Motorists caught speeding at up to 86 mph will be able to avoid getting penalty points on their licence as a result of new procedures being adopted by the majority of police forces in England and Wales.
For those caught speeding, points will as a matter of course increase the cost of car insurance, but under the new guidelines, drivers caught at up to 10 per cent above the limit plus can pay for a speed awareness course instead.
Previously, only those caught driving at 10 per cent over the speed limit plus 6 mph were permitted on the course. Offending drivers are entitled to attend only one speed awareness course in a three-year period.
The Speed Awareness Courses are now being offered by 37 police forces, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers. A spokeswoman said: “The initial results of an independent research project showed that Speed Awareness Courses were highly effective in improving long-term driver behaviour on the roads. There is no such evidence to suggest that fines or penalty points offer any long-lasting effect.”