FFS think I've been done for speeding AGAIN.. HELP!

[[TW]Fox]

better let my brother in law know that the people he works for (GATSO) should come to OcUK and catch up on the pub talk.

Even if your brother in law's mate's best friend's dogs vet or whatever does work for GATSO, which would be really convenient wouldnt it, why would he have any more knowledge than us as to what the prosecution guidelines are?

They manufacturer cameras, they don't install them or run them or set them up. Most of that is done in this country by, IIRC, SERCO.

 

[Fishman]

I have a question for all those complaining about looking at the speedo takes your eyes off the road.

Do you ever look in yoru mirrors ?

If you arent tailgating the car in front and actually observe what is around you there should be no issue with quickly glancing at the speedo. In addition if you are worried about creeping above the speed limit then aim to drive slightly below it

 

[Stonedofmoo]

no, the speed on the dial is only relevant to me avoiding a conviction. I'm more than experienced enough to assess how fast I can drive before safety is compromised. I break the limit every day with no exceptions, but I also have a clean license. it takes me absolutely no extra effort whatsoever to keep to said limit if that's what I'm trying to do, whereas there are members in here that seem to think its a physical impossibility to do so.
all I'm saying is if you're trying to abide by the limit there is no excuse for being snapped other than a lack of observation/perception skills.
I'm not trying to stick to the limits so I have no excuse if and when I'm caught.

What he said for me. 7 years now applying common sense to determin how fast I should drive.

 

[matt100]

Is it me or is matt100 the most arrogant, rude and aggresive person we've had bitching about getting nicked all year?

Just an observation, like.

crikey thats a bit strong don't you think? I've seen people arguing much more than this, there was a whole thread of someone with an orange beemer trying to actually get off rather than delay some points.

I'm a bit off with people derailing the thread but I certainly didn't kick off as arrogant or rude which are both accusations that can be more than levelled at yourself on a routine basis.

chill out!

 

[matt100]

Er are you talking about the Poole side of the A31 around Wimborne or the Ringwood St Leonards side heading into ferndown where they dropped the limit to 50 not so long ago?

Either way if your local ish and know the roads then they are well known Speed Camera Van sites in case you didn't know

Bad luck really, probably nothing you can do but add to the statistics in the Echo article

exactly there yes

 

[volospian]

whereas there are members in here that seem to think its a physical impossibility to do so.

I actually find it quite difficult to stick at a steady 30mph in the Saab. Don't know why, but I assume it's because 30mph is right on the cusp of the autobox changing area, so it seems to slip up and down gears a lot at little input at around 30mph. Once you get into 40+ limits, a steady speed doesn't seem to be much of a problem, it's just that 30mph bit. I don't have an issue in any other car at 30, but the saab seems to take a lot of work to keep it at a steady 30mph.

It drops off the revs quite easily at that speed as the 'box changes up a gear at about 29 or so, and then drops back down and picks up rapidly when you just tickle the throttle (as your then in about 3rd gear or something, when normally you'd still probably be in 5th or something in a manual). This means the car often lurches about a bit while you're trying to maintain 30. I find myself going through 30mph cameras at around an indicated 27 or so as it's much easier to keep a steady speed at that point.

OK, so this post hasn't added much to the thread, it was just an observation. My car prefers either 27mph or around 35mph, which is blooming annoying and does distract my attention from the road when I see a camera as I try to set a nice steady 30. There

 

[Serj]

exactly there yes

Exactly where, Poole side or Ringwood side? I live in Ringwood and it's truly ridiculous that they've dropped that road to a 50.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Exactly where, Poole side or Ringwood side? I live in Ringwood and it's truly ridiculous that they've dropped that road to a 50.

Is it as truely ridiculous as the A35 between Ringwood and Dorchester which for 5 miles of open country is... a 40?

 

[mjer1984]

Unfortunately breaking the speed limit is all too easy, I find myself doing it when i am driving home at 11pm and the m40 is empty. But this is no real excuse. If I get caught then I will have to except the punishment. If I get caught and keep on doing it then quite frankly it’s a bit silly.
As for the road being quiet this is no excuse, as you never know what’s around the next corner and I can guarantee that you are not going to slow down when a corner or hill does obscures your view.
I understand your need to complain but its the same as complaining about getting a ticket when parked on double yellows, 'but I was only there for 5mins', tuff luck park sensibly and walk further to your destination.

 

[matt100]

Exactly where, Poole side or Ringwood side? I live in Ringwood and it's truly ridiculous that they've dropped that road to a 50.

Right, ferndown, poole side going towards poole, hotel and car garage on your left, about halfway down in a bus stop.

Is it as truely ridiculous as the A35 between Ringwood and Dorchester which for 5 miles of open country is... a 40?

no, doesn't sound as ridiculous as that but if you know the area I fail to see why the A31 past ringwood is NSL and then when all the houses etc die down a bit it drops to 50mph.

The WORST bit I just read was that this camera was a "complaint" one, 15% of the time dorset camera safety partnership is able to place cameras at areas NOT highlighted by collisions/deaths but where someone (an anon someone) has complained about speeding motorists.

Which is great, there isn't even a pretext here of saving lives which makes me feel much warmth inside.

 

[[TW]Fox]

no, doesn't sound as ridiculous as that but if you know the area I fail to see why the A31 past ringwood is NSL and then when all the houses etc die down a bit it drops to 50mph.

Is this the bit approaching the Ringwood Roundabout from Southampton with the McDonalds on the corner? Ie, the 3-4 roundabouts prior to this?

That is indeed the most ridiculous 50 limit in the world and it truely spoils a great road for pwning people off the roundabout on those late night trips to Hampshire.

It's completely pointless that speed limit, but you still got nicked for not paying attention tbh.

 

[stoofa]

To those that go on about "It's impossible to keep a clean license unless you drive slow all the time..." etc.
Sorry, no - I've been driving now for 15 years and I'm still yet to get a single point on my license.
I will happily sit at 80mph on a motorway drive which is quite fast enough to get myself stopped and points applied as many know.
I'll also go above 60mph on those not quite motorways.
20mph - 50mph restrictions I'm the kind of person who sticks to these because those restrictions will be there for a reason.
In those 15 years of driving and getting no points I've also not had any accidents - the point I'm making there is that you can drive, keeping an eye out for speed cameras, camera vans and patrol cars without doing so dangerously.

I still maintain that I question the so called observation skills of anybody who gets caught by a fixed camera.
To miss the warning signs, road markings and the big yellow box on the side of the road says to me that people really weren't paying that much attention.
So you go around a bend and there is the "camera...no chance of seeing it and slowing down".
So what do you think would happen if you were going around that same bend at that same speed and suddenly there were two cars that had been in an accident in the road?

People choose to drive over the speed limit and if you're caught there is no point moaning, complaining or anything.
You made that choice and no matter how safe you thought you were you still broke the law.
I'm sure every person who has driven without a license, without insurance would claim they had done so safely - doesn't matter, still runs against the law.

 

[Serj]

Right, ferndown, poole side going towards poole, hotel and car garage on your left, about halfway down in a bus stop.

Ferndown is Ringwood side, i know where you mean now though.

Is this the bit approaching the Ringwood Roundabout from Southampton with the McDonalds on the corner? Ie, the 3-4 roundabouts prior to this?

That is indeed the most ridiculous 50 limit in the world and it truely spoils a great road for pwning people off the roundabout on those late night trips to Hampshire.

It's completely pointless that speed limit, but you still got nicked for not paying attention tbh.

That's the road i was talking about. There used to be nothing better than booting it off the roundabouts. As a 50 limit though, you can't even keep your foot down in 2nd.

 

[matt100]

yeah sorry, going towards macdonalds.

and like I said, in my ST if I felt like it I would have been doing a LOT more than 65mph

 

[[TW]Fox]

That's the road i was talking about. There used to be nothing better than booting it off the roundabouts. As a 50 limit though, you can't even keep your foot down in 2nd.

I have to make that trip a lot but I tend to leave Plymouth at 8pm, so I get there for 10pm and have no problems

 

[el_dazza]

Let them be dicks, just worry about your self. I really couldnt care what people think when im doing the limit.

I had that all the time when i was learning, still get it now, quite happily sit at 60 on an NSL road but there's always a ****** in a van trying to park himself in my boot

 

[Hilly]

It's true, you can keep a clean license and still have fun. Any one who has met me and driven with me, or been a passenger knows this.

I am a super careful driver, especially in terms of speed limits for 30 and 40 roads, which I follow closely. The rest though I do tend to vary and go over the speed limit.

It is also possible to have an ST, and not pick up any points in the car, my license is clean, and has been for 6 years, I've never been stopped, pulled over or caught speeding once.

A lot of that I put down to good perception of the road.

 

[matt100]

It's true, you can keep a clean license and still have fun. Any one who has met me and driven with me, or been a passenger knows this.

I am a super careful driver, especially in terms of speed limits for 30 and 40 roads, which I follow closely. The rest though I do tend to vary and go over the speed limit.

It is also possible to have an ST, and not pick up any points in the car, my license is clean, and has been for 6 years, I've never been stopped, pulled over or caught speeding once.

A lot of that I put down to good perception of the road.

I agree on the car, I wouldn't ever try and blame a ticket on the motor. I think I would have been doing that speed in any car within reason. In fact the 6 I already have were in the slowest car I've owned for years which was a 1.8 astra.

I'm also happy to completely accept that I wasn't paying attention to the speed limit, I was driving at a speed that i thought was safe for the conditions and road and that I honestly believe I wouldn't get done for which I guess is ironic.

I was in full on NSL mode assuming the road to be just as it is for the 20 odd miles all the way back to my house which is so so frustrating, hence me trying to just put off the inevitable for a while.

Allegedly there is some ruling on friday in the european court of human rights which might make the whole right to silence argument flare up again which can only be a good thing if it encourages the police to get back on the road.

For the record the van was operated by the dorset safety camera partnership which is entirely seperate from the police which just makes it more irritating because if I'd just nicked my car and was driving under the limit I could have just sailed past with no one any the wiser, if it was a police car it would have set off all the bells inside the car with the VASCAR stuff.

 

[The_Dark_Side]

I have a question for all those complaining about looking at the speedo takes your eyes off the road.

good point.
so are we saying that you should never take your eyes off the road to check your mirrors? (which incidentally takes at least twice the time required to check your speedo and you need to move both your eyes and your head).
every minute i'm driving a car i probably check my speedo between 1-4 times depending on the situation and all three mirrors 2-3 times. it's a habit and one that's got me out of an accident situation many times. if these are such demanding things to do then it should come as no surprise to everyone that i've rear ended a car in front 976 times since passing my test.
oh wait a minute, i've never done that.
hmm.

I actually find it quite difficult to stick at a steady 30mph in the Saab. Don't know why, but I assume it's because 30mph is right on the cusp of the autobox changing area, so it seems to slip up and down gears a lot at little input at around 30mph.

well, if that's the case then it will be more difficult for you to stick to 30mph (if that's what you're trying to do of course.).it's an unusual characteristic of your vehicle but one that doesn't affect the majority of drivers though.
even so as you're aware of this "issue" then i'd bet you pay more attention because of this in a camera populated 30 zone and i'd be surprised if you're speed varied by more than +/-2mph indicated (which would still mean you were actually either on the limit or slightly under anyway.

Sorry, no - I've been driving now for 15 years and I'm still yet to get a single point on my license.

how i wish i could say the same

I still maintain that I question the so called observation skills of anybody who gets caught by a fixed camera.

i don't question them, i say the drivers involved weren't paying attention at that time. it follows that if they didn't see the bright yellow camera at the side of the road then they wouldn't have seen an idiot joining their carriageway without signalling or looking to see if they were about to cut anyone up.

BTW i have been snapped by a GATSO before and it did one very important thing. it told me that at that moment i had my eye off the ball and i wasn't paying enough attention. if i missed the camera then i could've missed a pedestrian or another car...and that scared me. yes it was raining at the time and it was dark (9pm) but that's no excuse.

 

[barnettgs]

It was clear, dry, broad daylight, 1pm so virtually no traffic, I wasn't overtaking, there are no side turnings and ironically I was watching the road rather than the laybyes...

Sorry, but it's the same old story I heard every time someone caught doing the speeding. I can feel sorry for you but with police, you can be very unlucky!

Penalty points system meant to teach drivers a lesson to slow down in the near future, however it seemed to me that you took the first two offences too well, in fact far too well! Which is why you didn't pay much attention to the first two offences...until now.

No harm in lifting a foot off the accelerator a bit and check over your car more often so you don't want to pick up any unforeseen points like tyre wear or rear lights etc.