Speeding and speed limits
Driving at an inappropriate speed for the type of road or weather conditions, increases your chances of having an accident.
In a recent government report it was estimated that excessive speed was a significant factor in 15% of collisions involving serious injury and 26% of collisions resulting in a fatality.
The simple fact is - the faster you drive the less time you will have to react. If you are confronted by a potentially dangerous situation on the road, the time you have to brake or take evasive action will be critical to the final outcome. The more time you have to consider the situation the more likely you are to make the right decision, and the more time you will have to take avoiding action.
Obviously other factors can play a part, such as weather conditions and how close you are to other vehicles, but even if these factors have been considered, travelling at an inappropriate speed will reduce your chances of avoiding the approaching hazard.
High speeds increase the chance of serious injury
When vehicles are involved in high speed frontal impacts, the chances of receiving a serious injury increase significantly. In tests it has been shown that drivers wearing seatbelts have a 17% chance of receiving a fatal injury when the impact speed is 40mph. This risk increases dramatically to 60% when the impact speed is 50mph.The chances of fatal injuries to pedestrians has also been shown to rise sharply - even at low speeds. At 20mph or below a pedestrian has a 5% chance of receiving a fatal injury, at 30mph or less this increases to 45% and at 40mph or below this reaches a staggering 85%.
As a result of this many local councils have started to introduce 20mph restrictions in urban and inner city areas.
National speed limits
The national speed limit will depend on the type of vehicle you drive and the type of road your are driving on.The national speed limits in miles per hour for different vehicles are shown below:-
| Vehicle | Built-up area | Single carriage-way | Dual carriage-way | Motorway |
| Cars, vans & motorbikes (2 tonnes max.) | 30 | 60 | 70 | 70 |
| Cars towing caravans or trailers | 30 | 50 | 60 | 60 |
| Buses, coaches, minibuses (12 metres max. length) | 30 | 50 | 60 | 70 |
| Goods vehicles (7.5 tonnes max.) | 30 | 50 | 60 | 70 |
| Articulated or vehicles with trailers (7.5 tonnes max.) | 30 | 50 | 60 | 60 |
| Goods vehicles (above 7.5 tonnes) | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 |
Speeding fines and penalty points
A speeding fine will depend on the circumstances of the incident and in particular how far over the speed restriction you were for the road in question. For a relatively minor offence a fixed penalty will be imposed of £60. If the case is serious enough to be referred to Court the fine could be up to £1000 and up to £2500 for a motorway offence.Penalty points of between 3 and 6 points will be imposed on your licence depending on the circumstances.
A driving ban can be imposed if you have repeatedly committed speeding offences and you have reached 12 penalty points on your licence within 3 years. You may receive an instant ban depending on the severity of the speed infringement and the circumstances of the offence.
The option of attending a speed awareness course in lieu of penalty points and a fine will be offered only if the police consider the offence to be sufficiently minor and this is entirely at their discretion. You will be expected to both attend and pay for the course and if you do not attend without a very good reason - the fixed penalty will still be applied.
If you have had a car accident and would like some free help and advice please call us on 02392 484 244 and one of our UK based advisors will be happy to help.
No need to claim on your insurance
Anyone who has been involved in a road accident has the right to choose who repairs their vehicle. If you were responsible for the accident you were involved in, the company that insures your vehicle would normally deal with your accident claim.
However if you were not at-fault for the accident, you can choose to either claim on your own insurance policy or make a claim independently of your insurer. To find out more call 02392 484 244 and we will be happy to help.
We and our partners help thousands of people make independent accident claims. Our service enables motorists to get the help and assistance they need to resolve their accident related issues, with the costs being recovered directly from the at-fault driver on your behalf.
However if you were not at-fault for the accident, you can choose to either claim on your own insurance policy or make a claim independently of your insurer. To find out more call 02392 484 244 and we will be happy to help.
We and our partners help thousands of people make independent accident claims. Our service enables motorists to get the help and assistance they need to resolve their accident related issues, with the costs being recovered directly from the at-fault driver on your behalf.
No excess to pay
Unfortunately even if an accident was not your fault, your insurer will almost certainly require you to pay your excess before any repair is started on your car.
This money should of course be recovered by an insurer at a later date, but with our service - you do not have to pay it at all.
By using our independent claims service, you are not making a claim on your insurance policy and so you will have no excess to pay.
This money should of course be recovered by an insurer at a later date, but with our service - you do not have to pay it at all.
By using our independent claims service, you are not making a claim on your insurance policy and so you will have no excess to pay.
Receive a comparable replacement hire vehicle
Not all insurance policies will include a replacement hire-car for you to use if yours is damaged and unroadworthy. In fact it is typically an 'optional extra' on your policy.
Other policies may offer a 'courtesy car' but this is often just a 'basic' saloon or hatchback which may not be suitable for your needs.
Car Call and its partners will provide a comparable replacement vehicle as part of our service. This means we will endeavour to supply a hire-vehicle that similar to your own in terms of its type, make and engine size.
So whether you drive a small hatchback or a prestige sports car, we will look to provide a similar hire-vehicle that suits your needs.
Other policies may offer a 'courtesy car' but this is often just a 'basic' saloon or hatchback which may not be suitable for your needs.
Car Call and its partners will provide a comparable replacement vehicle as part of our service. This means we will endeavour to supply a hire-vehicle that similar to your own in terms of its type, make and engine size.
So whether you drive a small hatchback or a prestige sports car, we will look to provide a similar hire-vehicle that suits your needs.
Manufacturer approved vehicle repairs
If you have been involved in a car accident, the last thing you want to have to worry about is the quality of the repairs to your car. We have a UK wide network of partner approved Accident Repair Centres available to all of our customers.
Many of our accident repair centres are have manufacturer approvals for specific brands, so if you require a manufacturer approved repair centre, simply tell your personal claim handler and they will ensure your vehicle goes to an approved repairer.
Want you vehicle repaired by a specific garage? No problem, we can alternatively use a repairer that you specify.
Many of our accident repair centres are have manufacturer approvals for specific brands, so if you require a manufacturer approved repair centre, simply tell your personal claim handler and they will ensure your vehicle goes to an approved repairer.
Want you vehicle repaired by a specific garage? No problem, we can alternatively use a repairer that you specify.
Legal Assistance
Our partner solicitors provide legal assistance as part of our service. They specialise in motor claims related issues, so you can be assured of the best possible advice and assistance.
They issues they can assist you with include:
They issues they can assist you with include:
- Recovery of the cost of the replacement hire-vehicle
- Recovery of the cost of uplifting your damaged vehicle
- Recovery of all repair costs
- Recovery of the cost of damaged of personal items
- Seeking financial compensation for an injury
