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Staff Reporter NEARLY 7'000 drivers may lose their licences for speeding and other offences, according to the Guardia Civil traffic department. A spokesman said that 6'783 drivers in the Balearics had been reported for speeding in the first ten months of the year, nearly seven percent more than the same period last year.


He added that most of the infractions were considered to be “serious” or “very serious” which means that in addition to the fine, the driver's licence may be withdrawn.

The top speed recorded was 212kph, on the Inca motorway last month.
All speeding offences are considered “serious”, and they are classified as “very serious” when the car is travelling at 50 percent more than the speed limit. This means driving at more than 80kph in built up areas, 150kph on roads where speed is limited to 100kph and 180kph on motorways.

Although it is only the “very serious” offences which automatically mean withdrawal of the driver's licence, nearly 90 percent of speeding motorists find their licences are withdrawn for up to three months, or even more if they are repeat offenders.

If a driver commits three very serious offences in two years, he loses his licence completely, although this will change when the new regulations, which use a point system, come into force.

Fines for serious offences range from 92 to 300 euros, and for very serious offences between 300 and 600.
Speeding is the chief cause of fatal accidents in the Balearics, followed by distraction or falling asleep at the wheel, drug or drink driving and overtaking.