PSNI Speed Traps

thetope

guy in work was pulled over for staying in the outside lane about 4 months ago, he was the last in a long line of people in the overtaking lane, getting nowhere. managed to get away with a warning and no points but the threat was definitely there

sor_fes2

I try my best not to speed, and drive AT the given speed limit in the area I am in. I will move out of the overtaking lane if I am not going faster than those in the inside lane or there is no reason for me to be in the lane.

I'm not a perfect driver in these cases but I try to stick to the law. Currently I have a clean license and intend to keep it that way...

Speed cameras - very very annoying. Makes me always feel like I'm guilty. Also I tend to keep looking at my speedometre alot more when I know there is a camera be it mobile or fixed. This is dangerous because, funnily enough, you're not looking at the road or the other traffic/pedestrians/etc! I don't believe the cameras reduce accidents. I do believe they are a revenue gatherer. I don't like speed cameras. They just really annoy drivers whether they are 'law-abiding' or not.

Drivers in the overtaking lane - I have been 'stuck' in this lane behind drivers that won't move over even though the other lane is empty. I was on the motorway and was behind someone driving at 50mph, there was no one in the inside lane.

Now, I know you are not allowed to overtake in the inside lane, but if there is no one in it should you not move into it - then the problem arises whether you should be driving at the speedlimit or slower than the driver in the outside lane.... Actually I had a road rage problem, where I was coming off a roundabout in the inside lane and someone came of in front of me in the outside lane, however I was going fast enough (probably actually going faster than them but within the speedlimit) that I was near level with them when they decided to pull into my lane without looking properly. I beeped at them as they would have hit me, which was followed by beeps from them. They then overtook me in their lane, pulled in front of me and stopped. I pulled out, intending on going about my business but they ran out in front of me. I had to stop or else I would have knocked them down (there was a number of cars behind me now too). They then preceded to shout at me.... when as far as I was concerned I had been minding my own business driving within the speedlimits. It really really upset me.

talksalot81

Well, I am not a traffic law specialist, so I could be wrong!

It does seem a bit rough to be pulled over if you are in the overtaking lane but not getting anywhere (presumably due to someone slow ahead). Assuming it was possible to move sideways into the other lane, if you managed to make ground and then overtake a bit down the road, they could jump you for overtaking up the inside! Alot of these sorts of things are so open to interpretation, the traffic police could get you for one thing or another if they set their hearts on it.

On the point of traffic, I presume you guys are familiar with the stretch of motorway approaching the GV hospital coming from Lisburn. You know, it is a 70 then drops to a 50.... I dont really get why we need 2 miles of 50mph limit, why couldnt it be 70 until alot nearer the traffic lights? But given that it is, why do the police seem to pay it little attention? Every time I go down that stretch, people go flying past me, plenty must be doing 70mph! People are 20 over the limit and never get stopped yet there will be plenty enough people will be caught for doing 7 over a limit elsewhere.

The inconsistency within the system is just unfair. Life isnt fair, but this is supposed to be the law and its enforcement, it is meant to be fair!

talksalot81

sor_fes2 wrote:

Actually I had a road rage problem, where I was coming off a roundabout in the inside lane and someone came of in front of me in the outside lane, however I was going fast enough (probably actually going faster than them but within the speedlimit) that I was near level with them when they decided to pull into my lane without looking properly. I beeped at them as they would have hit me, which was followed by beeps from them. They then overtook me in their lane, pulled in front of me and stopped. I pulled out, intending on going about my business but they ran out in front of me. I had to stop or else I would have knocked them down (there was a number of cars behind me now too). They then preceded to shout at me.... when as far as I was concerned I had been minding my own business driving within the speedlimits. It really really upset me.

If you had been less shocked, you might have pulled out your mobile and taken a picture then reported the guy to the police (with evidence of course to back it up!)!

fergs_2

also a nice clean passat, v12 under the hood, brown metallic in colour, cruises around with nice bucket seats.
Not many around - so quite distinctive!

jnd

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talksalot81

I get what you are saying about the speeds, but I am afraid i do not simply consider GPS as 'the end of the story'. I have no idea how accurate it really is, I'd need to see a scientific paper to prove it to me..... and in any case, the radar guns which were once considered so superb are currently not so.... If you are right, I would suggest to anyone caught speeding, within 20% of the limit, to have their speedo checked.

In that case you are either very lucky or you are the guy at the front in the over-taking lane holding everyone else up. If noone is in front of this guy and he won't move over so I can overtake him, you want me to undertake him?

No. On the arguement put to me, you should have pulled into the inside lane as soon as there was space for you to do so, you should never have reached a point where there was no traffic anywhere near you. Besides, I do not think overtaking and passing are the same. If you go into the inside lane and pass someone, that is Ok, it happens all the time. If you immediately pull out into the overtaking lane after passing, it has then become an intentional overtaking manoever. If this was not the case, it would mean that every driver in the inside lane could be prosecuted were the outside lane moving more slowly.

lanko

talksalot i know what your saying about the stetch of motorway the cops arent allowed there politics come into it as well.they can drive up and down but know speed traps allowed.If you saw the figures the other day in the tele there only certain parts of belfast they will operate in.so if you live in east belfast you will get hammered because no one gives them hastle there.and its close to the staff canteen so they can get there donughts

talksalot81

Ah that is interesting to know lanko.... does that apply just to speed traps? I had guessed there were ares they would not operate (westlink as example), but I didnt realise it was quite as widespread. That is yet another factor agreeing with the 'money making' nature of the cameras.... they do not pick on those necessarily driving furthest ouside the law, rather on those who are most likely to pay up and not cause a fuss.

You know, that makes the PSNI traffic division sound alot like paypal....

jnd

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