The Great British Driving Fines Quiz: Results - Snooper News & Views
According to the RAC foundation, a driving fine is issued every 2.5 seconds in the UK which equates to around 12 million licence holders receiving a fine each year. We couldn’t believe this and wanted to put British awareness of driving fines and penalties to the test.
We quizzed a grand total of 835 respondents, who had an average score of 67% correct answers in the Driving Fines Quiz. Respondents were least sure about the penalties for driving without insurance (hopefully because all of our respondents are insured and sensible drivers!). Read on to find out more about the breakdown of answers, and if you’d like to take the quiz just for fun, you can do so here (but no peeking at the answers first!).
Q1. What is the penalty for exceeding the speed limit on a motorway?
According to rule 261 of the Highway Code, drivers should not exceed 70mph (or the maximum speed limit permitted for your vehicle). If a lower speed limit is in force, either permanently or temporarily, drivers must adhere to this lower limit.
The penalty for exceeding the speed limit on a motorway (SP50) is a fine at a minimum of £100 and three penalty points added to your licence for four years. 91% of our respondents answered this correctly, perhaps due to the extensive media coverage of the motorway speed limits and increased use of smart motorways in the past few years.
Q2. Exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road
Respondents were less sure about the penalty for exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road (SP30), with 65% correctly stating that drivers would receive a minimum of three to six penalty points depending on the severity of the incident. For more information on speeding penalties, take a look at this page.
Q3. Using a mobile phone behind the wheel
Almost three-quarters of our respondents knew that the penalty for using a mobile phone behind the wheel (CU80) is six points on your licence and an endorsable £200 fixed penalty notice. This is another penalty that has received extensive media coverage, so drivers are well aware of the negative consequences of using their phone behind the wheel.
Q4. Driving without due care and attention
The penalty for driving without due care and attention (CD10) is between three to nine points, depending on the severity of the incident, which will stay on your licence for four years. 86% of our survey respondents knew that this was the penalty.
Q5. Failing to comply with traffic light signals
A shocking 26% of our respondents thought that failure to comply with traffic light signals (TS10) was penalised with a £100 fixed penalty notice, and would perhaps be shocked to learn that the real penalty would be three points on their licence for four years!
Q6. Driving without insurance
Only 45% of our respondents knew that the penalty for driving without insurance (IN10) is between six to eight points on your licence for four years. A shocking 54% thought that the penalty was a roadside charge of £300 and six penalty points on your licence.
Q7. Driving otherwise in accordance with a licence
Another driving offence to cause confusion amongst our respondents was driving otherwise in accordance with a licence (LC20), with only 49% of respondents choosing the correct penalty or three to six points on your licence for four years. Some respondents (34%) thought that driving without a licence meant that you would have your licence revoked for two years.
Q8. Not wearing a seatbelt
Over half (61%) of our respondents knew that not wearing a seatbelt would garner a fixed penalty fine of up to £500. You can also be fined up to £500 if a child under 14 isn’t in the correct car seat, or wearing a seatbelt when you’re driving.
Thanks for joining in with this fun quiz - how did you fare in The Great Driving Fines Quiz? Drive safely!
Sources: RAC Foundation, Snooper