I did a stupid thing today.

[RWDpetrol]

As for the gantry cameras on the M1 from 6-10, my mates Dave's been through them above the NSL on numerous occasions and never had a NIP.

My mate Dave regularly drives the M25, 100+ and even got flashed but no ticket - variable speed limits off. Very recently he got flashed, 100+, by the Hadecs3 in Kent, again no ticket. He better watch out on the M4.

 

[markjay]

...As for the gantry cameras on the M1 from 6-10, my mates Dave's been through them above the NSL on numerous occasions and never had a NIP.

This is why I said the Beemer may have been familiar with the cameras on that stretch and new it was OK speed. Or perhaps he was driving with fake plates and did not care...

For me, all I saw was loads of gantries, cameras, and warning signs... there were also a few flashes (in the other direction).

I don't know if these cameras are live, or if they measure fixed speed or average speed, or if they are only activated while the variable speed limit is in force... and there wax no time to Google it either

Speeding through these cameras just instinctively felt like a daft idea.

 

[cinek]

So much speculation, so many options, with even more opinions...



Don't want to get caught, stick to the speed limit.

Want to go faster, be ready to suffer the consequences.


It really is that simple

 

[RWDpetrol]

Want to go faster, be ready to suffer the consequences.

It really is that simple

Indeed. Life is all about preparation and managing expectations.

 

[Spin_bowler]

This is why I said the Beemer may have been familiar with the cameras on that stretch and new it was OK speed. Or perhaps he was driving with fake plates and did not care...

For me, all I saw was loads of gantries, cameras, and warning signs... there were also a few flashes (in the other direction).

I don't know if these cameras are live, or if they measure fixed speed or average speed, or if they are only activated while the variable speed limit is in force... and there wax no time to Google it either

Speeding through these cameras just instinctively felt like a daft idea.

Indeed, local knowledge is a valuable thing. There's always that moment when it's suddenly out of date though.

 

[AMGeed]

Thanks for the comments guys.
I was ready to be hung drawn and quartered so the favourable remarks were well received. Lesson learned though.....don't lose your rag.

 

[Rayza]

It could always be worse, sometimes,you can't help it, thankfully all good though

 

[mazherfarooqui]

unfortunately there is NO solution for stupidity

 

[markjay]

Thanks for the comments guys.
I was ready to be hung drawn and quartered so the favourable remarks were well received. Lesson learned though.....don't lose your rag.

Your expectations were unfounded

We all do things from time to time which in hindsight should have been avoided. 'It looked like a good idea at the time'... It's not about doing the right thing or the wrong thing, it's about owning up, which you did. Well done.

 

[itaintemeyouno]

Really? I thought NSL weren't enforced by cameras on motorways?

if you ever drive along the M4 west of Cardiff, watch out for white vans on the bridges. In fact watch out for tripods. Last week, just after J35 there was a traffic police bike on one bridge just after J35 with a camera on tripod and the camera van was on another bridge just after J34. They are regularly there. So regular, traffic flow reduces to around 75mph and then speeds up after 33 Eastbound and after 36 Westbound. People still get caught in spite of car drivers flashing their lights in warning on the other side.

My father in law called my wife an idiot for getting caught where she did as the trap is there so regular.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Thanks for that - I was thinking that the Gov site I showed ought to be a little clearer.

If you google UK speed limits, it's the top result.

It is clear, as long as you read ALL of the Highway Code:

Dual carriageways
A dual carriageway is a road which has a central reservation to separate the carriageways.

137
On a two-lane dual carriageway you should stay in the left-hand lane. Use the right-hand lane for overtaking or turning right. After overtaking, move back to the left-hand lane when it is safe to do so.

138
On a three-lane dual carriageway, you may use the middle lane or the right-hand lane to overtake but return to the middle and then the left-hand lane when it is safe.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Really? I thought NSL weren't enforced by cameras on motorways?

My old boss was caught by a camera on the M25 between the junctions for M4 and M40 doing 85mph. There weren't any variable speed limits in force at the time. I always feel safer to assume that every bridge or gantry on a motorway may have a camera on it, so I keep below an indicated 80 whenever approaching one.

 

[developer]

It is clear, as long as you read ALL of the Highway Code:

Of course.

The point I was making was that if you google UK speed limits (as I'm sure many will do), the top search result is the .gov one I showed, which only has the most basic info.

 

[krisby]

Anyone who is pisses off by another vehicle driving in the outer lane with no other vehicle in front of it should surrender his driving license and retake his driving exam.

The only relevant criteria is what happens to the left of the vehicle in front of you - is the vehicle in front indeed overtaking another slower vehicle? If it is, then you should allow it to complete the manoeuvre safely.

And, setting aside the usual debate about speeding, the idea that the outer lane is only for use of vehicles travelling at speeds higher than 70mph is odd to say the least.

It is not about speeding, it is about safety. Speed all you like when the road is clear, but don't put others at risk in order to achieve it.

I know that, but you are just being argumentative for the sake of it, or you are not very observant on the motorway. I am not stating it is the law or you have a legal right, I am saying that most people in the outside lane are there to do more than 70mph.
Personally, if I can't be bothered driving at more than 70mph, I don't go in that lane so I don't get a-holes roaring up behind me. So by choosing to stick to 70mph in the outside lane (when traffic allows for faster) is going to piss people off, like it or not, that is what happens, and you might think you are doing the right thing driving at the speed limit but you are causing a dangerous tailback, causing cars to drive too close, people get impatient, people take risks, motorways are closed for hours and the rest of us get inconvenienced because someone at the front was doing 70mph.
See my point? innocence and a do good attitude can have a butterfly effect. Just because you think that those people shouldn't be on the road if that is how they drive does not change the fact they ARE on the road.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Of course.

The point I was making was that if you google UK speed limits (as I'm sure many will do), the top search result is the .gov one I showed, which only has the most basic info.

So how detailed do you think that page should be? IMO it's giving just basic speed limit information on purpose: so as not to confuse the issue with lots of other detail that could be the trees that hide the wood. For those who are uncertain about some of the terminology (such as "dual carriageway") there is a search box at the top of the page. However, I will admit that it still can take a bit of searching to find exactly what you want. I think a glossary of motoring related terms would be useful on the site to reduce misunderstanding.

Browsing through that .GOV site brought me to another page that again leaves questions to be asked. It starts by saying:

The police can stop a vehicle for any reason. If they ask you to stop, you should always pull over. You’re breaking the law if you don’t.

What it doesn't tell you, and I can't find mention of anywhere on the site, is what is an acceptable method of them asking you to stop. For instance, is it OK for a police vehicle to just flash their lights at you to ask you to stop? How can you be sure it's a police vehicle? How soon should you stop? Once stopped, should you stay in your car?

 

[John]

My old boss was caught by a camera on the M25 between the junctions for M4 and M40 doing 85mph. There weren't any variable speed limits in force at the time. I always feel safer to assume that every bridge or gantry on a motorway may have a camera on it, so I keep below an indicated 80 whenever approaching one.

That's interesting - I've heard this situation occurring before.

I thought those cameras were in operation, even without the limits, but I wondered what the limit might be.

The 'live' ones used to have a 3 prong aerial at the top left of the gantry i.e. they aren't all live.

I tend to do the same re: 80 and have done for many years now.

 

[markjay]

I know that, but you are just being argumentative for the sake of it, or you are not very observant on the motorway. I am not stating it is the law or you have a legal right, I am saying that most people in the outside lane are there to do more than 70mph.
Personally, if I can't be bothered driving at more than 70mph, I don't go in that lane so I don't get a-holes roaring up behind me. So by choosing to stick to 70mph in the outside lane (when traffic allows for faster) is going to piss people off, like it or not, that is what happens, and you might think you are doing the right thing driving at the speed limit but you are causing a dangerous tailback, causing cars to drive too close, people get impatient, people take risks, motorways are closed for hours and the rest of us get inconvenienced because someone at the front was doing 70mph.
See my point? innocence and a do good attitude can have a butterfly effect. Just because you think that those people shouldn't be on the road if that is how they drive does not change the fact they ARE on the road.

You are overthinking this....

Driving 60 behind some lorries/vans in the middle lane, the outer lane is clear, so I increase speed to 70 (safe speed under the gantries) and start overtaking. Very simple and sensible. There was nothing wrong with that bit. And still not a car in sight on the outer lane.

Then came the Beemer. From this point on I had no good choices. Speed-up under the gantries and risk a ticket, slow down and cut in between the lorries in the middle lane, or carry on till the head of the queue with the Beemer glued to my tail. I chose the latter as the lesser of three evils.

That's all there is to it, really.

 

[krisby]

Aha, fair enough, I agree now.

 

[BTB 500]

TomTom tells you which of the gantries have cameras

 

[itaintemeyouno]

TomTom tells you which of the gantries have cameras

I wouldn't rely on that to keep my licence. Besides my Merc has inbuilt satnav and I don't want a secondary unit on my windscreen.