45-50 in a 40

Smithy · 14 May 2010 at 16:06

On my bike, nice wide road, car in front was going slow, went maybe 5 or 10 mph more than the limit while I was overtaking, saw the camera van hidden behind a section of hedge as I completed the overtake.

There's a chance that the car I just overtook hid me from the camera but I'm not banking on it. So what's the deal with doing 45-50 in a 40? Google is proving inconsistent. Is it 3 points and £60?

B@Th*nG · 14 May 2010 at 16:13

there's a chance, ye. but if caught i'd say that's about as bad as it gets

B@

obligatory slow down message:

SLOW DOWN! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED EVERYBODY EVER!!11

hiroofheroes · 14 May 2010 at 16:27

I'm pretty sure you can go above the speed limit to perform a safe overtake on a vehicle thats travelling below the speed limit.

Felix · 14 May 2010 at 16:34

I'm pretty sure you can't/not meant to

Sin_Chase · 14 May 2010 at 16:36

hiroofheroes said:
I'm pretty sure you can go above the speed limit to perform a safe overtake on a vehicle thats travelling below the speed limit.

Nope.

antijoke · 14 May 2010 at 16:37

hiroofheroes said:
I'm pretty sure you can go above the speed limit to perform a safe overtake on a vehicle thats travelling below the speed limit.

I heard something like that years ago, something about with-in 10% of the limit. But not sure on that at all.

Sin_Chase · 14 May 2010 at 16:40

anticonscience said:
I heard something like that years ago, something about with-in 10% of the limit. But not sure on that at all.

~10% is what you get given in normal circumstances anyway no?

Solaris · 14 May 2010 at 16:40

Was there a camera sign? Apparantly its illegal to have a camera or a cameravan on any section of road where there is no sign warning of speed cameras....

Sin_Chase · 14 May 2010 at 16:41

Solaris said:
Was there a camera sign? Apparantly its illegal to have a camera or a cameravan on any section of road where there is no sign warning of speed cameras....

Arguing this in court for 45-50 in a 40 would be ridiculous.

Speeding - Guilty until proven innocent.

Fr0dders · 14 May 2010 at 16:43

hiroofheroes said:
I'm pretty sure you can go above the speed limit to perform a safe overtake on a vehicle thats travelling below the speed limit.

no such law or regulation.

ACPO guidelines state you should be prosecuted at 10 % over the limit +2mph so your allowed 10 % +1. in a 30, this would mean being fined at 35 and above.

as you reckon you were doing 40 to 45 you are in theory allowed a true 45mph and getting fined at 46mph. Baring in mind your speedo over-reads by law you've possibly got away with it.

at 25mph over the speed limit you got summoned to court. But for that to happen you'd have to have been doing 65, but you werent so it can only be £60 and 3 points at worst.

As for whether you were caught or not, all you can do is sit it out and wait.

antijoke · 14 May 2010 at 16:44

Sin_Chase said:
~10% is what you get given in normal circumstances anyway no?

Correct, which is possibly why the people I was talking to believed you could overtake and speed upto 10% of the limit of the road.

Sin_Chase · 14 May 2010 at 16:46

anticonscience said:
Correct, which is possibly why the people I was talking to believed you could overtake and speed upto 10% of the limit of the road.

Fact of the matter is this. When I am overtaking, I am looking dead ahead with my foot planted until I am clear.

I like my overtakes to be safe and quick, when performing them the arbitrary number on that sign can go take a hike.

Overtaking someone doing 10mph under the limit and not exceeding it yourself is suicide. There is no law dictating you can exceed the limit to perform a "safe" overtake but the day I risk my life and risk hitting someone else to stay within it or get stuck behind ridiculous drivers is the day I sell up and go live somewhere without roads!

Smithy · 14 May 2010 at 17:12

I'm not assuming I got away with it until I know that I have. How quickly do they usually send letters out? I'm assuming it's a letter...

As for the 10% thing; I was definitely doing more than 44, so it's irrelevant.

There are permanent speed camera signs along that stretch of road. About 100 yards before the camera van there's a Gatso. I assume they strategically positioned themselves to catch everyone who speeds up after going through the Gatso.

Fr0dders · 14 May 2010 at 17:15

they have to get the letter to you within 2 weeks

Rroff · 14 May 2010 at 17:16

Usually you should hear within 14 days.

doh beaten lol

probedb · 14 May 2010 at 17:20

Sin_Chase said:
I like my overtakes to be safe and quick, when performing them the arbitrary number on that sign can go take a hike.

I'm sure that'll work in court.

Danm54 · 14 May 2010 at 17:21

Cheeky bar......

Just wait and see mate, they're doing trails in certain areas where you'll get a speed awareness course and a £60 fine if you've got a clean licence, i done it. Only applies up to a certain speed though.

As for the overtaking thing, on the bikesafe course i went on the police riders said its ok to break the limit performing an overtake to get you back on your side of the road quicker, for overtaking people 5-10mph under the limit. As long as you dont get caught i guess.
Thing is, if you have to speed up too much, say 20-30mph over the limit, you really should be asking yourself if the overtake is actually safe.

Sin_Chase · 14 May 2010 at 17:23

probedb said:
I'm sure that'll work in court.

Way to totally miss the point.

PieEater · 14 May 2010 at 17:27

MrLOL said:
they have to get the letter to you within 2 weeks

Pretty sure they have to send the letter within 2 weeks, so it's a 3 week wait until you know you're clear.

Smithy · 14 May 2010 at 17:34

I've read about that speed awareness course. I've a clean license so I do qualify, but apparently it's down to the officer's discretion, and as I was overtaking while speeding, I'm sure I'm not in his good books.