Just got caught doing excess speed in 50mph zone

Theophany · 7 Mar 2013 at 10:25

Don't you run the risk of them getting a bit shirty with you when you go defensive? Or were you going quickly enough that honesty would've been perilously expensive?

On a similar topic, I use my GPS to determine my speed as it seems to be more accurate when you're being fairly constant (i.e. motorways, refresh rate is too low to be reliable when accelerating) and I'm finding that I can be doing nearly 80mph according to my car speedo but just touching 70mph according to my GPS.

I know car speedo accuracy is dependent upon a number of factors - but should I be a bit careful with the way I'm gauging my speeds? I can be doing ~90mph according to my speedo, but an actual of 80mph by the GPS and I then think what if I get pulled over and the police car speedo is out of whack too?

Any ideas before I belt it up the M40/M42 tomorrow would be much appreciated

Burnsy2023 · 7 Mar 2013 at 10:28

Theophany said:
I then think what if I get pulled over and the police car speedo is out of whack too?

All the police vehicles that I know of (which aren't even traffic cars) have a speedo that is regularly calibrated. We have GPS in the vehicles too and they always match within 1mph or so.

Theophany · 7 Mar 2013 at 10:33

If I get pulled over and this isn't the case, can I tell them a serving officer told me it was ok?

Burnsy2023 · 7 Mar 2013 at 10:34

Theophany said:
If I get pulled over and this isn't the case, can I tell them a serving officer told me it was ok?

Well it's not evidence of all police cars, just my experience, you take it with the appropriate amount of salt.

PMKeates · 7 Mar 2013 at 10:35

Theophany said:
Don't you run the risk of them getting a bit shirty with you when you go defensive? Or were you going quickly enough that honesty would've been perilously expensive?

On a similar topic, I use my GPS to determine my speed as it seems to be more accurate when you're being fairly constant (i.e. motorways, refresh rate is too low to be reliable when accelerating) and I'm finding that I can be doing nearly 80mph according to my car speedo but just touching 70mph according to my GPS.

I know car speedo accuracy is dependent upon a number of factors - but should I be a bit careful with the way I'm gauging my speeds? I can be doing ~90mph according to my speedo, but an actual of 80mph by the GPS and I then think what if I get pulled over and the police car speedo is out of whack too?

Any ideas before I belt it up the M40/M42 tomorrow would be much appreciated

Your speedo is programmed to over-read, which is why it does.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 7 Mar 2013 at 12:21

PMKeates said:
Your speedo is programmed to over-read, which is why it does.

I believe the legislation quotes the speedo has to be accurate to within 10%, off the production line, but then states it is not allowed to under read.
So hence manufacturers are going to err on the side of caution, ie make it overread a little so it can't under read.

Ive seen a magazine article where they proved the error on a speedo was variable, it changed as speed and hence gears changed. Was some time ago and I can't remember which mag it was I am afraid, although I have a suspicion it was autocar.

My personal experience is that the cars I have recently used BMWs and Mini all underread by about 1MPH at 30MPH and 2 or 3 MPH at about 60-70MPH.
Which would make sense for manufacturers to aim a few % into the cautious range.

Jono8 · 7 Mar 2013 at 12:33

Every car i have owned has over-read by 5-10% when comparing it to a Sat Nav.

L0rdMike · 7 Mar 2013 at 12:37

PMKeates said:
Should have just said 50. I once had an officer desperate to have me admit to going more than either 40 or 50, but in a shock revelation I actually wasn't - I'd just accelerated quickly, and they were trying the old 'I had to travel at warp 10 to catch you, therefore you were doing nearly warp 10' line.

I've had exactly this before. If I get to the speed limit faster of course you will have to speed to catch me, it's simple Maths. :rolleyes:

Matt82 · 7 Mar 2013 at 13:32

After being grilled for a few minutes with leading question after leading question, i was once told that if they hadnt run out of tickets id have been given a ticket

PMKeates · 7 Mar 2013 at 14:04

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
I believe the legislation quotes the speedo has to be accurate to within 10%, off the production line, but then states it is not allowed to under read.
So hence manufacturers are going to err on the side of caution, ie make it overread a little so it can't under read.

Ive seen a magazine article where they proved the error on a speedo was variable, it changed as speed and hence gears changed. Was some time ago and I can't remember which mag it was I am afraid, although I have a suspicion it was autocar.

My personal experience is that the cars I have recently used BMWs and Mini all underread by about 1MPH at 30MPH and 2 or 3 MPH at about 60-70MPH.
Which would make sense for manufacturers to aim a few % into the cautious range.

The easiest way to make the error on the speedo variable is to make it a percentage. They could make it more complicated but it's probably not necessary. Modern cars are doing in this in the electronics, with the dials displaying an inflated value. The car will also know the 'real' road speed. BMWs, for example, have a V-Effektiv (real) and a V-Anzeige (display). You can read these out of the diagnostics menu. My old 330i never display any speedo over-read, my 535d has about 5%.

MooMoo444 · 7 Mar 2013 at 15:32

You disgusting child killer, get off my forum :mad:

PS I hate sudden speed changes too.

Johnnytoxic · 17 Mar 2013 at 22:51

Thinking about just taking it to court to see if they follow up with it, if the officer's don't show, surely it would be thrown out?

If it goes to court any idea what fine and court costs I would be looking at ?

-westy- · 17 Mar 2013 at 23:10

Johnnytoxic said:
Thinking about just taking it to court to see if they follow up with it, if the officer's don't show, surely it would be thrown out?

If it goes to court any idea what fine and court costs I would be looking at ?

Have you received an NIP? Or even heard anything more of it?

Johnnytoxic · 17 Mar 2013 at 23:17

-westy- said:
Have you received an NIP? Or even heard anything more of it?

I got a fixed penalty notice through the post.

agw_01 · 17 Mar 2013 at 23:46

Isn't an FPN different to a NIP?

Does the FPN advise of any fines?

blueboy2001 · 18 Mar 2013 at 00:18

They've given a verbal NIP and you've admitted the offence, so a fixed penalty notice has been issued - presumably a £60 fine and 3 points.

If you go to court and the officer does turn up, which is more than likely as the CPS will request an adjournment if they don't, the fact you've admitted it and then refused a fixed penalty will not put you in a good light with the Magistrates.

The most likely outcome from a trip to court is you'll get 3 points, but a heavier fine, plus victim surcharge and costs on top.

ZG002 · 18 Mar 2013 at 00:34

Would be insane to take this to court. Pay the fine and take the points on the chin, then forget all about it.

Fuzz · 18 Mar 2013 at 00:57

Burnsy2023 said:
Section 38(7) Road Traffic Act 1988 states that failure to observe a provision of the Highway Code shall not of itself bring about criminal proceedings, but a failure, particularly a serious one, may constitute evidence of careless or dangerous driving. Therefore, you'd normally need extra evidence usually through witness statements.

Could this be used to say Jump a red light... as long as no cars were at the junction, you had a clear view of all the exits and approached the manoeuvre with caution?

/Devils advocate

-westy- · 18 Mar 2013 at 02:06

ZG002 said:
Would be insane to take this to court. Pay the fine and take the points on the chin, then forget all about it.

This. You'll only make it worse for yourself, it's not worth the hassle.

mejinks · 18 Mar 2013 at 02:25

I got pulled over by a female who told me I was using excess speed within the speed limit. I was travelling under the speed limit yet she kept insisting that I was driving under the speed limit....