Week 34. Uh Oh
Learning the Hard Way: My First Speeding Ticket
With a mix of embarrassment and regret, I confess to my first speeding ticket. For someone who prides themselves on caution, this feels like a real blow.
It all happened on what should have been a routine drive home. As I exited the motorway, a Royal Mail van appeared right behind me. The driver was erratic, in and out of lanes before cutting in sharply in front of me. Reacting instinctively, I accelerated slightly to put some space between us, and SNAP. The camera caught me at 50 in a 40 zone. Instant regret followed. Hindsight is a wonderful thing: I fully appreciate that reacting, or overreacting on the road carries risks beyond a speeding ticket.
The provisional figures for road collisions in Great Britain in 2024 highlight both progress and persistent risks on the roads. There were an estimated 1,633 fatalities, a slight 1% increase from 2023, while 29,537 people were killed or seriously injured (KSI), showing little overall change. Total casualties of all severities declined by 3% to 128,375. Analysis by road user type reveals that motorcyclists experienced the largest percentage increase in fatalities (9%), though all casualties for this group declined by 6%. The data also reflects a pronounced gender disparity: 76% of fatalities and 61% of all casualties were male. These statistics underscore the ongoing importance of road safety measures, awareness, and compliance with traffic laws (Department for Transport, 2025)
Legally speaking, I received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), which is the formal first step in prosecuting speeding offences under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. For first-time offenders, the law provides options: a fixed penalty notice, points on your licence, or, in some cases, attendance at a speed awareness course. Fortunately, I qualified for the latter, meaning no points or fines, just an opportunity to learn and reinforce safe driving habits.
As a legal professional, integrity matters to me, on the road as much as in the office. Accepting responsibility and attending the course is part of demonstrating that commitment. It’s a small but vital reminder that even with the best intentions and careful planning, mistakes can happen. What matters is how we respond.
This week, I would like to take a moment to commend those who own their mistakes, those who do not run from them, who face them with honesty and accountability. It takes courage to acknowledge where we have gone wrong, whether in small everyday choices or in more significant moments. Equally important is the commitment to learn from these experiences, striving each day to be a better, more thoughtful, and responsible version of ourselves. Growth comes from reflection and action, and celebrating those who embrace this process reminds us all that mistakes are not failures, they are opportunities to improve and to demonstrate integrity
So, with that said, I will be attending the course with an open mind, ready to embrace the lessons, and maybe, just maybe, become a slightly more humble driver in the process. To all drivers: don’t let your ego drive faster than your common sense. I certainly won’t be forgetting that lesson anytime soon
References
Department for Transport. (2025). Reported road casualties in Great Britain, provisional estimates: 2024. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-provisional-results-2024/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-provisional-estimates-2024
