Notice of Intended Prosecution - Variable Speed Limit

therealhyper

I recently received a speeding fine for apparently doing 46 mph in 40 mph zone on the M1 motorway. The variable speed limits changed throughout the journey, from the standard 70, to 60, 50, 40 and maybe even 30 !  I feel the constant speed limit changes throughout my journey was very mis-leading. From lower speeds to higher speeds and lower again, so very difficult to keep track of the speeds. The journey I was doing was over 200 miles from end to end, so a long journey too. Do I bite the bullet and accept the points...I assume its 3points or push back at all ? Do I have any grounds to challenge ? I feel strongly the speeding ticket is unjust in this case, I was driving safely to the best of my knowledge within the limits but the constant speed limit changes could have been mis-leading. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks 

soolin

You don't appear to have any defence to fight back with. Feeling it is unfair is not a valid defence.

mr_stripey

You were driving faster than the speed limit, so it isn't unjust in any way.

The fact the speed limit changed or you were on a long journey are irrelevant.

oldernonethewiser

therealhyper said:

I recently received a speeding fine for apparently doing 46 mph in 40 mph zone on the M1 motorway. The variable speed limits changed throughout the journey, from the standard 70, to 60, 50, 40 and maybe even 30 !  I feel the constant speed limit changes throughout my journey was very mis-leading. From lower speeds to higher speeds and lower again, so very difficult to keep track of the speeds. The journey I was doing was over 200 miles from end to end, so a long journey too. Do I bite the bullet and accept the points...I assume its 3points or push back at all ? Do I have any grounds to challenge ? I feel strongly the speeding ticket is unjust in this case, I was driving safely to the best of my knowledge within the limits but the constant speed limit changes could have been mis-leading. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks 

In what way do you think the limits may have been misleading?

TooManyPoints

When you say you have received a "speeding fine", what exactly have you received? They don' send fines through the post.

Would it be a "Notice of Intended Prosecution", together with a request for driver's details?

Car_54

OP, for that speed you should be offered a speed awareness course, provided you haven't done one in the previous three years.

CliveOfIndia

therealhyper said:

Do I bite the bullet and accept the points...I assume its 3points or push back at all ?

It'll be £100 fine and 3 points - not the end of the world in the grand scheme of things (unless you've already got points on your licence?).  Or you may be lucky and get offered a speed awareness course.

Either way you have no valid defence.

therealhyper said:

From lower speeds to higher speeds and lower again, so very difficult to keep track of the speeds.

As a driver you are expected to be driving with due care and attention, so saying it was "difficult to keep track" of the changes won't wash, I'm afraid.

Mildly_Miffed

therealhyper said:

I recently received a speeding fine for apparently doing 46 mph in 40 mph zone on the M1 motorway. The variable speed limits changed throughout the journey, from the standard 70, to 60, 50, 40 and maybe even 30 !  I feel the constant speed limit changes throughout my journey was very mis-leading. From lower speeds to higher speeds and lower again, so very difficult to keep track of the speeds. The journey I was doing was over 200 miles from end to end, so a long journey too. Do I bite the bullet and accept the points...I assume its 3points or push back at all ? Do I have any grounds to challenge ? I feel strongly the speeding ticket is unjust in this case, I was driving safely to the best of my knowledge within the limits but the constant speed limit changes could have been mis-leading. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks 

I'm not sure how this kind of gantry variable limit can be "misleading" or "hard to keep track of" as to what the current limit is at any time.



Could you explain, please?

Variable limits change according to traffic levels and other problems ahead. They have been doing since they were introduced on the M25 over thirty years ago, and they're now on over half of the UK's motorway network.

Simply, they work.
If you think the limit reduction was unnecessary, that quite likely shows that they're working, because it shows the traffic levels were managed and you didn't hit a jam.

When the limit changes, there's no camera on the first gantry after a limit change, and later ones don't come into use for thirty seconds after the change, if I remember right. If you were doing a genuine 46mph, the chances are your speedo was reading over 50.

born_again

therealhyper said:

I recently received a speeding fine for apparently doing 46 mph in 40 mph zone on the M1 motorway. The variable speed limits changed throughout the journey, from the standard 70, to 60, 50, 40 and maybe even 30 !  I feel the constant speed limit changes throughout my journey was very mis-leading. From lower speeds to higher speeds and lower again, so very difficult to keep track of the speeds. The journey I was doing was over 200 miles from end to end, so a long journey too. Do I bite the bullet and accept the points...I assume its 3points or push back at all ? Do I have any grounds to challenge ? I feel strongly the speeding ticket is unjust in this case, I was driving safely to the best of my knowledge within the limits but the constant speed limit changes could have been mis-leading. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks 

If you were struggling to concentrate, then that is exactly why service stations were built to give you a break & rest.
Limits on on overhead gantries which are as easy to see as it gets on any road.
Changes in limits is not going to get you out of the fine, I'm afraid. 

caprikid1

"Do I bite the bullet and accept the points...I assume its 3points or push back at all ?""

Good chance on variable speed limits of being offered a speed awareness course.

LinLui

Last week I also did a couple of 200+ mile journeys over vast strteches of variable speed motorway. I am no saint. I know a couple of times my speed crept up a bit because I noticed that I was going a little faster than the huge and noticeable signs that told me what speed I should not be exceeding. Speed limits change all the time, not just on motorways, and we have signs that tell us what the limit is on whatever stretch of road we are on. You therefore were not "driving safely" because you were unaware of the very clearly displayed speed limit and of your own speed. You might find that a "defence" of "I don't know how to drive within the law" might go down less well than "fair cop I was speeding" because the former is also "driving without due care and attention".