There aren't many things about motoring that could be called 'affordable', save perhaps buying annual UK or short term European breakdown cover from startrescue.co.uk. But where does the humble speeding ticket fit into this - an inexpensive but silly mistake, or something more costly?

New research by the AA suggests that a speeding ticket might be a good deal more expensive than the basic £60 penalty. In addition to this, motorists might find that their insurance premiums go up too.

This is because insurance providers have become a lot more adept at judging how much risk a given driver poses on the road. Being caught speeding or committing some other offense such as texting or calling whilst behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, may now push premiums up for those who stray outside the law.

Some estimates suggest that a speeding ticket may actually cost over £200 once premium rises are taken into account. It has been suggested that someone with a speeding conviction is 10-12 percent more likely to make a claim, something insurance companies are keen to act on to ensure high-risk drivers pay higher premiums. Naturally, this helps keep premiums for safe drivers down.

With this in mind - and aside from the obvious benefits as regards road safety - there's all the more reason to keep one's eye on the speedometer and resist the temptation to make calls or write texts whilst behind the wheel.