What is the maximum driving ban someone in the UK can receive for excessive speeding?

Question

A friend of mine was caught by a speed camera doing 80mph through temporary roadworks where the limit was set at 40mph in the early hours of the morning on the motorway. He knows a ban is almost certain but is there a maximum period he can be banned for, or does anyone know long the ban is likely to last?

A friend of mine was caught by a speed camera doing 80mph through temporary roadworks where the limit was set at 40mph in the early hours of the morning on the motorway. He knows a ban is almost certain but is there a maximum period he can be banned for, or does anyone know long the ban is likely to last?

ETA: There were no road workers doing road works at the time, just cones out. And he has a clean licence so no existing points

Just to clarify I am not asking for an explanation of why it is wrong to break the speed limit, no it was not a motorway bridge and no there were no road workers on the road at the time.

Answer 1

A person can have their driving licence taken away for any amount of time including a lifetime ban, but that is unusual. Doing twice the speed as your friend was doing may attract a 12 month ban and a hefty fine! Not to mention the penalty points he will get and if they add up to 12 on his licence he will get a 12 month ban automatically. This ban cannot run alongside the ban handed out by the court.

Comment: A bit naughty that speeding through roadworks putting the lives of workers at risk. Speed limits are there to protect the workers from very serious injury or to make their work place as safe as possible!

You hit someone doing 70 - 80MPH and they won't be alive after it!

Answer 2

there may have been people working underneath the road for example on a motorway bridge if this is the case then speeding past the road works is even more dangerous as he is putting the work that is being done at risk not just the workers if this is the case then he may get a very long ban

Answer 3

Not sure about that - I was caught doing 101.58 on the Motorway - but there was no spped restrictions in place - if he puts a good case forward in court, he might get away with a larger fine & points rather than a ban.
Did he have a good reason for speeding?
i.e. I'm asthmatic & didnt have my medication with me, I was 1 mile away from the junction I wanted when I was stopped - I took a letter from my own GP to court with me that confirmed I was actually asthmatic.
I was also charged with Driving without due care & attention as I undertook at 86 mph.
I got 6 points & a £260 fine - I was really lucky - I thought I was going to get a ban - it can be anything from 6 weeks to 12 months!
Wish your friend good luck - but tell him on the day of court to expect to be waiting around alot. I discovered that the people with legal representation get seen first - my letter from the court said to be there at 9.30 - I didnt get in till 1pm!!!!
So - either get a solicitor or expect to wait!!!

Answer 4

Yes...I will be back with the answer in 2 minutes...I have a up to date highway code!
He can be fined up to £1000 (£2500 for motorway offenses).
Disqualification: Discretionary
Penalty Points: 3-6

Answer 5

Has he got the summons? He could be charged with dangerous driving for ignoring a safety limit. Life ban is rarely imposed, but always possible to be ordered to take extended driving test to get it back

Answer 6

I think the maximum is (36 months) 3 years.

Answer 7

It's open-ended really, it's at the court's discretion. They will take the clrcumstances into consideration, and the current state of your friend's licence.

Answer 8

Banned for life for driving