2mph.
This also applies to Leicestershire Police, who originally did not disclose the information, but have since provided the detail to LeicestershireLive.
Jonathan Clarkson, spokesperson for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership said: “Leicestershire Police follow national guidance in respect of speed enforcement thresholds, which are ten per cent + 2mph.”
But what does this mean? Well, to break it down, ten per cent of 30mph would be 3mph, plus 2mph brings it to 5mph extra overall.
This means that if you're caught going faster than 35mph, the speed camera will activate and you will be getting a speeding ticket through your letter-box.
So if you were on the M1 in Leicestershire, the threshold would be 79mph, as it is the speed limit (70mph) plus 7, plus 2.
Some other forces are different, however, with Lancashire doing ten per cent plus 3mph, and Lincolnshire doing plus 2mph up to 66mph, and then three per cent for all speeds higher than 66mph.
You can find the full table of results below, including the new figure for Leicestershire Police.
Police Constabulary | Speed Camera Activation Threshold |
Avon & Somerset | 10% + 2 mph |
City of London | 10% + 2 mph |
Cumbria | 10% + 2 mph |
Derbyshire | 10% + 2 mph |
| Devon & Cornwall | 10% + 2 mph |
Durham | 10% + 2 mph |
| Gloucestershire | 10% + 2 mph |
| Humberside | 10% + 2 mph |
| Kent | 10% + 2 mph |
| Leicestershire | 10% + 2 mph |
| North Yorkshire | 10% + 2 mph |
| Essex | 10% + 2 mph to 9 mph |
| Lancashire | 10% + 3 mph up to 9 mph |
| Bedfordshire | Declined to disclose information. |
| Hampshire | Declined to disclose information. |
| Hertfordshire | Declined to disclose information. |
| Northamptonshire | Declined to disclose information. |
| Northumbria | Declined to disclose information. |
| West Midlands | Declined to disclose information. |
| Wiltshire | The devices are not set at any particular speed. Officers use their own discretion when setting the threshold. |
| Lincolnshire | + 2 mph up to 66mph and + 3% for all speeds higher than 66mph |
More than half of UK drivers are breaking speed limit at any given time
Government research has also revealed that more than half of British drivers (55 per cent) are speeding at any given time, on average.
According to the data, drivers are most likely to break the law and speed in 20mph zones, with nine in ten drivers being found to speed on these roads.
This may be because the roads are often quieter, or drivers have not realised the lower limit is in effect.
However, the 20mph limit is usually in place for more at-risk areas, such as school zones where children are crossing or heavily residential areas, making it extremely dangerous to speed in these areas.
Roads with a 30mph limit also have more speeders than not, with government figures showing that three in five drivers, equal to 62 per cent, break the speed limit.
1 in 5 drivers break 'two-second rule'
Research into UK motorists has also found that one in five (19 per cent) of cars are less than two seconds between the vehicle in front of them, which is against advice from the DVLA.
It also appears that many drivers try to take advantages of quieter roads at the weekend, racking up more speeding points and fines at this time.
According to Government research, Sunday is the most popular day for speeding, with an average of 56 per cent of car drivers breaking the speed limit on any given road.
Top five most-asked speeding questions answered
Google search data has revealed the most-asked speeding questions, with answers from motoring expert Bud Johnston, Group Marketing Director at Riverdale Leasing.
1. How many points do I get for speeding?
"If you are caught speeding, you will receive three points on your driving licence, at the very least. This can go up to six points, depending on the severity of the offence.
The only way to avoid receiving points is if you are offered a speed awareness course."
2. How much is a speeding fine?
"A speeding fine will set you back a minimum of £100, although this can go up to £2,500 if you take the matter to court and are found guilty."
3. How much is a speeding fine for doing 40 in a 30?
"You will receive at least a £100 fine for doing 40 in a 30 mph zone, however, it could be more depending on the police authority. It can be down to their discretion."
4. How long does it take to get a speeding ticket?
"A speeding ticket, which includes a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) and a Section 172 notice, will normally be sent to you within 14 days of the speeding offence.
"You need to respond within 28 days by returning the Section 172 notice to confirm who was driving."
5. How long do speeding points last?
"Speeding points stay on your licence for four years."
Keep up with the latest news with our email alerts directly to your inbox. Sign up here
