Safe Speed Forums

hiya,

I'm new to this forum so please be gentle with me.

I got flashed twice by a rear facing yellow speedtrap yesterday and i'm quite worryed and i just wanted advice and coments.

First let me start by saying, I'm not an evil person, i'm not a boy racer, i'm not a stressfull driver and i'm never in a hurry to get to where i need to be. If i broke the law, then i'll take it on the chin.

But heres my story.....

Yesterday, on the A15 from Lincon to Scunthorpe, a accident blackspot.. I was traveling at about 55mph when i was aproching a well know, well visable yellow speedtrap. I looked at my speedo and thought 'i'm well under 60mph' so i didn't slow down, the car in front was not slowing down, nor speeding up, we was both doing the same speed.

The speedtrap flashed twice at me. my heart sank, i was sure that this was a 60mph road. For about 5miles i tried looking for a speed limit sign, there wasn't a single one... some of the guy who travel on the A15 daily couldn't aggree if it is 50 or a 60 zone.

Questions/old wifes tales...

Could this be a fault on the speedtrap?
Does the rd need to be well signed with the limit
Am i likey to get a ticket (i know theres a 10% margin which should take me to about 55mph)
Do I have to recive it within 2 weeks or its invalid
If i took it to court and played the court a video of the rd showin no speed limit signs for miles would that be accepted?

Like i said before, i'm not an evil person, (dont get me wrong, i don't claim to be the worlds best driver either) but driving is my main sorce of income and if i'd have thought the road was 50 i would have been doing 45 in the same way that i thought the road was 60 so i did 55....

hope all the above makes sence....

First off, don't panic. There's nothing you can do until you receive a NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution). If you receive a NIP update this thread before you do anything and we'll steer you in the right direction. In the meantime if you want to learn a bit more about the enforcement process visit www.pepipoo.com. Everything you want to know (and the answers to questions you didn't know to ask) is there.

Please stay around and read the forums. You say you're not the world's best driver. Rest assured that you won't find that individual here either. We're all pretty much ordinary people who are interested in road safety and safe driving. Many of the people who post here are advanced drivers, traffic cops, driving instructors etc and as a result we're proud to say that the standard of knowledge and debate is pretty high. If you're looking to find out more about safe driving and how to improve you've come to the right place

_________________
Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

thanks for the link, its was very usefull.... and yer, i'm trying not to panic but its in my nature, i have 6points (told you i wasn't the worlds best driver) but 3 off them are 3 years old this May. But i can't work out if they still count or i have to wait until they are 4 years old.

I'm more upset about the speed limit not been displayed on the A15 (countryside) as it is a accident blackspot. So i'm trying to figur out if its like the built-up area with street lights rule... no signs for miles & miles on the A15 (i thought they had to be at least shown on a entrance/junction to that rd so road users know what they are joining)

Anyway, its a handy bookmark to my favs. is this site, some of the storys make good reading....

The points stay on your licence for 4 years but only count towards a totting up ban for 3 years.

As far as signage is concerned they need to put signs up if the limit is changing; repeaters may also be required depending on certain criteria. More info on the ABD site

_________________
Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

ok, please let me clarifie this.. (sorry for been stupid)

so once the 3rd year has passed on my 3 points, then as far as a driving ban is concerned, they are invalid?

If yes, then whats the point of them been still on the licence for another year? (proably to up the premium on my car insurance)

Ist three years declaration - as I understand - the fourth year ist in case of 4th ping taking you to tot up before three year period expire on foirst nine - but may be wrong ... not sure I understood this fully when I read - IG und MM are perhaps better at this...

For inusrance purpose - you have to declare for 5 year - all of them...

But as I understand - you shop around ... if ist blip situation - they tend not to load for it.. it a blat then ist different.. but each company vary..

_________________
Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

Yes, but remember that points go on your licence from the date of the offence, not the date of conviction, so if you get 3 points from the camera you passed yesterday you'll be on 9 until May when you drop back to 6.

I'd imagine they stay on your licence for 4 years to stop you getting them taken off between being caught and being prosecuted.

Suppose you get 3 points for yesterday's encounter. You get caught again at the end of April and string events out by deciding to plead not guilty and go to court. In May if you could apply for a new licence and get it back with 6 points on it you could appear in court for the April offence, be found guilty and go back up to 9, but you should be banned for totting as at the time of the April offence you were already on 9 points. Does that make sense?

_________________
Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

thanks for that....

My insucance company gave me a re-newal quote this year, (they knew about my first 3 points) then i told them about my latest 3points and the quote stayed the same....

However, this made me chuckel (in anger)

I used to park my car 'on street parking' but then i got a new car so i now park it 'on a driveway'
When i told them of this, my quote went up £25... surely the car is less at risk on a driveway...

But if you can afford a house with a driveway you must have more money...

_________________
Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

yer that makes sence...

So heres another question, if I get NIP for yesterdays speedtrap, and i plead not guilty...

I tell the court that it was a honiest mistake, i wasn't sure of the speed limit and the lack of signs didn't help me... (i present them with a video of the journy with the lack of speed limit signs on the route i took leading up to the trap)

If the court says, nar, im found guilty.....

whats the worst that could happend to me.... more than 3 points? £1000 fine??

lol - i can't - i used to park it out side my house but it kept getting scratched/keyed, so i asked a little old lady accross the road who has a drive and doesn't have a car if i could use her driveway.

Ignorance of the law is not an excuse and speeding is an absolute offence, so no intent is required for you to be found guilty. the court won't care that you made a mistake, and they won't like the 6 points you have already either.

If you want to fight it then www.pepipoo.com is the place for advice, but they can't assist until you receive a NIP, which I don't think you'll get, TBH.

If you find out that it was a 30 limit you'll have to fight as 55 in a 30 is 6-point territory and you'd be banned as a totter. Part of the fight would include ensuring that the signage was all in order as you shouldn't be convicted if it isn't.

_________________
Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

It also go off post code too .. und it seem ist easier to "lift keys" from hall table und get to car to nick it... ist perhaps their daft logic.

MM has two sisters - one in Manchester 'burb und one on Bolton 'burb. They have same jobs ... but one ist Bolton und other Stockport area. Bolton girly ist at less risk - depsite this being hub of burnt out cars thatn the other who live in area where "Salford chavs target because ist leafiest 'burb in city ... " Has nothing to do with J13/12/11 of M60 of course ... it would be higher if she work in town centre Manchester... und not Stockport toppest school..

Ist case of shop around

_________________
Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

luckaly it wasn't a 30 or a 40 - def a 50 or a 60....

I hate the waiting game....

gonna read some threads on this forum.. its quite intresting.

For it to be a 50 there'd have to be repeaters. If there weren't any it's either not a 50 or the limit is unenforceable due to incorrect signage, IMO.

_________________
Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

Go back to this road. Ist NSL.. Take photos of all lollies - this wil reassure you that your observation per COAST was correct.

If you were mistaken und get NIP - go to Pepipoo und also check out CAB und yellow page for the free half hour with solicitor. This give you right angle to argue your grovelling plea of hardship if no licence to drive as result of tot up.

For peace of mind - und ist worth investment - get useful gadget. Origin ist good - it remind of speed limit in case you miss one sign. Ist legal in UK (not France). or you could get overlay on a Tom Tom ...

Und do look at the scam sites for all timetables und fixed locations before your drive anywhere.



We do.. Und ist amaxzing what fibbles they tell - ist really quite amusing

In a way ...

_________________
Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

It must be served upon the registered keeper within 14 days excluding date of offence, you should also add postal lag. If it’s your vehicle then yes!



What vehicle were you driving?
Different classes of vehicles are subjected to different speed limits on NSL roads (e.g. HGV to 40 mph)

D'oh! Forgot about that!

_________________
Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

Which side of the Caenby Corner RB was it? I drive that same stretch a fair bit, and I am fairly sure that it is NSL all the way until the outskirts of scunny.
I don't recall slowing by any kind of ridiculous speed to pass a camera (slowing to 50 or 40) along that bit of road, but if you don't live locally then I'm up that way in a week or so an can check for you.

If you get the NIP, it would be worth checking the actual speed limit. Rear facing is a Gatso, and Gatso's can false trigger as they are poorly calibrated radar devices. Good news is they also take 2 photographs, so calculating actual speed is very easy.

Always worry about the A15 being labelled an accident blackspot and hence getting speed cameras and Talivans - It's surely one of the longest stretches of arrow straight road in the country, safe speed must be like 500mph or something as you can see for miles! all the crashes seem to be down to doddery farmers pulling out of sideroads, something better road engineering would sort.

hiya, it was north of C.Corner - heading to Sunny Scuny. I know the speed trap was there as i've passed it 1000 times, next to the dog kennels place. I never bother to slow down cos i thought it was 60.