1 Motoring Solicitors

08/01/2024

From today the 20mph default speed limit on restricted roads in Wales will be enforced by Police.

Jon Wilkins was interviewed on Wales Today and gave his views on the confusion that could be caused to motorists by inadequate speed limit signs and how this could impact enforcement of the new 20mph speed limit in Wales.

07/01/2024

Jon Wilkins views on enforcing the default 20mph limit on restricted roads in Wales 👇

Watch his more detailed opinion on the BBC 1 Wales Today programme & listen live Monday at 7.15am on BBC Radio Wales.

“20mph speed limit enforcement to start in Wales this month”

The new speed limit is set to be enforced after a three-and-a-half month "bedding in period".

03/08/2023

*Western Avenue Speed Camera - Cardiff*

A number of our clients have been caught speeding multiple times upon the Western Avenue speed camera.

A few pointers below if you have been caught speeding 👇

1. Always check if the speed awareness course is available - have you undertaken the course in the preceding 3 years?

2. Speeding up to 40mph in a 30mph zone will almost certainly result in an offer of a fixed penalty (3 penalty points & £100 fine)

3. Speeding at 41mph to 50mph in a 30mph zone will result in the case being dealt with via The Single Justice Procedure in the Magistrates Court.

4. Speeding at 51 mph plus in a 30mph zone carries a very real risk of being disqualified from driving for up to 56 days.

5. If 12 penalty points or more are endorsed upon your license for multiple offences - a 6 month disqualification from driving is the starting point UNLESS you successfully argue ‘exceptional hardship’.

6. If you are at risk of disqualification - take advice from an expert motoring solicitor.

“Thousands caught speeding a week after camera activated on main Cardiff road”

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/thousands-drivers-caught-speeding-week-27445195?utm_source=app

The number of offences recorded dropped significantly a week after a 30mph sign was introduced

17/07/2023

We’ve had a number of client’s seeking advice on this speed camera over the past week having received multiple NIPs in a short space of time.

Remember, unless you successfully argue exceptional hardship, 12 penalty points means a 6 month driving ban.

specialise is exceptional hardship arguments.

“Driver caught out by new speed camera on busy road calls for clearer signage”

Cardiff Council said motorists should know that street lighting indicates a 30mph zone is in place

28/12/2022

More than 50 drivers a day are caught using a mobile phone whilst driving with figures having doubled in some areas.

With 6 penalty points and a £200 fine for being caught driving and using a mobile, it is arguable whether this is enough of a deterrent for motorists.

A recent change in the law relating to what constitutes ’using’ a mobile phone actually means - using sat nav features, looking at photos & scrolling through Spotify etc - which may account for the increased the number of motorists prosecuted.

The figures do show that the number of prosecutions does vary significantly depending on police area - some police forces are evidently targeting the use of mobile phones whilst driving.

More than 50 drivers a day are still being caught using their mobiles at the wheel - putting lives at risk. The number of motorists captured by police has doubled in some areas.

05/10/2022

An interesting article on the debate around recent changes to the Highway Code from our friends at Mooneerams Solicitors

A recent article in the South Wales Argus suggests that the majority of drivers have not read the Highway Code updates. So is it time to revisit this?

27/09/2022

The Duke of Norfolk has lost his driving licence and ‘exceptional hardship’ argument at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court.

The Duke, who organised the Queen’s funeral and will soon finalise plans for King Charles’ coronation, gave evidence in court to support his case.

This will no doubt be a classic case of Magistrates finding that a High Net Worth defendant can engage a private driver to mitigate the ‘exceptional hardship’ caused by the threat of a disqualification from driving.

The Duke now has the right to appeal this decision to the Crown Court.

The Duke of Norfolk told magistrates that losing his licence would cause "exceptional hardship" because he needs to drive to organise the coronation of King Charles III.

28/01/2022

Man drove without licence and insurance for more than 70 years.

Quite remarkable how the driver avoided being stopped by the police and caught given the rise of ANPR in recent times.

The man, in his 80s, tells police he has been driving with no licence or insurance since he was 12.

10/01/2022

Big potential change incoming to the legal limit in drink driving allegations - the new law proposes that the legal limit in breath is more than halved from its present level:

The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Alcohol Limits) (Amendment) Bill is awaiting second reading in the House of Lords, if the bill becomes law it will reduce the breath limit from the current 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, to just 14.

21/12/2021

We are representing a company client today at Bath Magistrates court for a motoring offence - failing to provide the details of a driver.

Where company pool vehicles are used always keep detailed records of who was driving a particular vehicle at any given time.

24/08/2021

Success to today at Llanelli Magistrates Court on a Special Reasons argument which meant our client avoided penalty points being endorsed on his driving licence.

Client was caught by travelling at 98mph - he was driving because of a family emergency.

The Court imposed no penalty points (and he avoided a driving ban) finding that the emergency amounted to a Special Reason.

Happy client!