Avoid a Speeding Ticket

Speeding tickets are easy to avoid if you're vigilant and proactive. Being an attentive, careful driver and keeping yourself from speeding is the best way to avoid a ticket; this involves identifying your speeding triggers, preparing for all eventualities on the road, and staying aware of your speed at all times. You can also avoid paying an expensive ticket by responding positively to officers, and by making the effort to contest a ticket if you receive one.

Steps

Being Vigilant About Your Driving

  1. Commit to driving the speed limit. The simplest and most reliable way to avoid a speeding ticket is to drive within the speed limit. Driving cautiously and adhering to the law is both a sound way to avoid tickets and an exercise in public safety; speeding is recognized as a major contributing force in the quantity and severity of automobile crashes.[1] Making the choice not to speed means being mindful and adjusting your driving habits accordingly.
  2. Check your speedometer regularly. It is difficult to accurately “feel” what speed you are going at in most modern cars; this is especially true when switching from a high speed road to a lower speed one.[2] To get a real sense of how fast you’re going and to keep yourself from speeding, check your speedometer regularly, especially when switching between speed zones. Doing this might also improve your ability to gauge your speed over time by providing an accurate representation.
  3. Recognize your speeding triggers. While it might be your intention to avoid speeding, there are certain triggers on the road that may cause you to accelerate. Isolating these triggers in advance and preparing for them can help you prevent an erratic reaction when they do come about. Some potential triggers are:
    • being tailgated[3]
    • overtaking other cars[3]
    • keeping up with traffic[3]
  4. Take a defensive driving course. Defensive driving means being prepared and driving safely to avoid accidents at the hand of other people’s bad driving.[4] Defensive driving classes are available online and in person, and are often sought after by employers with employees who drive a passenger size company car for their work; when company drivers are involved in a crash, company insurance rates skyrocket, so this precaution is worthwhile.[5] Some lessons from the courses that may help you be a more cautious driver are:
    • Prioritize safety when driving.
    • Prepare for the worst with regard to other drivers.
    • Be aware of your surroundings.
    • Cut out distractions.
  5. Keep track of speed traps. To be as cautious as possible about avoiding a speeding ticket, steer clear speed traps- areas with lower speed limits where police set up with the sole purpose of catching speeding drivers.[6] Ask around for places others have noted as police hot-spots, and keep your eyes peeled for police cars. Look into phone apps that give warnings about nearby speed traps and cameras.

Staying Poised After Getting Pulled Over

  1. Be respectful and friendly. If you get pulled over, present all of the identification requested of you and resist any urges to be antagonistic to the officer involved; do not give them any more reason to want to give you a ticket.[7] Ask for as much information as possible, including where they first saw you and how long they paced you.While this scenario is a stressful one, being agreeable and friendly may get you out of a speeding ticket..
    • If you’re feeling bold, try asking the officer if they will consider giving you a warning instead of a ticket.
  2. Delay paying a ticket. Paying a speeding ticket right away is essentially an admission of guilt; you generally have 90 days to either enter a plea or pay the fine, so delay paying to explore your options. In many cases, fighting the ticket will not mean going to trial.[8] Take the time to inspect your ticket for any errors in information (e.g. citation number, location of where you were stopped and the time of day you received the ticket).[8]
  3. Always contest a ticket. In addition to being costly, speeding tickets can raise your insurance premiums for several years.[8] Whether or not you're guilty, always contest your ticket; you have the chance of at least reducing the fine. Cases are often thrown out if the officer in question doesn't not show up to court, if they go to court at all.[8]

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/saferroadsnsw/speeding_and_crashes.pdf
  2. ↑ http://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/drivers/speed/top-ten-tips-to-stay-within-the-limit/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/advice-services/road-safety/drivers/top-ten-tips-for-staying-within-the-limit.pdf
  4. ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/driving-safety.html
  5. ↑ https://canadasafetycouncil.org/training/defensive-driving-course
  6. ↑ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/adventure/red-line/speed-traps-for-safety-or-just-a-cash-grab/article19047759/
  7. ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a9673/10-tips-to-avoid-speeding-tickets-16106949/
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-out-of-a-speeding-ticket-2013-7
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