Caught speeding, lesson learned
Discussion
Just over a month ago I was heading home after after picking my young daughter up from the centre of town, a journey of 10 mins. Journey there is down a long, reasonably steep hill with a high school and junior school on one side, houses set back from the road on the other. The hill has traffic-calming mild chicanes halfway up, level with the schools. You can flatten out the corners a bit at a touch under 30mph; anything above that and you would be sawing at the wheel a little and looking like a plonker as your rock the car around the bends.
There was a camera van parked in a lay-by near the top of the hill; not for the first time and in plain sight. This was around 5.30pm on a bright spring evening. Little traffic and luckily the schools had long shut for the day so no pedestrians.
I passed the van on the way down so I knew they were there but on the way back, coming off of a small roundabout at the bottom of the hill I accelerated and as is easily done, I quickly passed 30mph without thinking and while talking to my daughter. I realised too late and noticed my speed (42mph) at the same time I remembered the camera van was there. There was no way they didn't get me.
I looked up the guidance on sentencing and saw I was in the bracket for a potential fine of up to £1000, 6 points and/or a 5 day ban. Annoying, but bang to rights and I would have to live with the consequences of higher insurance and inconvenience. That it was in a school zone was also a factor so I was expecting the worst possible outcome.
After filling out the paperwork that arrived, I anxiously awaited the next step, perhaps even a court date. What eventually arrived was £100 fine and 3 points. Thanking my lucky stars, I paid the fine instantly and breathed a sigh of relief.
I've been caught before over the years and luckily it's only ever been 3 points and the fine, but in this case the realisation it could be a lot worse was a real eye-opener. In a away that speed awareness courses have failed to do, the serious implications have had a positive affect on my driving. While nowhere near a boy racer, I am now not pushing my luck by even a little in 30mph zones and on longer drives the active cruise control (something I've never had on a car before) is proving to be a godsend. I did a 380 mile round trip the other evening, nearly all motorway and dual carriageway and by sitting at 70 with the ACC on, not only did it make driving less stressful knowing I didn't have to constantly check my speed or cameras, but the fuel economy was significantly improved too.
Clearly I'm getting old and sensible but honestly, I'm happy with the changes.
There was a camera van parked in a lay-by near the top of the hill; not for the first time and in plain sight. This was around 5.30pm on a bright spring evening. Little traffic and luckily the schools had long shut for the day so no pedestrians.
I passed the van on the way down so I knew they were there but on the way back, coming off of a small roundabout at the bottom of the hill I accelerated and as is easily done, I quickly passed 30mph without thinking and while talking to my daughter. I realised too late and noticed my speed (42mph) at the same time I remembered the camera van was there. There was no way they didn't get me.
I looked up the guidance on sentencing and saw I was in the bracket for a potential fine of up to £1000, 6 points and/or a 5 day ban. Annoying, but bang to rights and I would have to live with the consequences of higher insurance and inconvenience. That it was in a school zone was also a factor so I was expecting the worst possible outcome.
After filling out the paperwork that arrived, I anxiously awaited the next step, perhaps even a court date. What eventually arrived was £100 fine and 3 points. Thanking my lucky stars, I paid the fine instantly and breathed a sigh of relief.
I've been caught before over the years and luckily it's only ever been 3 points and the fine, but in this case the realisation it could be a lot worse was a real eye-opener. In a away that speed awareness courses have failed to do, the serious implications have had a positive affect on my driving. While nowhere near a boy racer, I am now not pushing my luck by even a little in 30mph zones and on longer drives the active cruise control (something I've never had on a car before) is proving to be a godsend. I did a 380 mile round trip the other evening, nearly all motorway and dual carriageway and by sitting at 70 with the ACC on, not only did it make driving less stressful knowing I didn't have to constantly check my speed or cameras, but the fuel economy was significantly improved too.
Clearly I'm getting old and sensible but honestly, I'm happy with the changes.
martinbiz said:
Yes was always going to be a Fixed penalty and 3 points @ 42 in a 30 a course would also normally be offered if eligible
Don’t believe most of the rubbish on the internet that completely ignores the FP system
I recently did a SAC for 42 in a 30. First time I have caught in over 20 years, but I had assumed it would be points.Don’t believe most of the rubbish on the internet that completely ignores the FP system
username_checksout said:
Just over a month ago I was heading home after after picking my young daughter up from the centre of town, a journey of 10 mins. Journey there is down a long, reasonably steep hill with a high school and junior school on one side, houses set back from the road on the other. The hill has traffic-calming mild chicanes halfway up, level with the schools. You can flatten out the corners a bit at a touch under 30mph; anything above that and you would be sawing at the wheel a little and looking like a plonker as your rock the car around the bends.
There was a camera van parked in a lay-by near the top of the hill; not for the first time and in plain sight. This was around 5.30pm on a bright spring evening. Little traffic and luckily the schools had long shut for the day so no pedestrians.
I passed the van on the way down so I knew they were there but on the way back, coming off of a small roundabout at the bottom of the hill I accelerated and as is easily done, I quickly passed 30mph without thinking and while talking to my daughter. I realised too late and noticed my speed (42mph) at the same time I remembered the camera van was there. There was no way they didn't get me.
I looked up the guidance on sentencing and saw I was in the bracket for a potential fine of up to £1000, 6 points and/or a 5 day ban. Annoying, but bang to rights and I would have to live with the consequences of higher insurance and inconvenience. That it was in a school zone was also a factor so I was expecting the worst possible outcome.
After filling out the paperwork that arrived, I anxiously awaited the next step, perhaps even a court date. What eventually arrived was £100 fine and 3 points. Thanking my lucky stars, I paid the fine instantly and breathed a sigh of relief.
You didn't do a very good of looking up 'the guidance' as the information you found online (Fine Band B, etc.) is only relevant if court proceedings are instituted. There was a camera van parked in a lay-by near the top of the hill; not for the first time and in plain sight. This was around 5.30pm on a bright spring evening. Little traffic and luckily the schools had long shut for the day so no pedestrians.
I passed the van on the way down so I knew they were there but on the way back, coming off of a small roundabout at the bottom of the hill I accelerated and as is easily done, I quickly passed 30mph without thinking and while talking to my daughter. I realised too late and noticed my speed (42mph) at the same time I remembered the camera van was there. There was no way they didn't get me.
I looked up the guidance on sentencing and saw I was in the bracket for a potential fine of up to £1000, 6 points and/or a 5 day ban. Annoying, but bang to rights and I would have to live with the consequences of higher insurance and inconvenience. That it was in a school zone was also a factor so I was expecting the worst possible outcome.
After filling out the paperwork that arrived, I anxiously awaited the next step, perhaps even a court date. What eventually arrived was £100 fine and 3 points. Thanking my lucky stars, I paid the fine instantly and breathed a sigh of relief.
In your case, 42/30 mph was always going to be a £100 Fixed Penalty with 3 points, or even a course. There wasn't a real risk of court proceedings.
martinbiz said:
Yes was always going to be a Fixed penalty and 3 points @ 42 in a 30 a course would also normally be offered if eligible
Don’t believe most of the rubbish on the internet that completely ignores the FP system
Agreed. I contacted the editor of a popular magazine regarding their 'New speeding fines' web page. I advised him that the information was incorrect and explained why it was incorrect. He replied that they received the information from a Government press release. It was therefore correct and would not be changed. Don’t believe most of the rubbish on the internet that completely ignores the FP system
Can somebody post a link to a site that *doesn't* state a possible ban and/or 6 points etc. because I can't find anything to the contrary of my original search.
The net result is I'm a better driver so the point is moot, but I am curious about where everybody is getting the 'only ever 3 points... ' info from when everything I found indicated the possibility of more points and a larger fine.
The net result is I'm a better driver so the point is moot, but I am curious about where everybody is getting the 'only ever 3 points... ' info from when everything I found indicated the possibility of more points and a larger fine.
username_checksout said:
Can somebody post a link to a site that *doesn't* state a possible ban and/or 6 points etc. because I can't find anything to the contrary of my original search.
You may have been looking under the 'speed limit +30' area.We may live in a peacetime version of the Gestapo but we haven't got to £1,000 fine for doing 42 in a 30 yet.
The very first link when searcing 'speeding fines' on Google...
https://www.pattersonlaw.co.uk/motoring-offences/s...
https://www.pattersonlaw.co.uk/motoring-offences/s...
Simpo Two said:
Durzel said:
Don’t speed past schools, there’s a good chap.
Some 30s are overzealous, one’s next to schools aren’t (I’d argue should probably be 20)
And in the school holidays when the place is closed and nobody about?Some 30s are overzealous, one’s next to schools aren’t (I’d argue should probably be 20)
Any time of day or year, just to be sure!
Simpo Two said:
Durzel said:
Don’t speed past schools, there’s a good chap.
Some 30s are overzealous, one’s next to schools aren’t (I’d argue should probably be 20)
And in the school holidays when the place is closed and nobody about?Some 30s are overzealous, one’s next to schools aren’t (I’d argue should probably be 20)
Could have all the kids outside watching as people speed past and telling them that if you are silly and run in the road as one of the cars speeds past and hits you then you may die.
Maybe it’ll teach them a lesson to be careful and be responsible for themselves rather than blame drivers.
Only kidding though just get them to play real life frogger!
Btw I have actually been run over when I was a kid on my way to school but to be fair they did go through a red light. Anyway no harm done still here obviously.
Maybe it’ll teach them a lesson to be careful and be responsible for themselves rather than blame drivers.
Only kidding though just get them to play real life frogger!
Btw I have actually been run over when I was a kid on my way to school but to be fair they did go through a red light. Anyway no harm done still here obviously.
From what I've read since I got a NIP last November you were only just below the threshold of a summons for 42 in a 30 so just be grateful!
I got mine for 61 in a temporary 50 limit but thankfully got offered a SAC, although it means I've had my "Get out of Jail Free" now so I'm much more careful.
But you don't need to set cruise at 70 on Motorways - I've been working on an extra 10% for years and never had a NIP for that. Most speedos under-read anyway!
I got mine for 61 in a temporary 50 limit but thankfully got offered a SAC, although it means I've had my "Get out of Jail Free" now so I'm much more careful.
But you don't need to set cruise at 70 on Motorways - I've been working on an extra 10% for years and never had a NIP for that. Most speedos under-read anyway!
Sebring440 said:
Simpo Two said:
Durzel said:
Don’t speed past schools, there’s a good chap.
Some 30s are overzealous, one’s next to schools aren’t (I’d argue should probably be 20)
And in the school holidays when the place is closed and nobody about?Some 30s are overzealous, one’s next to schools aren’t (I’d argue should probably be 20)
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