Caught speeding ?

[Grahamcol]

Was out yesterday in the works van (West Midlands area) and just came out of a an "S" bend in the road to see a mobile "Safety" camera van with the back window open and a camera pointing at me. I wasn't going particularly fast and looked at the speedo which indicated about 35 mph. The road speed limit is 30 mph and there was just no chance of spotting the van beforehand. I'm wondering whether there's any tolerance these days in the West Midlands and maybe the camera isn't set to "get" you unless you're doing, say, 36 + mph ? Also, I've read somewhere that for a first offence in many parts of the UK you can be offered the chance to go on a speed awareness course rather than take the 3 penalty points but I know it was only recently proposed this would be offered in the West Midlands from around May 2010 - does anyone know whether this has now come into effect ? Just hoping I can avoid the points and consequent insurance rip off. At one time ins co's used to ignore a minor speeding offence but this doesn't seem to be the case now.

​

 

[219]

Sorry to hear this ; I don't know the policy in your area , but in some I think you're 'allowed' something like 10% + 1 mph - given that an indicated 35 on your speedo might only be a true 31 or 32 mph , you just may be OK .

Unfortunately , you'll just have to sweat it for the next couple of weeks until you either get something in the post or know you're in the clear - after 14 days you are clear .

I got an SP30 a couple of years back and my insurers told me up to two of these is disregarded - I have changed insurance a couple of times since and none of them have loaded for it .

 

[N7OGP]

if its a works van the police have to prove who was driving at that time. did you see any little camera warning signs before you saw the van.
have a read at this there is good info, not all police comply with the law
Speed Cameras

 

[Krobar]

if its a works van the police have to prove who was driving at that time. did you see any little camera warning signs before you saw the van.
have a read at this there is good info, not all police comply with the law
Speed Cameras

From memory the need for warning signs depends on if the county police force signed up for a share in speed camera revenues.

SP30s and SP50s are really common, insurers dont tend to mind if you are over 25, it just another way of paying your taxes.

 

[Grahamcol]

Thanks for the responses folks. I don't think there was a warning sign so maybe they're operating unlawfully

 

[Benzowner]

Thanks for the responses folks. I don't think there was a warning sign so maybe they're operating unlawfully

and driving too fast isn't breaking the law?

 

[kurtdaley]

and driving too fast isn't breaking the law?

There's always one!!

 

[Grahamcol]

and driving too fast isn't breaking the law?

OK, OK I was driving a little faster than the limit but certainly not in a dangerous way at all. Two wrongs don't make a right !

 

[Benzowner]

There's always one!!

OK, OK I was driving a little faster than the limit but certainly not in a dangerous way at all. Two wrongs don't make a right !

I am not a holier than thow type, I have a few speeding convictions of my own, but it annoys the hell when someone who has admitted to speeding on this forum then tries to wriggle out on a technicality. Not getting at you Graham, just folk generally. Maybe I shoild change my name to Victor as in Meldrew

 

[kurtdaley]

I am not a holier than thow type, I have a few speeding convictions of my own, but it annoys the hell when someone who has admitted to speeding on this forum then tries to wriggle out on a technicality. Not getting at you Graham, just folk generally. Maybe I shoild change my name to Victor as in Meldrew

Cheers for that Victor

 

[Noodle-Pulp]

but certainly not in a dangerous way at all.

Just wondering, at the risk of going off-topic, what DOES constitute dangerous driving?



Edited:
Scratch the above... I just found this:

http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/crimertotable.htm

 

[stevieb15]

if its a works van the police have to prove who was driving at that time. did you see any little camera warning signs before you saw the van.
have a read at this there is good info, not all police comply with the law
Speed Cameras

Having just gone through this with on of my vans I have found the burden of proof more than a little blurred!
If you have been caught the owner of the van will be advised of the prosecution and asked to provide the name of the driver,if they fail to do so or advise that they cannot identifty who was driving at the time they will be prosecuted for;
"Failure to give information re driver identity as required-s.172 Road Traffic Act 1988"
We have been fined £500 plus £50 costs, and no one has proved anything!

 

[N7OGP]

i got caught when the camera van was illegally parked on double yellow lines in a temporary bus stop. it cost me about £50 per year for 5 years extra in insurance

 

[neilrr]

FightBack Forums

 

[Charles Morgan]

At an indicated 35 mph on my speedo, my satnav tells me I am doing 30 mph (I have a very optimistic speedo) so you may have just been over the limit and within any tolerances.

 

[Grahamcol]

At an indicated 35 mph on my speedo, my satnav tells me I am doing 30 mph (I have a very optimistic speedo) so you may have just been over the limit and within any tolerances.

Thanks Charles. Yes some speedos are very optimistic, my recently aquired 190 speedo seems to vastly over-read too!

 

[coupe deville]

I'm currently waiting and counting down the days
doing about 35 in a 30 limit, one way road, no houses, just totally empty linking 2 parts of a village. 2 motorcycle cops had set up a tripod and when i rounded the corner one of them was looking down a sight which was pointing straight at me . He seemed to say something to his colleague but didn't attempt to stop me.

question - would this equipment take a photograph to be followed by the dreaded noip in the post or would they have flagged me down there and then

 

[coupe deville]

if its a works van the police have to prove who was driving at that time.


Ive had 5 speeding convictions first one 1977, last one 2005 in about 1,500,000 miles of motoring, all in works vehicles, never in one of my own.
None of the fleet managers during that time have ever agreed to tell the police that they couldn't identify the driver of the vehicle

 

[corned]

I'm in that category too.

On Tuesday I was driving along a 40 limit dual-carriageway in Nottingham centre and an artic was coming down a sliproad to join right next to me. I wanted the exit just a few yards further on, so increased my speed slightly to allow him on without me having to pull out into the other lane and likely miss my exit.

Of course, as soon as I get past the front of the artic, what do I see on the grass verge?

So I'm now waiting to see if anything arrives in the post. Can't wait to get my reward (points/fine) for being a courteous driver.

As an aside, here's a tip for people wanting to check their speedometers. Find one of those (otherwise useless) speed displaying warning signs which are becoming increasingly popular with councils who have nothing better to spend your council tax on. Then compare the readout with what your speedo says.

 

[Benzowner]

Having just gone through this with on of my vans I have found the burden of proof more than a little blurred!
If you have been caught the owner of the van will be advised of the prosecution and asked to provide the name of the driver,if they fail to do so or advise that they cannot identifty who was driving at the time they will be prosecuted for;
"Failure to give information re driver identity as required-s.172 Road Traffic Act 1988"
We have been fined £500 plus £50 costs, and no one has proved anything!

You were lucky, we were done on the same basis where we could not recognise the driver from the pictures and were done for failing to keep adequate records £800 plus £150 costs and were told if the offence happens again we are to submit all likely drivers