Can I be fined for driving 1mph over the speed limit?

GOING over the speed limit is not only dangerous — it is against the law and can lead to financial penalties, or worse.

But will you be fined even if you only marginally exceed the limit?

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Can I be fined for going 1mph over the limit?

Drivers can receive a fine if travelling 1mph over the speed limit.

Fines and consequences are determined upon what Band the circumstances equate to — taking into account the speed limit, how much you were over it and other factors, such as if there is a school nearby.

Drivers are put into Band A if they exceed the speed limit by between 1 and 9mph, and can be issued with a fixed penalty notice, three penalty points and a fine.

However, if you own a sat nav, dash cam or speed camera detector that features its own built-in speedo, you'll notice that it's different to your car.

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That's because they use GPS, whereas car dials are calibrated to slightly "under-read" — that's why cops introduced a tolerance level.

Often when you're going at 70mph, you're actually only doing around 68mph.

So if you nudge to 71mph on your speedometer, you're usually still within legal limits and won't be picked up by a speed camera.

It doesn't mean you should drive like this as standard, as it's always safer to drive within limits.

But in most cases, if you creep over in error you won't be slapped with a fine.

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How much is a speeding ticket fine?

The minimum penalty for a speeding fine is £100, but punishments depend on which speeding category you are put in.

Band A penalties are for exceeding the speed limit by smaller amounts and could cost drivers between 25 per cent and 75 per cent of their weekly income.

Band B penalties — when motorists are between 11 and 20mph over the speed limit — could incur a fine of between 75 per cent and 125 per cent of their weekly income, as well as points on their license or a driving ban.

Band C penalties could see speeding drivers slapped with six points, as well as a fine of between 125% and 175% of their weekly income, for travelling 21mph or more over the legal limit.

Other factors can push you into even higher bands, which in turn have higher penalties.

Will I have to do a speed awareness course if I am caught speeding?

Drivers who have committed a speeding offence could be eligible for a speed awareness course.

These help motorists avoid hefty fines, and in some cases can stop them from receiving points on their licence.

The courses are designed to educate road users on the dangers and potential consequences of speeding to encourage them not to do it again.

Drivers can only attend a speed awareness course once every three years, and not everyone who is caught speeding will be offered a place — the exact criteria depends on the police force dealing with the offence.

Ten things YOU should know as a car owner

To help you feel more confident as a car owner, here are ten things you should be familiar with about your vehicle:

• When is your MOT due? Find out here
• When is your car tax due? Find out here
• Is it illegal to drive barefoot?
• How many units can you drink and drive?
• What do dashboard warning lights mean?
• Is it illegal to drive without road tax?
• Can you be fined for breaking the highway code?
• How to change the address on your driving licence
• What does MOT stand for?
• Is it illegal to park across someone's driveway?