caught speeding

[Abraham]

When I got offered my speed awareness course, just over a year ago, all the documentation said that upto 33 I think you'd be ignored, 34 you might get a warning, 35 you get offered the course, 36+ fine and 3 points.

I presume they've received an NIP in your case though as you know it's 34, if you were going to be offered a course they usually say with the NIP, although as it's a company vehicle and presumably clearer that it's an unknown driver they might wait until the NIP is resent to you.

 

[bam0]

When I got offered my speed awareness course, just over a year ago, all the documentation said that upto 33 I think you'd be ignored, 34 you might get a warning, 35 you get offered the course, 36+ fine and 3 points.

I'm in Hampshire and did one recently, here it was <35 nothing happens, 35-39 course offered (assuming your eligible, ie: haven't done one in the last 3 years), >39 points and fine.

 

[miniyazz]

I've never known anyone be offered a course for a first offense.

I have - in Staffordshire.

 

[stoofa]

Yea i'm attention seeking Your problem if you don't believe me mate but its true, it was a camera van and it was a NIP and he got 3 points/fine. I'm pretty sure if he fought it he might get off but they hope that people don't and this is the result. Why in the world would i make that up? I don't appreciate being called a liar, regardless if its some faceless person who i will never meet.

I didn't say you were attention seaking.
I am simply voicing my opinion that I simply do not believe you.
I have NEVER known anyone to receive points/NIP for a speed <10% over speed limit.
So that being 33 in 30, 44 in 40 etc

Based on all of the information I have I simply do not believe your story.
As you have no way of proving (and I have no real way of disproving) this is how it will have to stay.

 

[thedoc46]

34 in a 30.. dispute that... Say you were only doing 30 and their machine needs calibration.

 

[Liquidfox]

Then what happens when they whip out the certificate of calibration for that day? You get a higher penalty.

 

[Joshy]

I thought speed cameras had the '10% of the posted limit, plus 2MPH' rule in place to account for inaccurate speedometer readings?

 

[[TW]Fox]

I thought speed cameras had the '10% of the posted limit, plus 2MPH' rule in place to account for inaccurate speedometer readings?

A speedo cannot under-read, so this isn't an issue?

 

[Joshy]

A speedo cannot under-read, so this isn't an issue?

Really? I can't say I've heard that before...

 

[LoadsaMoney]

If you havn't received anything, then i wouldn't worry, as you have to get them within 14 days don't you, 3x weeks is 21.

 

[miniyazz]

Really? I can't say I've heard that before...

Of course they can underread. However in practise they don't because they're designed to overread - due I think to it being cheaper to have them overread than calibrate them as accurately as, say, truck speedos.

 

[Bigwoffa]

you deserve it for speeding mate think of the school children at places like that ey.

 

[miniyazz]

you deserve it for speeding mate think of the school children at places like that ey.

.drater

 

[BigglesPiP]

Hooooooold it, what thresholds does the police authority area in question use? Can you just appeal and have the whole thing dropped?

 

[R@tman]

If you havn't received anything, then i wouldn't worry, as you have to get them within 14 days don't you, 3x weeks is 21.

up to 6 months if its a company vehicle i believe ?

 

[Dogbreath]

Of course they can underread. However in practise they don't because they're designed to overread - due I think to it being cheaper to have them overread than calibrate them as accurately as, say, truck speedos.

It's due to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations Act (1986).

 

[stockhausen]

I thought speed cameras had the '10% of the posted limit, plus 2MPH' rule in place to account for inaccurate speedometer readings?

Sa far as I am aware, there is no such "rule". I believe that the ACPO have made this recommendation (e.g. issue a FPN at 35mph true speed in a 30mph zone or 79mph true speed where the posted limit is 70mph) but nothing more than that.

Using a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx GPS and a Garmin GPS II+ I have checked the indicated speed of a number of cars (from new models up to 15 years old) and I would say that the average discrepancy is that the car speedometer under-reads by about 7% - mileage does vary!

I believe that the +10% +2mph recommendation was made at a time when most speedometers were based on a spinning magnet driven off the gear-box dragging around a pointer that was held back by a spring. As I understand it, this system has now been replaced by taking a feed off the vehicle's computer system which should be much more accurate. I suspect that most motor manufacturers build in a slight "exaggeration" (e.g. +7%) in order to avoid being accused of under-reporting the true figure.

The simple rule is probably never to exceed the speed limit based on what is indicated by the car's speedometer. If you really want to push the envelope, use the current speed as indicated on a SatNav, bearing in mind that they are not 100% accurate either.

Over and above this, the speed limit is just that - a limit, not a target