Caught doing 79mph in a 70 zone

[Neilos]

Need to find a friendly bobby to follow in a calibrated patrol car, one would hope that their systems are fairly accurate!

Or ask one of the volunteers doing speed duties to take a reading with their radar gun. They ought to oblige, its in a good cause

 

[Neilos]

I don't know about the accuracy of satnavs either , although I have observed that they read 'slightly' less than the speedometers of any vehicles I have been driving . Typically , 70 on the satnav corresponds to an indicated 74 or so on my W126 speedo - I have never had a problem setting my cruise control to the satnav 70 .

There are a pair of milestones on Turnhouse Road , Edinburgh , which I know L&B police used to use to check speedos against - that was 25--30 years ago . I'd guess the biggest variable is how close to the markers the stopwatch is pressed . Probably the best bet is to time over a much longer known distance - perhaps between two motorway junctions , distance verified by OS maps , 'flying' start at a set speed on cruise control and constant speed maintained for 10,20 or more miles : the longer the distance , the less significant errors will become .

Of course , if you have access to a calibrated 'fifth wheel' setup then you have the definitive answer , but not many do .

I wonder how accurate the roadside electronic signs : your speed ....... are ? I guess some racetracks have accurate speed measuring equipment ? What about MOT test 'rolling roads' - how accurately are they calibrated ?

I think those road signs are set to light up far too slow. Even my wonky sprinter speedo sets off the "30" ones at indicated 30.
The one going into gatwick airport which says how fast your going always reads the same as my C-class and my vfr, so I would imagine that is probably a bit out as well.

 

[219]

There's a digital sign in Eaglesham , just along the road from Strathclyde Police's Jackton training college , which seems to correspond exactly to 30 on my TomTom (and about 32 on my speedo) .

 

[jonnyboy]

I didn’t know if I’d get anywhere, but thought I’ve got nothing to loose - So I wrote back saying I was dreadfully sorry, but I couldn’t remember who was driving that car at that time (I was careful with my wording, as a friend had said previously that he couldn’t remember if it was him or his Wife driving - his photo wasn’t that clear, but they said the figure driving was of a mans build, and not a Women’s???)

I got all sorts of letters, and they seemed to get more and more threatening - but I maintained that I needed photographic proof, as I honestly didn’t know who the driver was at the time. When they did send the picture through, it was very clear, and it was obvious it was one of my cars - but the photo was taken of the rear and partial side of the car.

When I received the letter stating no further action would be taken, it said I had a legal duty to keep a record of who drives each vehicle - But as far as I know, there isn’t a penalty for ‘not being able to remember things’

I kept the picture and put it on the wall in the office

How long ago was this, and which force? My case is identical, as is the way I worded my response (same as yours), yet I am at magistrates court for failure to identify driver. Not good.

 

[NormanC]

Ha ha, mate I love that, showing 1263mph, you sure your not a fighter pilot!
So I take it there is indeed, a fair margin of error

I'm not questioning you opinion Norman, i'm very gratefull that you have given the time for such an eloquent reply.
If that is the case, and they are within 2%, then that is fairly accurate, but I guess, unlike a car speedo that ALWAYS over reads, this could be either way with the satnav?

I was going to go for a Garmin Zumo 660 waterproof motorcycle one, so I can use it on my various bikes, car and van. Around £500, so have been hesitating and gathering info before taking the plunge.
The speedos on all my machines seem to vary wildly, so I was hoping the satnav would give me some idea of whats what.

I'm not one for speeding, but my sprinter, argh, that seems ludicrously out at 30mph, and it torments me thinking i'm slowing others down sticking to indicated 30, and worry every time I sit at 35 incase I get a ticket, just can't take the pressure

Don't worry, Neil, I expect people to question my opinion 'cos I can be as wrong as anyone else!! If someone shows me I'm wrong then I've learnt something and we're never too old to learn!!

My first Sat Nav was a Garmin, a Street Pilot III which cost some £600+ at the time (10 years ago?). It's still sitting in the garage after it just stopped finding satellites. By that time prices had come down and it was cheaper to replace rather than repair.

If I were you, I'd go ahead and get the Garmin. I think that, despite what I've said, it'd give you a reasonable comparison between your different machines. It's amazing how one's concept of speed can be altered by the vehicle you're using. Try jumping from your Sprinter into the C220 and see how much your perception of 30mph differs!

 

[NormanC]

There are a pair of milestones on Turnhouse Road , Edinburgh , which I know L&B police used to use to check speedos against - that was 25--30 years ago . I'd guess the biggest variable is how close to the markers the stopwatch is pressed . Probably the best bet is to time over a much longer known distance - perhaps between two motorway junctions , distance verified by OS maps , 'flying' start at a set speed on cruise control and constant speed maintained for 10,20 or more miles : the longer the distance , the less significant errors will become .

The age old problem, Derek, is how well you can measure.

Your absolutely right that the longer the distance the more accurate you're going to be in terms of time and distance. I like your idea of checking distance against OS maps and wish I'd thought of it!! Over 10 miles or so I'd like to think that you could get down to +/- 0.5% accuracy using a measuring wheel. ( I won't start down the route of asking how accurate your measuring wheel is!!)

As far as using Cruise Control to maintain a fixed speed I just don't know. How good is it? That said, I think that your method would give you a sensible accuracy of measurement. I'd just leave myself a little margin on that to allow for the errors present in other people's speed measurement, if you get my meaning!!

 

[NormanC]

A quick apology to Duffman for hijacking his thread!! It's just that people raise such interesting things.

Sorry, Duffman

 

[Neilos]

A quick apology to Duffman for hijacking his thread!! It's just that people raise such interesting things.

Sorry, Duffman

Was thinking the very same thing, can I add my apology to Duffman too please

Right work all done, need to get to bed, nite nite folks

 

[killwilly]

If the calibration of the gun was so much out on the day in particular, would it not be safe to assume that more than one person was caught. That should be proof that the equipment was at fault, but to prove that it would need more than one person to complain.

 

[Matt's Dad]

How long ago was this, and which force? My case is identical, as is the way I worded my response (same as yours), yet I am at magistrates court for failure to identify driver. Not good.

PM sent

 

[Tyler Durden]

Hey Guys,

Just got a letter through the post for doing 79mph in a 70 zone and I am 100'000% sure I was not speeding!.. I recall the van that caught me, I recall my exact speed of being no more than 70mph (Using Satnav).

What on earth do I do now? How do I prove it that I wasn't speeding? How do I prove that their sh*tty guns are useless and do not work!..

Sorry for the rant. It's crap like this that does my head in. I pay my taxes to get taxed!!!!!!!

Any ideas on what to do next? So far I've just received a letter asking who the driver was. I have 28 days to respond.

For a start stop posting on here and get legal advice.

Secondly, don't bother with pepipoo as half the stuff on there is crap and will land you in more hot water if you start spouting it off (and you'll look stupid).

Dont be led into not identifying the driver also, as the loophole has been closed from before and you will get points/fine by default.

Major flaw.......... why on earth are you going by sat nav speed? Chap thats crazy. Have a think about what you are putting on a public forum for starters.

The only advice you need my friend is - If your that fussed, stop typing, pick up the phone and arrange some time with a DECENT brief who specialises in the road traffic law.

 

[Matt's Dad]

Major flaw.......... why on earth are you going by sat nav speed? Chap thats crazy. Have a think about what you are putting on a public forum for starters.

Not really crazy when you consider most cars aren't accurate.

All of my HGV’s have to have their tachograph calibrated and checked every 2 years. When they are first calibrated they are spot on with what the sat nav says - over time, as the tyres wear down, or are changed it has a huge effect to the speedo reading, and amount of miles shown have been driven. I get paid by the mile, so I keep a constant check that the miles and speed are ok.

Satellite Navigation is the most effective, and consistent way to check your vehicles speed - as long as you keep a constant speed (ideally on cruise control) over a long period, and ideally where it is flat, with good signal strength.

Having said that, I wouldn’t use the sat nav as my line of defence in court.

 

[crockers]

I think it would, in practical terms, be impossible for you to prove how accurate your Sat Nav was as some time in the past and don't forget that it will be up to you to prove that they are wrong!!

Don't you just love this "new" fairer British justice - you are now guilty until you can prove your innocence...

it said I had a legal duty to keep a record of who drives each vehicle -

Where is that written in the statue books? Not saying it's not the law - just if it was why weren't you prosecuted for failing to note the driver...

 

[Tyler Durden]

I think its crazy going off sat nav speed regarding any prosecution. Fine for your normal drive but if you get caught imagine standing up in court and explaining that you were going off sat nav speed you will be fooked. Sat nav could me malfunctioning etc etc etc.

Like I said it might be a good idea not to mention that

Most cars are extremely accurate nowadays, then have their speedo's adjusted so that they overread slightly, just like most motorcycles also as the reading is electronic and not as in days gone by...

**edit***

Matts Dad, I read the last line of your post again, and thats exactly what I was getting at lol

 

[Neilos]

I think its crazy going off sat nav speed regarding any prosecution. Fine for your normal drive but if you get caught imagine standing up in court and explaining that you were going off sat nav speed you will be fooked. Sat nav could me malfunctioning etc etc etc.

Like I said it might be a good idea not to mention that

Most cars are extremely accurate nowadays, then have their speedo's adjusted so that they overread slightly, just like most motorcycles also as the reading is electronic and not as in days gone by...

**edit***

Matts Dad, I read the last line of your post again, and thats exactly what I was getting at lol

Have you actually read any of the posts properly?

Nobody has said they are going to contest using satnav!

And you are talking tosh about speedos being more accurate because they are modern and electronic, what makes you think that digital is more accurate? Consistent to how it was originally calibrated maybe, but not necessarily more accurate.
Infact, some of the modern speedos seem to over read by a bigger margin, probably because the manufacturers are paranoid about building in a safety margin to stop them getting sued ;o)

 

[G.O'Rilla]

Whatever happened and whatever the means of judging speed, you are never going to be able to prove that you weren't speeding. No corroborating evidence. You'll just have to take it on the chin and pay up, like the rest of us. I think that I was unfairly caught for a ticket as well, but realised that proving it would be almost impossible, so simply paid up - and no, I'm not a wimp. Just realistic; got away with it in the past when I should have been caught - this time I didn't

 

[crockers]

Whatever happened and whatever the means of judging speed, you are never going to be able to prove that you weren't speeding. No corroborating evidence. You'll just have to take it on the chin and pay up, like the rest of us. I think that I was unfairly caught for a ticket as well, but realised that proving it would be almost impossible, so simply paid up - and no, I'm not a wimp. Just realistic; got away with it in the past when I should have been caught - this time I didn't

Another new law....two wrongs make a right...

Trouble is ---I daresay you're right

 

[st13phil]

Apologies for the ongoing thread hijack, but...

I was going to go for a Garmin Zumo 660 waterproof motorcycle one, so I can use it on my various bikes, car and van. Around £500, so have been hesitating and gathering info before taking the plunge.

I have a Zumo 660 which is a very good package - much better than the TomTom Rider, imo. If you haven't found it yet The ZumoForums is a great resource for Zumo owners & potential owners. PM me if you want any other info.

 

[DuFFmAn]

Information overload on this thread!!..

Been away for a couple of days and have just sat through this thread.... Some interesting read...

In regards to the Satnav... No! I was not aware that it is not always accurate. I was always under the impression that it is reasonably accurate. In all fairness, it is definately more accurate then my speedo.


I don't really plan on taking the "awkward" (who was the driver?) route for several reasons...

1) Don't have the :bannana:...
2) Don't want to lie as it won't help my case...

3) This is a public forum and you generally should admit doing these things.. ..

As for taking this all the way to court?... Im not to sure... The time and effort involved to take this to court (With the huge possibility of loosing) against the £60 +3 points?? .. I'm still weighing things up...


PS. Have you noticed my calmness since the original thread??

 

[Neilos]

Information overload on this thread!!..

Been away for a couple of days and have just sat through this thread.... Some interesting read...

In regards to the Satnav... No! I was not aware that it is not always accurate. I was always under the impression that it is reasonably accurate. In all fairness, it is definately more accurate then my speedo.


I don't really plan on taking the "awkward" (who was the driver?) route for several reasons...

1) Don't have the :bannana:...
2) Don't want to lie as it won't help my case...

3) This is a public forum and you generally should admit doing these things.. ..

As for taking this all the way to court?... Im not to sure... The time and effort involved to take this to court (With the huge possibility of loosing) against the £60 +3 points?? .. I'm still weighing things up...


PS. Have you noticed my calmness since the original thread??

Hopefully its not because we've all bored you to sleep

Most of us, at sometime or another, have felt that very British feeling of being violated via a sense of injustice, the calmness comes when one comes to terms with the futile nature of pushing the self destruct button