Another Speeding Thread

[gbjeppm]

Perhaps I should not post this as I am sure to be vilified by the holier than thou mob, but will post anyway, as I am feeling a little aggrieved.

I got back from the GTG at Olly's on Saturday afternoon to be greeted by my first ever NIP sitting on the doormat. (I have been driving for more than 20 years, and have done the IAM).

I was caught doing 80 in a 70 on the A419 dual carriageway, last Sunday afternoon, by a mobile speed camera van sitting on an overhead bridge.

I looked at the photographic evidence, and yes its me, no other cars in the frame at all.

My feeling though is that a Police car would not have taken any notice of this, as the road was completely empty, it was dry and bright. For the conditions I was driving completely safely.

The camera though has no discretion, and I feel that the "Wiltshire Safety Camera " partnership in my case was not remotely interested in safety, only cash.

Anyway rant over, £60 fine and 3 points on the way I assume

 

[st4]

Doesn't bode well for me, I saw one of those pesky vans on the M40 and I was travelling briskly (but below 100mph).

You have my complete sympathies and you won't get any villification from me. I think these camera vans are a joke and purely there as a revenue generation exercise, of which you are a victim of. Doing 80mph is technically a crime, but there are so many other more serious ones (even in the context of traffic offences) never mind the real world.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

In fairness to WCC, the 419 has to have been one of the most dangerous stretches of road and they police it with vigour.

You might get offered a speed awareness course though....

 

[gbjeppm]

In fairness to WCC, the 419 has to have been one of the most dangerous stretches of road and they police it with vigour.

You might get offered a speed awareness course though....

Agree it can be a dangerous road, although I still believe that a police car would have left me alone.

Speed awareness course, that would be nice, to avoid the points, had forgotten about those.

 

[w124coupe]

Agree that this is revenue generation - pure and simple. Automated kit with the operator texting or reading the paper. nothing remotely to do with safety.

Best to pay and put it behind you - a measured 80mph must have been about 85mph on the speedo so its a fair cop really.

If you take it to court, you will receive a lecture on "speed kills" and be reminded that speeding is an absolute offence. You are not on 9 points/close to a ban or anything obvious that could be used to plead.

The fine would be set based on your circumstances (you would have the pleasure of shouting out your income etc to the courthouse) plus costs - from the brief bio in your post you are the ideal court victim as you are not "unfortunate" or a "victim of society" or pushing a pram by yourself and so you would come away a few hundred pounds poorer and still with 3 points.

The real irritation is that your insurer will take the opportunity to add another fine to your premium for the next 3 years.

 

[w124coupe]

In fairness to WCC, the 419 has to have been one of the most dangerous stretches of road and they police it with vigour.

You might get offered a speed awareness course though....

Does that option come up when its a "safety Partnership" van?

I assumed only the Police could offer the course alternative BEFORE the NIP is issued?

 

[st4]

Agree it can be a dangerous road, although I still believe that a police car would have left me alone.

Speed awareness course, that would be nice, to avoid the points, had forgotten about those.

Were you travelling at a speed which you'd, and most others, would consider excessive? If you think a policeman would have let you go then I doubt the speed was excessive. I hope you get the course option.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I have noticed a trend where these mobile units are far more likely to be seen on a weekend

The one approaching the tolls heading west on the Severn bridge only seem to be in attendance on a Sunday for some reason.

I don't really know why this might be, I very much doubt that there is any overtime to be collected. The roads are usually a bit quieter but the motorists are probably not those of us who do high mileage during our working week and may be more aware of the risk of speed traps than your average Sunday driver.

It's interesting to see the shift in public perception of speeding, it was once considered very normal but the police are trying to make us change to a point where speed is viewed in the same way as drink driving. In my own little world I feel a little hard done by in this situation because no matter how many miles I cover I'll still not drink before driving and therefore not increase my chances of being caught DD. However, by doing 50k+ miles per year I will definitely be at a higher risk of being caught speeding because a slip of concentration is inevitable.

 

[gbjeppm]

Best to pay and put it behind you - a measured 80mph must have been about 85mph on the speedo so its a fair cop really.

Agree, its a fair cop, will definitely not go to court, but if they offer the course I will take it.

 

[Benzowner]

Agree that this is revenue generation - pure and simple. Automated kit with the operator texting or reading the paper. nothing remotely to do with safety.

Best to pay and put it behind you - a measured 80mph must have been about 85mph on the speedo so its a fair cop really.

I am not a holier than thou, been done twice. How on earth can you say it is a revenue generation, it is not it is a donation. If we are caught we donate, if we do not speed we do not stand any chance of being caught so no donation. We choose to speed, the police or whoever do not encourage us to do so we choose to we make donations, and even worse, as you quite rightly said, 80mph actual was probably 85 on the speedo and really if he was on a bridge you should have seen him. Unlucky at getting caught, but pleases it is not revenue generation, it is OUR donation by choice.

 

[gbjeppm]

I am not a holier than thou, been done twice. How on earth can you say it is a revenue generation, it is not it is a donation. If we are caught we donate, if we do not speed we do not stand any chance of being caught so no donation. We choose to speed, the police or whoever do not encourage us to do so we choose to we make donations, and even worse, as you quite rightly said, 80mph actual was probably 85 on the speedo and really if he was on a bridge you should have seen him. Unlucky at getting caught, but pleases it is not revenue generation, it is OUR donation by choice.

Agree I should have seen him, I didn't, thats life.

The donation argument is an interesting one, and I can see the logic.

My rant though is more focused on the fact that cameras are "marketed" for "Safety", not to generate donations. Safety needs to be examined with other factors other than pure speed, such as capability of car, weather conditions, weight of traffic, road layout etc.

See the Wiltshire marketing here

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Does that option come up when its a "safety Partnership" van?

I assumed only the Police could offer the course alternative BEFORE the NIP is issued?

Well, having experienced the van , I was offered the course, so I think the option exists if the rules permit.

If the course is an option, you can select it at the time of NIP.

 

[Benzowner]

Agree I should have seen him, I didn't, thats life.

The donation argument is an interesting one, and I can see the logic.

My rant though is more focused on the fact that we have cameras for "Safety", not to generate donations. Safety needs to be examined with other factors other than pure speed, such as capability of car, weather conditions, weight of traffic, road layout etc.

I do simpathise, but a sfety issue would fall into an area where it is ok to speed on some roads and not on others. The problem there is that the slogan "Speed Kills" basically says that anywhere could be an issue with safety. I don't agree with it, but thats the law. My two offences were 87mph on the M4, like you not a busy time, the second time was again on the M4 approaching th bridge tolls 62mph in a 50 limit 6 lanes wide, all the toll booths empty ish, must be a theme here, always travel in convoy

 

[gbjeppm]

Seems speed awareness may not be an option

See extract from their website

Wiltshire Police currently only offer Speed Awareness Courses in the 30 mph, 40 mph and 50 mph speed limits. The Association of Chief Police Officers has recommended that courses may be offered at speeds between 10% +2 mph and 10% + 6 mph.

However, the level/range at which the courses are offered is a matter for individual Chief Constables.

The range at which courses are offered in Wiltshire will not be disclosed as this information is exempt under Sections 31 and 38 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Got to agree with Lewyboy as well, the vans on bridges do seem more prevalent at weekends.... not a coincidence I think....

 

[umedc]

Well, having experienced the van , I was offered the course, so I think the option exists if the rules permit.

If the course is an option, you can select it at the time of NIP.

i wasnt offered

 

[w124nut]

Got to agree with Lewyboy as well, the vans on bridges do seem more prevalent at weekends.... not a coincidence I think....

I will add to this Bank Holidays.

I've had one speeding ticket in 49 years of driving and readily admit that I have been extremely lucky especially in the 20 mph zones.

 

[IanA2]

I have noticed a trend where these mobile units are far more likely to be seen on a weekend

I don't really know why this might be, I very much doubt that there is any overtime to be collected.

Mm, I think overtime is the reason so many are out over the weekends. As I understand it the "partnership" vans are staffed by officers on their rest days....least thats what I've been told. Could be wrong.

 

[IanA2]

The real irritation is that your insurer will take the opportunity to add another fine to your premium for the next 3 years.

Most insurers ignore one fixed penality speeding fine.

 

[fumiyasu]

Most insurers ignore one fixed penality speeding fine.

Might be for you but not for a young driver like myself. Compared on confused.com and apparently 3 points will cost me 100 quid next year.

Got a ticket last month (my first in 4 years of driving) for going through a red light "after the red light was on for 0.6 Seconds". I didn't even know where I did that as I definitely didn't remember going through a red light but I was in the general area at that time. I felt rather gutted because I was driving a Mazda MX5 with no ABS. Surely, by the time the amber light went on, I couldn't have been more than 2 seconds away from the lights even at 30mph. To stop in two seconds at this short distance would certainly have meant slamming the brakes, locking them, wheels loose traction and stopping right in the middle of the junction.. which obliviously would have been more dangerous.