Confused over speeding ticket

sad_cr

I have just received a Notice of Intended Prosecution letter stating that I was doing 72mph in a 60mph zone.

The wording states "Exceed Speed Limit 60mph Single Carriageway (Manned Camera)"

I remember passing it on the A361 Loxbeare in Devon, but I was definitely on a TWO lane carriageway! In fact I had just overtaken a lorry and, at the exact time of first seeing the camera, I was being overtaken by another car!

I genuinely thought it was a Dual Carriageway as it was 2 lanes, thus a 70mph speed limit.

Can I contest the letter - I don't want points on my licence - I am 38 and have had a clean licence passing when 18!

Sgt_Pepper_2

Have a look and post a google streetview link. Are there any speed limit signs?

bigdave196

Looking at the road on Street View, I can see that it is indeed a two-lane Single Carriageway, so the 60MPH NSL would apply

Unless there is a barrier or some other separation of the two different directions of traffic, then it is a Single Carriageway. It is entirely possible to have multi-lane Single Carriageways and single lane Dual Carriagways, it is the physical separation of the traffic that defines the type of carriageway, not the number of lanes.

Sorry, but it looks like you've been caught bang to rights (on this aspect at least)

~Chameleon~

You can go online to get photographic evidence of exactly where they collared you. Should be details on your letter.

I've got one catching me doing 36mph approx 200yds after entering a 30mph zone (I was decelerating) and on a bend too so I had no idea they were even there. Surely it can't be legal to monitor so close to a speed change?

wba31

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

You can go online to get photographic evidence of exactly where they collared you. Should be details on your letter.

I've got one catching me doing 36mph approx 200yds after entering a 30mph zone (I was decelerating) and on a bend too so I had no idea they were even there. Surely it can't be legal to monitor so close to a speed change?

I was taught that the speed limit starts where the sign is, so 200 yards behind that sign you should be at 30, not still decelerating?

Joe_Horner

The A361 stops being dual carriageway at the roundabout with the A396 at Tiverton so you can contest it if you like but you WILL lose.

As for monitoring close to a speed limit change, it's perfectly legal. From the law's point of view you should be doing no more than 30 as soon as you enter the 30 zone - Contrary to how many people treat them, the signs are NOT "start slowing down now" signs!

sad_cr

Thanks BigDave196 and Joe Horner, much appreciated.

Single lane dual carriageways and multiple lane single carriageways...is all very confusing!

I guess I need to pay the fine and then re-read my highway code book :-(

~Chameleon~

wba31 wrote: »

I was taught that the speed limit starts where the sign is, so 200 yards behind that sign you should be at 30, not still decelerating?

True, but I don't like to use my brakes unless absolutely necessary :money: so always opt for deceleration where possible

vax2002

Everybody speeds all of the time, well 99.99% of it, what a winner they are on...

Crazy_Jamie

sad_cr wrote:

Can I contest the letter - I don't want points on my licence - I am 38 and have had a clean licence passing when 18!

You can contest it if you want, but from the information provided in the thread it doesn't sound like the evidence falls in your favour. I appreciate not wanting points on your licence, but ultimately you'd be better served holding your hands up than fighting it all the way to trial and losing. If you really have made an honest mistake here, which it sounds like you have, just accept it and move on.

One thing to remember is that whether you want to fight it or not, you have to make sure that you comply with the NIP in terms of providing information to the police. Failing to provide information is an offence in itself, and one that carries a harsher penalty than simple speeding (namely, 6 points rather than 3 and a much higher fine). So don't think that you can ignore this in any way; you have to comply with the requirements of the letter regardless of whether you choose to contest the charge or not.

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

True, but I don't like to use my brakes unless absolutely necessary :money: so always opt for deceleration where possible

So therefore the rather simple solution seems to be that you should decelerate sooner. I would entirely agree that it is common for vehicles to decelerate into an area with a new speed limit, but that doesn't make it legally acceptable. In fact, plenty of people drive contrary to what they know they should be doing. Most don't get caught and suffer no consequences, but that doesn't mean that those that do get caught have a ready made excuse because others do it and don't get caught.

vax2002

Your thread will be to get the picture they have, if it has been cropped, demand the unedited version then if as you say it shows you been overtaken, you can ask them to testify that the speed registered is yours and not the car over taking you.
If they can not provide the speed of the vehicle overtaking, you should have enough doubt to have it thrown out.