It is a debate which has raged amongst drivers for years however the rule actually does exist in lots of police forces throughout the UK.
Velocity cameras usually function on a ten% plus 2mph rule (Picture: Getty)
It’s one of the vital oft-repeated myths about driving by way of velocity cameras. Many drivers will judiciously follow the velocity restrict they see on their dashboard, whereas others swear by the ‘10% +2’ rule to see them by way of and not using a dashing ticket.
However in response to the Metropolitan Police, the rule will not be a fable in any respect however the truth is an actual policing tactic used to find out dashing advantageous legal responsibility out on the roads.
A Freedom of Data Act request submitted to the Met in 2024 revealed that the ten% rule is an actual factor, and set out how and why it’s in place.
Drivers will know {that a} velocity restrict of 30mph, or 50mph signifies that you can’t drive quicker than the velocity displayed within the purple circle or you would get a dashing ticket, both from a digicam or from a cell digicam unit.
Velocity cameras normally comply with a ten% rule (Picture: Getty)
However the 10% plus 2 mph rule is successfully a margin for error, used to make sure that these behind the wheel have been positively over the velocity restrict.
The FOI response from the Met says: “The Met’s velocity digicam enforcement threshold is 10% + 2mph.
“The Met observes the present NPCC pointers which states that enforcement motion ought to begin as quickly as a velocity that’s at +10% +2mph. That is usually the minimal velocity at which enforcement is undertaken in all velocity limits.
“The minimal velocity at which a velocity digicam is operated could also be different at any time however there aren’t any plans to make use of a threshold that’s not contained within the present steering. NPCC steering additionally states that while tolerances exist, they don’t and can’t exchange cops’ discretion.”
Different police forces additionally use this 10% rule. In an FOI request submitted to West Yorkshire Police in August 2025, the power confirmed it employs this tactic, too.
It mentioned: “The velocity thresholds enforced by West Yorkshire Police are these set out within the steering by the Nationwide Police Chiefs Council and are 10% + 2 mph.
“There aren’t any variations on the velocity thresholds. The velocity of the street is what dictates the thresholds.”
Different forces confirmed to make use of the ten% + 2mph rule embrace Avon & Somerset Constabulary, West Mercia Police, Thames Valley Police, Gwent Police, Kent Police, South Wales Police. Suffolk Constabulary, North Wales Police, Police Scotland, Humberside Police and Essex Police.
Nevertheless, you will need to be aware that the NPCC steering is simply that, steering, and it isn’t truly regulation.
Technically, the Affiliation of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) permits a tolerance of 10% + 2 mph on dashing earlier than taking punitive motion. So that they’re inside their rights to punish drivers that break the velocity restrict by even just some miles per hour.
“You may’t depend on these discretionary thresholds as a defence if you happen to’re flagged for dashing. Going even 1 mile an hour over the velocity restrict counts as dashing, and you would be punished accordingly if caught.”
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