Variable speed fine

MobileSaver

DavidLintern said:

I was observing all the variable speed limits and adjusting my cruise control appropriately. Went under a limit of 50 travelling at 50, a few 100m up the road, was flashed, and looked up noticing the limit had changed to 40 on the upcoming gantry. I got a notice informing me I was going 47 in a 40. This feels completely wrong and unjust, but I'm unable to contest it,

National Highways state that cameras are not armed until at least 60 seconds after a variable limit has changed so I would respectfully suggest the most plausible explanation is both you and the OP simply missed the speed change on the current/previous gantry.

As others have said, if this was a common problem then you would have thought that loads of people would have posted on YouTube by now with dashcam proof that they were caught just seconds after a speed limit change, yet they haven't...

As an aside you can get dashcams for little more than a tenner these days which would at least have given you closure that it was a simple innocent oversight on your part.

ontheroad1970

DavidLintern said:

I came across this post after receiving a notice of intended prosecution, under VERY similar circumstances. I am surprised by the amount of cynicism against the OP. I can 100% understand the situation and sympathize. I was travelling along the M4, about to join M5 where traffic is often snarled up, I was observing all the variable speed limits and adjusting my cruise control appropriately. Went under a limit of 50 travelling at 50, a few 100m up the road, was flashed, and looked up noticing the limit had changed to 40 on the upcoming gantry. I got a notice informing me I was going 47 in a 40. This feels completely wrong and unjust, but I'm unable to contest it, unless I want to risk extra fines, court appearances and extra points. Accept inaccuracies and wrongly admit to wrong-doing. Or contest it as is your right as an innocent party, but risk massively inflated fines and penalties?

Teh system is doing what it is intended to do - managing traffic, by slowing the traffic down from 70 to 50 and then 50 to 40.  I travel the route frequently and am used to it.  Variable means that it will vary.  It does what it says on the tin.  As said upthread, the camera isn't armed for the new limit immediately - you travel almost a mile in that 60 second period at 50mph.  Time to brush up your observation skills.