Drivers in London have been caught out by changes to the police's speed limit buffer zone, which used to allow motorists in the capital to get off speeding charges if they were going less than 10% plus 3mph over the speed limit.
The Met changed its speed limit tolerance guidelines in 2019, according to the Times. Since then, drivers in London will be prosecuted -or offered speed awareness courses or fixed penalty notices where appropriate - if they break the speed limit by more than 10% and 2mph.
The rule changes led to a 259% increase in prosecutions, the Times said.
Read more: Gateshead residents install their own DIY speed camera
Drivers in the North East are subject to the same speed limit tolerance as Londoners, as both Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary apply the 10% + 2mph buffer zone, following the same guidelines recommended by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC). They are guidelines though, and forces are free to make their own decision.
"Forces have previously been issued general guidance in relation to speed enforcement, including the 10% plus 2mph rule. However, it is just guidance, and our model of policing means each chief constable has ultimate discretion over operational priorities and decisions in their force area," National Police Chief's Council spokesperson said.
How speed limit tolerance buffer zones work - how much over you can go without being charged
Forces that follow a 10% + 2mph can use discretion to let drivers off for minor speed limit breaks. The guidelines recommend no action if they are clocked at a speed that is less than 10% and 2mph over the limit. For those in a 20mph limit, offenders can be offered speed awareness courses or fixed penalty notices if they are clocked between 24mph and 31mph, but may not be prosecuted if they are recorded at 20, 21, 22 or 23mph.
Similarly, motorists caught between 79mph and 86mph in a 70mph area should be offered a speed awareness course of fixed penalty, if appropriate, but under 79mph and they may be let off.
However, there are circumstances when motorists may still be prosecuted for speeding even if they are below the buffer zone
A National Police Chiefs’ Council Spokesman added: “The so-called speeding ‘buffer zone’ is guidance, not the law. Officers have discretion to act based on the circumstances. There may well be occasions where someone is speeding a couple of miles over the speed limit, for example outside a school, and an officer could reasonably decide it is proportionate to stop them.
“Speed limits are limits, not targets, and we encourage all motorists to respect and adhere to them. The best advice is to not speed, full stop.”
What are the speed limit guidelines in the North East? Have Northumbria and Durham 'dropped' the buffer by 1mph?
Both Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary told ChronicleLive that officers enforce speeding offences by following the National Police Chief Council guidelines of a 10% + 2mph buffer for speeding offences. Those guidelines were published in 2013 and have been in place for a few years.
Will the speed limit threshold be changed?
Leading police could change their advice as they are due to review speed limit guidelines. There is no guarantee the advice will be changed to drop or increase the threshold, but the NPCC also says it can not promise that the 10% + 2mph advice will be kept.
"It is the intention of the NPCC to review the current NPCC (ACPO) guidance," the National Police Chiefs' Council told ChronicleLive.
"However, we do not yet have a date for this review, nor can we say at this point whether the ‘10% plus 2 rule’ will feature as part of this review.
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