Speeding Fines

[Thracian]

Have you driven in Germany? It's amazing the way they all filter sanely in when roadworks are coming up, even the autobahn stormers in their Ferraris and Porsches slow down from 150mph+ and pull in early rather than jumping the lines. It's the morons on our roads that cause the problems not the rules we apply. The UK has got to a point where everyone seems to want to follow only the rules they like (including the Police) but it's OK we'll all just end up with little black boxes in our cars which monitor and control every aspect of driving.

Apart from individual cities like Paris and Milan I've found driving on the continent to be far less aggressive than it is here.

I remember in Switzerland mentioning how good the roads were between Berne and Freibourg and how I could never have driven that distance in such a sort time in England only to be chastised by someone who'd worked out I must have broken the speed limit.

It was then I appreciated that the people of Switzerland all seemed to respect the speed limit and adhere to it. But drive at 70mph on a motorway in England and you'll soon be made to feel like you're holding traffic up.

[Thracian]

Its a hell of a lot easier to stop at 30mph than 50mph and you might be the best driver in the world but cannot allow for other people doing stupid things like stepping out in front of you while listenin to an ipod for example. I cant condone speeding in a 30 mph limit - sorry, I just think its wrong. That goes for Police and anyone else.

If I got caught speeding then I would accept its my fault and take the punishment.

Even that depends on the braking system you've got.

I'm not against speed limits when there are people about anyway although someone stepping directly into your path would doubtless be killed at 30mph as easily as 50mph.

Were there lots of pedestrians say from 8am-6pm you would be driving slowly anyway - perhaps even less than 30 - and

were it 3 o'clock in the morning I would assume that any pedestrian might well step carelessly into the road and allow a great deal of room for just such an eventuality - whatever speed I was going.

In-town market areas are the worst for people stepping into roads because they are so used to pedestrian precincts now that they either don't expect, or totally ignore, traffic believing the roads, as well as the pavements, belong to them.

Because of this what little traffic there is moves more slowly and therefore more quietly than usual, compounding the problem because the pedestrians can't hear them, more expecially when wearing their Ipods.

But are these things even touched on in driving tests? Do learners ever drive around markets? Or are they not considered safe enough?

[lou]

Even that depends on the braking system you've got.

I'm not against speed limits when there are people about anyway although someone stepping directly into your path would doubtless be killed at 30mph as easily as 50mph.

Were there lots of pedestrians say from 8am-6pm you would be driving slowly anyway - perhaps even less than 30 - and

were it 3 o'clock in the morning I would assume that any pedestrian might well step carelessly into the road and allow a great deal of room for just such an eventuality - whatever speed I was going.

In-town market areas are the worst for people stepping into roads because they are so used to pedestrian precincts now that they either don't expect, or totally ignore, traffic believing the roads, as well as the pavements, belong to them.

Because of this what little traffic there is moves more slowly and therefore more quietly than usual, compounding the problem because the pedestrians can't hear them, more expecially when wearing their Ipods.

But are these things even touched on in driving tests? Do learners ever drive around markets? Or are they not considered safe enough?

Im sorry Im not an expert but I cannot seriously believe you can stop quicker at 50 than 30 no matter what braking system you have. Most cars these days have similar ones Id imagine?

I drive for a living and have never had an accident and consider myself a very good driver but just feel a lot happier keeping to the limit in residential areas. I suppose that way if I did hit someones kid I know I wouldnt have a guilty conscience!

[Daggers]

If people came up with their own ideas on here instead of just repeating the approved dogma this place would be a lot more interesting.

[AoWW]

Have you driven in Germany? It's amazing the way they all filter sanely in when roadworks are coming up, even the autobahn stormers in their Ferraris and Porsches slow down from 150mph+ and pull in early rather than jumping the lines. It's the morons on our roads that cause the problems not the rules we apply. The UK has got to a point where everyone seems to want to follow only the rules they like (including the Police) but it's OK we'll all just end up with little black boxes in our cars which monitor and control every aspect of driving.

Amen. I love driving in Germany.

[cisono]

But drive at 70mph on a motorway in England and you'll soon be made to feel like you're holding traffic up.

Of course! Someone overtook me at a speed around what must have been 120mph on Tuesday

[lou]

Right my Uncle was an Inspector in the motorway police and he told me that most coppers wont do someone purely for speeding on the motorway but generally stop ppl for other reasons (driving too close to others or undertaking) rather than the speed they were doing. The police know full well that most ppl dont stick to 70 and dont have a problem with it - as long as they drive in a way suitable to the conditions at the time. I would imagine that would be the case up to a certain speed as long as they werent doing 120!

[Thracian]

Of course! Someone overtook me at a speed around what must have been 120mph on Tuesday

If I'd known it was you I'd have winked my tail lights.

[cisono]

If I'd known it was you I'd have winked my tail lights.

[Guest Bilo]

If I'd known it was you I'd have winked my tail lights.

Drive it like you stole it eh Thrace?

[Thracian]

Drive it like you stole it eh Thrace?

In my dreams....

Can you imagine the headlines: Skod missile mayhem on motorway. Th-race Ace snared by elastic parachute.

[cisono]

Not had a speeding fine (and hope never to get one).

Got one for parking partly on double yellows (there was absolutely no parking around my home at 9:30pm, so parked there intending to go back outside after dinner, but so tired I forgot and later found this £60 fine). £60 for two wheels on double yellows? Crazy!

So now I park three roads down from where I live, as it seems to be the closest I can get to my home most of the time (it sucks when I have 4 heavy bags to carry for work though, and it rains heavily).

[C-man]

Anyone know the deal with the average speed cameras on the motorway?

Why do people still go at 65+mph in the outside lanes when its a 50mph zone?

Even in the middle and left-hand lane people rarely dip below an average of 50! I usually go between 50 and 55 so that the risk of me being caught is minimal, but do they actually work? 24/7?

The reason I ask is because the roadworks between J25 and J28 do my head in when I'm going to/from Sheffield, I want to take some time off my journey! There's about 16 miles of it, almost sends me to sleep!

Oh, and Pass Plus didn't take 30% off my insurance. I'm still paying £1700 for my 1.6 Focus.

[cisono]

Anyone know the deal with the average speed cameras on the motorway?

Why do people still go at 65+mph in the outside lanes when its a 50mph zone?

That's because they bet on the cameras not being in service.

Or they are in a real hurry and have a good excuse, should they be caught (e.g. hospital emergency).

If you cannot slow down, you could always try switching lanes between cameras.

(not that I have ever done this, but I hear it works and instinctively it makes sense).

[AoWW]

Anyone know the deal with the average speed cameras on the motorway?

Why do people still go at 65+mph in the outside lanes when its a 50mph zone?

Even in the middle and left-hand lane people rarely dip below an average of 50! I usually go between 50 and 55 so that the risk of me being caught is minimal, but do they actually work? 24/7?

The reason I ask is because the roadworks between J25 and J28 do my head in when I'm going to/from Sheffield, I want to take some time off my journey! There's about 16 miles of it, almost sends me to sleep!

Oh, and Pass Plus didn't take 30% off my insurance. I'm still paying £1700 for my 1.6 Focus.

Whole thread about 'em recently, here.

[Daggers]

(not that I have ever done this, but I hear it works and instinctively it makes sense).

Urban myth.

The cameras link to computers which recognise numberplates and place their time in a simply v=d/t equation. Anyone thinking switching lanes avoids detection is a fool.

[Sir Fynwy]

Urban myth.

The cameras link to computers which recognise numberplates and place their time in a simply v=d/t equation. Anyone thinking switching lanes avoids detection is a fool.

Next you'll be telling us that wearing your underwear on your head doesn't stop you getting caught by laser speed traps.

[Bellend Sebastian]

There's this book called The Highway Code and it's brilliant.

It's full of useful tips on what to do when using the roads. Do what it says and you can pretty much guarantee that you'll never get stopped by the old bill or get a ticket or anything.

They even sell them in Morrisons. Amazing!

[Webbo]

God bless Her Majesty's Daily Mail.

[Daggers]

Next you'll be telling us that wearing your underwear on your head doesn't stop you getting caught by laser speed traps.

Odd cameras only work on even days and those grey ones can get you pregnant unless you are in a lead-lined car.

[cisono]

Next you'll be telling us that wearing your underwear on your head doesn't stop you getting caught by laser speed traps.

So true! As far as I know, it only works in Japan though! (ask Jeremy Clarkson)

[Alexikokopops]

Pretty much the point I was trying to make. So often we see bad driving on the road, so often the speed has little to do with it. If you see someone weaving all over the road, they don't need to be speeding for you to realise they're driving badly.

But I've been referring to 30 zones, which this thread was started about. I can see your point with higher limits, on a dual carriage way for instance, but no matter how good a driver you are you can't legislate for things that can happen in a 30, like kids runing out in front of you. Keeping to the 30 limit is safest way in my eyes.

I've been considering doing my Pass Plus ever since I passed my test. Six years later and I still haven't got round to it though.

If it really can reduce your premium by 30% though, I'm well and truly up for it.

My sister did that and it took fuck all off her premium so I never bothered. Also you can only do it in the first 12 months since passing your test.

[Guest Bilo]

But I've been referring to 30 zones, which this thread was started about. I can see your point with higher limits, on a dual carriage way for instance, but no matter how good a driver you are you can't legislate for things that can happen in a 30, like kids runing out in front of you. Keeping to the 30 limit is safest way in my eyes.

I agree that the 30 limit should be adhered to and that speed cameras are useful in 30 zones. I may not have made it clear on this thread, but I'm not opposed to speed cameras per se. They are useful tools in genuine accident blackspots, outside schools or in built-up areas. What I'm opposed to is the proliferation of speed cameras in areas with higher speed limits (which you will almost have certainly seen with the amount of driving you do in Lincolnshire).

My sister did that and it took fuck all off her premium so I never bothered. Also you can only do it in the first 12 months since passing your test.

Buggeration. How much is the IAM test I wonder?

[act smiley]

Urban myth.

The cameras link to computers which recognise numberplates and place their time in a simply v=d/t equation. Anyone thinking switching lanes avoids detection is a fool.

Actually, its to do with one particular model of them processing the photos for each camera seperately, so it doesn't match the two photos or something like that I thought?

Still, ridiculous considering its probably not that many that are affected and nowhere near the legend level that the idea seems to have got.