Police have revealed the truth about how far over the limit drivers can go without getting a speeding penalty.
Speed cameras were introduced in 1991 to ensure motorists stayed within the legal driving limit to preserve people's safety, but it's a common myth amongst drivers that you can go up to 10% over the limit without getting a fine - reports Birmingham Live.
Car insurers Confused.com contacted 45 police forces to test whether this is true - and asked them if their speed cameras activate when a driver is going above the limit.
READ MORE: Drivers urged to ignore speed camera myths as motoring experts explain how they work
Merseyside Police were among the 33 forces that responded and explained drivers could have a 10% leeway plus an extra 2mph - so could go up to 35mph in a 30mph zone for instance.
These allowances are all at the discretion of the police, who can also take other factors into account over whether they issue a penalty for someone breaking the speed limit.
The reason why a tolerance has been introduced is for people's safety to encourage drivers to keep their eyes on the road and not obsess over what speed is currently on their speedometers.
The government says the current minimum fine for speeding is £100, plus three penalty points. You also risk disqualification if you amass 12 or more penalty points within three years.
The full list from the 33 police forces that responded
- Avon and Somerset - 10% + 2 mph
- Bedfordshire - Wouldn't reveal threshold
- Cambridgeshire - Wouldn't reveal threshold
- Cheshire - 10% + 2 mph
- Cleveland - 10% + 2 mph
- Derbyshire - 10% + 2 mph
- Devon and Cornwall - 10% + 2 mph
- Durham - 10% + 2 mph
- Essex - Don't use a standard threshold
- Greater Manchester - Wouldn't reveal threshold
- Gwent - 10% + 2 mph
- Hampshire - 10% + 2 mph
- Hertfordshire - Wouldn't reveal threshold
- Kent - 10% + 2 mph
- Lancashire - 10% + 3 mph
- Leicestershire - 10% + 2 mph
- Merseyside - 10% + 2 mph
- Metropolitan Police/TfL - 10% + 3 mph
- Norfolk - 10% + 2 mph
- North Wales - 10% + 2 mph
- Northumbria - 10% + 2 mph
- Nottinghamshire - Wouldn't confirm if threshold exists
- Northern Ireland - 10% + 2 mph
- Scotland - Wouldn't confirm if threshold exists
- South Wales - 10% + 2 mph
- South Yorkshire - 10% + 2 mph
- Staffordshire - Wouldn't reveal threshold
- Suffolk - 10% + 2 mph
- Thames Valley - 10% + 2 mph
- Warwickshire - 10% + 2 mph
- West Mercia - 10% + 2 mph
- West Midlands - Wouldn't reveal threshold
- West Yorkshire - 10% + 2 mph
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