Have you received an NIP letter in the post, but have no idea why? An NIP is a notice issue by the police to inform you that you may be prosecuted for a motoring offence. Whilst you might be aware of the incident which led to the alleged offence you might be surprised when you receive the NIP. So, why might you have received one?

You ignored a sign or signal

Lights, signs and signals are placed on roads to make sure that people drive safely. If you ran a red light, ignored a stop sign or took an illegal U turn, this is probably why you received an NIP letter. Ignoring traffic signs and signals can result in 3 points on your licence and a fine of £100.00

You were speeding

Most drivers have admitted to speeding at some point in their lives, and this may be the reason for receiving your NIP letter. Perhaps you were running a little late for work, or you weren’t keeping an eye on the speedometer. Whatever the reason, speeding can cause accidents and if you’re doing so on a regular basis, it’s likely that you’ll get caught by a manned or automatic speed camera. Abide by the speed limit to ensure the safety of yourself and everyone else on the road, as well as any unwanted fines.

You ignored an accident

You’ll probably remember witnessing a car accident, but the way you behaved could be another reason you received an NIP letter. Whether you were directly involved in the accident, or just a witness, you must stay put to warn other drivers of the accident by putting on your hazard lights, and so you can be available to make a statement. If you were directly involved in the accident and you drove off without giving your name and address, you have broken the law  and could be prosecuted.

You were using a mobile phone whilst driving

Since 2003, it has been against the law to drive whilst using a handheld phone. Whilst speaking using hands free is allowed, this must be set up using Bluetooth so it can be used without holding the device. A satnav must also be hands free and connected to your car in a way that ensures you do not pick it up whilst driving.

You were driving carelessly

Driving carelessly can also cause you to receive an NIP letter. Examples of this include poor lane discipline, overtaking when not safe to do so and swerving. These incidents may occur because of distractions in your vehicle such as your phone, eating or drinking, other passengers, adjusting the radio or a satnav. Whilst it’s difficult to avoid these distractions – and they might be necessary on a long journey – it’s important to ensure that you’re not driving carelessly because of them.