20 mph Speed Zone

ayers

Hello, I'm concerned I may obtain a parking fine in a 20 mph zone. I may have been doing 23 or 24 mph. However, I really do feel this is not my fault.
Normally, along this particular stretch of road, which is not an area I'm fully familiar with (I have only driven on this stretch on four or five occasions), my satnav system normally notifies me regarding the 20 mph limit. The sign speed limit comes later on down the stretch of the road. Unfortunately, I did not have my satnav on, on the last occasion.
I feel that if there was a speed limit sign a lot earlier on the stretch, I would have had a better chance of being notified regarding the 20 mph limit. Is this a legitimate argument? 

lisyloo

We’re you stopped by the police at the time,
is there a camera? Did it flash you?
if none of the above then there’s a high probability nothing will happen.

its unlikely the signage isn’t correct unless you see a speed sign that’s been crashed into or covered by a tree.

FlorayG

No. The speed limit comes into force as you pass the sign. You can see the sign as you approach it. Unless the sign was actually missing where the 20mph limit begins then you have no case
BTW it won't be a 'parking' fine in spite of the fact you were going very slowly 

Johnersh

23mph isn't parking. And speeding is *always* the drivers responsibility so own that.

Standard ACPO guidelines used to be 10% +2mph, although you can be prosecuted for any amount over a speed limit. At 23/24mph, bearing in mind most car speedos marginally over-read the speed for obvious reasons, this will likely be fine.

The NIP must be with you in the next 2 weeks if they want it to fly. If you're offered a speed awareness course, that is good value Vs the alternative.

daveyjp

Keep the satnav turned off and turn on Mk1 eyeball so you can see the actual signs.

 23 is likely to be nearer 20mph. Speedos on every car I've owned have over read by 2-3mph.

Car1980

Contrary to how it should be, speeding offences are generally a case of guilty until proven innocent.

Unless you want to hire a very expensive lawyer to try and find a loophole, there are no mitigating circumstances, no appeals and nothing you can do other than admit the offence if you receive a NIP and hope for a speeding awareness course.

I've sped past vans before though and never received anything.

fatbelly

You would likely to be safe up to an indicated 26 (true speed 24 = 10% +2)

But consider it a lucky escape and try to keep to an indicated 20, even though it feels like you are not moving

lisyloo

Car1980 said:

Contrary to how it should be, speeding offences are generally a case of guilty until proven innocent.

Unless you want to hire a very expensive lawyer to try and find a loophole, there are no mitigating circumstances, no appeals and nothing you can do other than admit the offence if you receive a NIP and hope for a speeding awareness course.

I've sped past vans before though and never received anything.

For clarity if you accept a speeding awareness court you do NOT admit the offence.
Yeah - we all know you did it, but it’s never tested or proven.
this is primarily of importance for insurance but also can come up for employment.
its a good option.
mine was £88 (vs £100 fine) but at the time we had 4 insurance policies (2 car, 2 motorbike).

Gr1pr

Also  do not rely on satnavs,  there are various road signs I'm my area warning drivers not to use the satnav from where the sign is, for various reasons,  especially HGV drivers 

Recently one hgv driver in our area tried a 3 point   ( or 50 point ) turn on a residential road near me, where a school layby for buses is,  the back end was next to the school fence and the front tractor unit was embedded in lawn in front of residential houses  ?  Looked like they would need Thunderbird 2 to get it lifted out,  lol

I doubt that driving schools teach reliance on satnavs,  but using eyes and brain,  looking for signs and monitoring your speed etc ( something I relearned in my twenties on a dual carriageway near stoke where the limit dropped to 40mph near a pub and school,  almost every driver got pulled over in a speed trap by the police ( 3 speedings was a ban back then too, so no mercy  )

ayers

Thank you all for your contributions. I will report back in 14 days to let you know if I got anything through the post or not.

Coupon-mad

ayers said:

Hello, I'm concerned I may obtain a parking fine in a 20 mph zone. I may have been doing 23 or 24 mph. However, I really do feel this is not my fault.
Normally, along this particular stretch of road, which is not an area I'm fully familiar with (I have only driven on this stretch on four or five occasions), my satnav system normally notifies me regarding the 20 mph limit. The sign speed limit comes later on down the stretch of the road. Unfortunately, I did not have my satnav on, on the last occasion.
I feel that if there was a speed limit sign a lot earlier on the stretch, I would have had a better chance of being notified regarding the 20 mph limit. Is this a legitimate argument? 

You won't get a penalty. Many local police areas are not enforcing 20mph zones and if there are no cameras there nothing will happen.

Also, as has already been said and I agree from decades of driving experience, your real speed is less than your speedo tells you. The real speed will have been 22 mph which is within a tolerance range.

I'm not encouraging speeding.

Just saying you won't get a NIP.