1 mile an hour over speed limit

DavidHM

Do you have any evidence, Bossyboots, of the existence of such "zero tolerance zones"?

This is especially bearing in mind that the speedometer probably overreads and therefore the actual speed at an indicated 31mph is most likely 29-30 mph. Obviously if the speedo underreads (due to wrong size tyres, for instance) then none of this applies.

Also if there are no speed camera signs, etc., the likelihood is that the camera was actually a traffic signal camera (£60 and 3 points, thank you) although if the light wasn't red, the camera will be faulty and little or no prospect of a prosecution even being brought.

derrick

The following is from our local paper, as you can see it is 2 years old, but i have spoken to these people recently and it is still the case, now it may only be in Lancashire,but I doubt it.

_(14) Evening Post, Thursday, February 26, 2004
31mph
I HAVE an urgent message for your correspondent (Letters, February 18),
who criticised the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety for its
"zero tolerance" policy on speeding

The writer claimed that two work mates had been "done" for driving
at 31mph and 32mph in a 30mph zone. Could I urge the writer to ask
those colleagues to contact me as soon as possible by phoning 01772 534531.
If they were driving at these speeds, I will see that their fine money is returned
and penalty points wiped from their licences.
There is no zero tolerance campaign. The police allow drivers to go an additional
10% plus 2mph over the speed limit before taking action.
In Lancashire, motorists caught speeding in a 30mph zone are only automatically prosecuted
when driving at 36mph, which is actually 20% over the limit.
For those "flashed" at 35mph, there is the option of attending a speed awareness course,
to avoid a fineand the three penalty points. Lancashire is one of only a handful of
places nationwide to offer this.
The majority of crashes occur onroads with a speed limit of 30mph or less.
Research shows that 70% ofpeople break the speed limit onthese roads, usually by 5 or 6mph.
At 35mph, a driver is twice as likely to kill someone as at 30mph, because it takes an extra 21ft to stop.
Linda Sanderson, communications
manager, Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, Preston

DavidHM

Heh... note that she doesn't actually have the power to wipe the drivers' licences clean herself but it illustrates the point nicely.

(To wipe the slate clean she'd have to ask the Magistrates' Court to reopen the convictions and encourage the CPS to offer no evidence).