Tower Bridge 20MPH Speed Limit!

overworked_underpaid

I received a nip (notice of intended prosecution) stating that I failed to comply with the 20 m.p.h speed limit at Tower Bridge. The letter states I was driving at 30mph and they have sent photographic evidence. I can't believe that the limit is not 30mph as clearly 20mph is a joke. Most of the time you can't drive more than 5mph due to heavy traffic.

I am a careful driver and make note of speed cameras and speed limits. This one threw me as it was late at night and I was simply driving with the flow of the traffic.

What really annoyed me was the following extract that was sent in a Q&A document with the nip:
Q: Why are the cameras not visible at the roadside?
A: Because of the need to preserve the nature and fabric of the Tower Bridge area and comply with English Heritage conditions, these cameras are mounted on a gantry and are not painted yellow

The letter also states that you will receive a conditional offer or a fixed penalty (which will allow you to avoid court proceedings by paying a £60 penalty and accepting 3 points on your driving license) or a summons to appear in court.

As I have never had points on my license I have a few questions. I understand that in some cases they can offer you a conditional offer of paying a higher penalty and attending a driving awareness course instead of getting points on your license. Will they automatically give you this option or do you have take it to court for this to be considered? I rather do this then get points.

Secondly, how much will my car insurance premiums increase as a result of 3 points?

Driver8

I got stopped a few year ago for doing the heinous crime of doing 37mph on a nice stretch of road what was 30mph. OK i broke a the law !

I opted to pay £97 to go on a "Speed awareness course" and when i were, at the end of the course which was ONE AND A HALF DAY LONG, which could have been put into three hours at the most, literally, asked if the course was any good. I made sure they signed the paper work that i had attended, then told them the truth.

It was literally useless. Absolutely useless. A total and utter waste of my time and everyone else's. Your supposed to be on a course but spend your time drinking tea in ASDA to pass the time, with the instructor taking you there.

That was with Kirklees Council in Flint Street, Fartown, Huddersfield. You may ask where that council is. Well it covers West Yorkshire. No one has ever heard of Kirklees, it was once called The West Riding, anyway i digress.

Just look at the money trail and see who benefits. Speed awareness courses are totally and absolutely USELESS. If i get caught next time i will just take the three points instead of stuffing some ACPO pocket's with my money.

before some sanctimonious idiot comes one saying, well, you shouldn't speed, who hasn't?


It's just been on the news that you will not go to prison for carrying a knife now, you were supposed to be going to serve at least 5 year for. Give the police an easy ride and go after the tax paying, hard working motorist doing 7 mph over the so called limit. They will pay.

That's why you do not see the police on council estates. There's no money there for ACPO to take off you.

Cynical, me?

DaveF327

This is the first time I've ever heard of a 20mph limit actually being enforced.

Granted, it's at a unique location and not in the usual residential speed hump areas, but seems odd that such a zone exists on such a flat road. The Runcorn bridge was 40mph last time I drove over it. I think the Tyne bridge was at least 30. Has anyone else been prosecuted in a 20 zone?

hippey

If I remember rightly the cameras on Tower Brigde are the SPECS type over the road before you actually reach the bridge, but if you were following the flow of traffic then everone else will have tickets too!

Driver8

hippey wrote: »

If I remember rightly the cameras on Tower Brigde are the SPECS type over the road before you actually reach the bridge, but if you were following the flow of traffic then everone else will have tickets too!

How much are they raking in eh? They make me sick.

dacouch

Tower Bridge is a World Heritage site and has to be protected.

As the previous poster mentioned there are average speed cameras on the bridge and they are sited a reasonable distance away from the span, the speed limit is pretty well sign posted. I'm surprised you managed 30mph keeping with the traffic as the vast majority of drivers would know the speed limit. Did you not accelerate when it was two lanes at either end which would have increased your average speed

dzug1

I would guess the reason for there being a 20mph limit is to protect the structure of the bridge - not road safety in the normal sense. I hope they are 'raking in' enough to repair it when it becomes unsafe to drive on.

dacouch

dzug1 wrote: »

I would guess the reason for there being a 20mph limit is to protect the structure of the bridge - not road safety in the normal sense. I hope they are 'raking in' enough to repair it when it becomes unsafe to drive on.

If you have ever driven over the bridge it is very rare to be able to speed as there is loads of traffic on it, the average speed in the day is probably about 5mph.

But I agree the speed limit is to protect the structure and the many many tourists who wander along in awe at the bridge

overworked_underpaid

dacouch wrote: »

Tower Bridge is a World Heritage site and has to be protected.

As the previous poster mentioned there are average speed cameras on the bridge and they are sited a reasonable distance away from the span, the speed limit is pretty well sign posted. I'm surprised you managed 30mph keeping with the traffic as the vast majority of drivers would know the speed limit. Did you not accelerate when it was two lanes at either end which would have increased your average speed

Although the speed limit is sign posted, there is no sign post for a speed camera. It was late at night and there was no traffic, hence driving at 30mph did not feel as I was driving fast or speeding and as mentioned there were cars in front of me at the same speed as well. You can't really accelerate where there are 2 lanes because there are traffic lights on either end.

Reggie_Rebel

overworked_underpaid wrote: »

Although the speed limit is sign posted, there is no sign post for a speed camera.

So you only stick to the limit when there are cameras about?

davetrousers

overworked_underpaid wrote: »

Although the speed limit is sign posted, there is no sign post for a speed camera.

Have a look at Google Street view.