Speeding 58mph in a 30mph but....

tonys_3

You don't say,but I assume that you were caught by a Gatso camera?If so,I am
surprised that you would expect the camera to be able to work out when the workmen were working.Therefore the temporary speed limit was in force 24 hours a day.Not that all speed cameras are reduced to the new limit if it will only be in force for a few days.This confusion is no mitigation though.

That being said,had you been stopped by a police car,I expect that you
would be unlucky to get more than a ticking off,since you were travelling on a 60 or
70 mph road and the reason for the temporary limit [the workmen]was not there at the time.I would deduce that the road was pretty quiet at the time too.

There should be no question of a ban in your circumstances and I feel that the
proliferation of speed cameras is a major problem on our roads.Not because I think that
drivers should have carte blanche on the road,but because the police as a whole, exercise discretion, often because they have observed the driver over the course of
greater amount of time than magistrates see from a half second snap shot.Nor are
the police motivated by greed.

I await the howls of fury from the non driving fraternity.

jjames_3

You could always say you're a police officer, the "creme de la creme", and were testing the capabilities of the car. Seems to work according to the news....

Sofa_Sogood

jjames wrote:

You could always say you're a police officer, the "creme de la creme", and were testing the capabilities of the car. Seems to work according to the news....

Just realised I was on alerts to this

Humberside, creme de la creme, and trying to get off with anything?

I don't think so

So many mistakes they're .... I'd better not say ...

You need a good solicitor.

But it's a touchy subject, so I'll leave it again

Paul_Varjak

If there are temporary road signs saying speed limit is 30mph you have to obey them! It is not up to you to determine otherwise!

What do you think the speed limit is there when the temporary 30mph signs are not there? I can tell you - it is 50mph!

The 50mph limit runs from North Ferriby to Welton, spanning those awful traffic lights at Melton! The road works are there because a grade separated junction is being built to replace the North Ferriby junction and the Melton Traffic lights.

I kinow of several people that have been killed near those traffic lights and my own sister was seriously injured at the North Ferriby junction where 50mph limit starts!

So, no sympathy at all I am afraid!

ffs

If you are a member of the AA you may well get free legal advice and even representation, I certainly did some years ago. You may well find that you have an insurance policies that gives you similar benefits too, or one have already paid for one of those rip off extras that some current accounts include.

student100

I would have thought that you would be very unfortunate if you were to be disqualified - after all, you were still driving at a speed that was safe given the road conditions, which is what speed limits are there to ensure people do.

Don't know if this is a valid defence though...

Paul_Varjak

student100 wrote:

you were still driving at a speed that was safe given the road conditions which is what speed limits are there to ensure people do.

Do you know the road at all?

Do you know what the conditions were like on that date and time?

If it is not safe to travel at the speed limit you must go slower - and you certainly cannot go faster under any circumstances!

Paul_Varjak

!!!!!! wrote:

If you are a member of the AA you may well get free legal advice and even representation, I certainly did some years ago. You may well find that you have an insurance policies that gives you similar benefits too, or one have already paid for one of those rip off extras that some current accounts include.

Dear AA/Bank Insurance company

Will you defend me at court?

I saw the 30mph temporary speed limit signs but it is not my fault that the workmen who weren't there had covered up the 50mph speed limit signs - which meant I travelled at 58mph and pleaded guilty.


Yours sincerely

valiant123

valiant23

Thank you all for your input on this matter.

PEPIPOO is a great source of information and support-it is amazing and scary the lengths the authorities go to in order to catch speeding motorists. If only the same effort was made in other areas of law enforcement.....
Savvy Sue, thank you again :A

In my original post I accepted I was wrong, and asked for clarification on something which was causing me confusion. That was the fact that there were conflicting roadsigns:-

• Lane ahead closed-NO
• Roadworks-NO

I accept there was a 30mph restriction, although I have my doubts as to whether it was 'legal' (see Pepipoo). I also discovered on there that the device used to 'catch' me is notoriously unreliable.

andy88 wrote:

I went to court in Newbury for speeding a few years ago. It was while the new bypass was being built with a 40mph limit. Most of the offenders were caught there (one doing 110 mph). They disqualified 37 of the 37 cases, even a cleric who was visiting a terminally ill person in a hospice at 0230 - no workmen then either. I'd say your licence is in jeopardy.

My offence was a bit further north. I was towing a large trailer at 94 mph; even the prosecuting solicitor did not believe it (I overheard her); it was impossible to get the policeman into court on 3 occasions (he went sick) to explain why he looked at the recording equipment and said Oh that's not right. Banned for 2 months; overturned on appeal. 70 mph in fact

LTi 20/20 (I think) is the device they used in andy88s' case, and it is the same one they used in my case. tonys, this should answer your question, and I agree with your post totally.

However,

Paul_Varjak wrote:

If there are temporary road signs saying speed limit is 30mph you have to obey them! It is not up to you to determine otherwise!

I did obey them, until they made NO SENSE, which was the original point regarding the poor signing which said there was a lane closed when there wasn't, and that there were roadworks when there wasn't. How often do people slow down when they 'obey' matrix signs on a motorway which is relating to an incident which happened many hours previously?

Paul_Varjak wrote:

What do you think the speed limit is there when the temporary 30mph signs are not there? I can tell you - it is 50mph!

If I am recorded by an LTi 20/20 device doing 58mph in a 50 zone I would almost certainly pleasd not guilty as I have absolutely NO faith in those devices.

Despite that, thank you for enlightening me. As I said in my original post I thought it was National Speed Limit on that part of the road.

Paul_Varjak wrote:

The 50mph limit runs from North Ferriby to Welton, spanning those awful traffic lights at Melton! The road works are there because a grade separated junction is being built to replace the North Ferriby junction and the Melton Traffic lights.

In what way are they awful? and,
What is a grade separated junction?

Paul_Varjak wrote:

I kinow of several people that have been killed near those traffic lights and my own sister was seriously injured at the North Ferriby junction where 50mph limit starts!

So, no sympathy at all I am afraid!

Paul, despite the condemning tone of your post you have me mistaken. I never asked for sympathy. I was confused, I asked a question. I got answers, advice, and help in finding things out for myself.

I do wonder why such an accident blackspot in this day and age is not covered by a permanent speed camera.

I also wonder whether it is because the Safety Camera Partnership are more interested in revenue than life-saving.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who is sorry about Pauls sister, and would join me in hoping she has fully recpvered.

valiant23

Anyway, the case went to court, and I was given 6pts and £150 fine.

Thanks again to all.
:beer:
(but I don't drink )

Valiant