Hi guys,

I'm driving a motorcycle on L plates/provisional, and have been driving for about 3 months.

I got a NIP yesterday clocking me at 38mph in a 30 zone.

Until this letter came through I honestly had no idea there was a camera there, which is my main problem right now. Being kinda new to driving and naive I guess, I'm still learning exactly what everything means (the white lines on the road for gatsos), and mainly looking straight ahead alot and focusing ahead of me and concentrating, which I guess has led to me not being fully aware of everything around me.

Anyway, I know that 6 points and I'm off the road, and with 3 from this I'm on my last life already 3 months in ( ), but what's worrying me is the fact that since the date of the NIP, 12th May, I've gone past the same spot a few times, unaware of the camera each time, and am really worried now that in the space of a week I've clocked up another one on the same stretch of road leaving me.. well, fluffed.

Seems I have a week or so of nervously waiting for the post and praying another one doesn't pop through the letterbox.

I haven't sent the NIP back or anything yet, unsure what to do exactly, just hoping someone can advise.

In the end, I'd gladly pay the fine and have 3 points, lesson learned, but if I have another in the next few days it's gonna ruin me.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers.



Have you received a NIP? - Yes
Are you the Registered Keeper of the vehicle concerned (is your name and address on the V5/V5C)? - Yes
Did the first NIP arrive within 14 days? - Yes
Although you are the Registered Keeper, were you also the keeper of the vehicle concerned (the person normally responsible for it) at the time of the alleged offence? - Yes
Were you driving? - Yes
Which country did the alleged offence take place in? - Wales

This post has been edited by Wax: Thu, 20 May 2010 - 08:54

You may be offered a speed awareness course in lieu of points for a 38 in a 30.

Do you hold a full driving licence (car/bike/space hopper/whatever)?
The 2 year probationary period begins when you first become a qualified driver (pass all the tests for any category of vehicle).
If any offence committed within that 2 year period takes your total of current points (from date of offence) to 6 or more, your licence will be revoked by the DVLA.

No full licence, just a provisional.

I did the CBT course and jumped on the bike with L plates, the bike being under 33bhp & 124cc, and a few exclusions like pillions/motorways etc.. (Almost like a scooter).

You are not at risk of revocation, then. But 12 points and you may be disqualified for 6 months! Take this as a warning to be more aware of what's around you, not just cameras but generally, there are all sorts of risks out there, and as a biker you are vulnerable.

It's a little more complicated than that:


I already have 6 penalty points on my provisional licence. Can I actually take a driving test and if I pass, will my licence be revoked immediately the full licence is issued?

Although the points on your provisional licence will remain valid until they expire on their third anniversary and thus would be transferred to your full licence, they would not prevent you from taking your driving test. If you pass, a full licence will be issued with the existing endorsements detailed. Whilst they remain valid, any further offence within your probation period would result in revocation if it is punished by penalty points.

In addition if your licence is revoked under the New Driver rules, the points that you have stay on your licence. They are not wiped, so you would still be at risk under the totting up scheme.

JJ

This post has been edited by johnjo42: Thu, 20 May 2010 - 10:47

Complicated.

But will I lose my provisional and ability to ride a bike as I do now on the roads?

As it stands, your licence is safe.

If at some time in the future your licence is revoked, you will be able to get a new provisional licence and ride a learner legal bike (assuming that your CBT is still valid).

If at some time in the future you are banned from driving, you will not be allowed to drive until the ban expires.

Okay, many thanks.

So, even if the worst happens and I get another through, 6 points, I'm still good on a CBT, at least until (hopefully not), I get any more points and get revoked/banned?

Phew.

Just crossing my fingers now hoping it's just these 3.

Somebody will correct me if this is wrong, but:

- your CBT stays valid for two years from when you took it, whatever happens.

- On six points your provisional licence is safe and you can still take your test, but any points within two years of passing* will see your licence revoked. After revocation and passing your test again, there's no probationary period.

- If you get another three points now, it's as above but you'd likely get a six-month ban on top of the revocation.




It has to be said, getting caught for two endorsable offences within three months of just getting a provisional is some going.

*assuming you pass within a year of the first offence, i.e. those points stay valid throughout the two year probationary period.

To be fair I can only blame myself for not paying enough attention, so I hold my hands up to that.. but if it is two lots on the same stretch within a week, only because I'm too dumb to spot a camera I'm going to be well ******.

Least now I know it's there and what those lines mean so I can be careful, I only wish I knew before driving through there a few more times.

 It wasn't not spotting the GATSO markings that was your error, but driving at a likely indicated 40mph in a 30mph. A person can spot every GATSO on the road every driving day, but if they continually exceed the limit by that kind of margin they eventually get caught by a mobile camera, which you can never spot in time (much like I was, though that was 60 in a 40). 

At the risk of sounding sanctimonious (and I really don't mean it this way), having already been driving in a manner that's amassed a likely six points in just three months of receiving a provisional, you're probably better off keeping within the limit for the next couple of years rather than thinking it enough to look out for lines on the road.


As for possible other tickets, best not to worry and just wait and see for the next two weeks.

That's a fair point, although in my defence I don't intentionally speed, just find it hard to tell exactly what speed I'm riding at without looking down at the speedo every two minutes through the visor, which takes my eyes off the road.. a scary experience at first. For a little while I just went the same speed as the car in front but quickly realised that's not gonna help and will cause more bad than good.

It's a learning experience for me at this point really, I'm just learning the hard way I guess.

This post has been edited by Wax: Thu, 20 May 2010 - 14:18