Extent of likely penalty?

[fistofsteel]

One of our key employees has been done for 73 in a 40 (variable limit on M6 / M6 toll). Female, 28. Already has 3 points from a couple of years ago. I presume a ban of some sort is likely. Is there any merit these days in their boss attending the court hearing and saying they'll lose their job if the ban is lengthy?

Cheers in advance.

[agtlaw]

Letter from employer advisable.

[Durzel]

Could your company really not cope if she was disqualified for a (likely reasonably short - it was on a motorway in a variable zone) period of time? Could she not burn some holiday to cover it? Or take public transport?

Whilst a letter might help, Mags expect people to suffer hardship as the result of a ban, including the potential to lose ones job. Where it gets cloudy is where it impacts innocent people.

Bear in mind also that if she successfully argued against a ban there's a good chance she'd be hit with 6 points, leaving her one camera away from a totting ban. Under such circumstances she might consider it preferable to take a short ban (check insurance quotes too)

[speedking31]

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

[BritishRacinGrin]

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

How so?

[Garybee]

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

Why do you assume that her speedo' is so inaccurate?

On a straight residential street near me I could easiy get over 100 in a 30 limit.

Edited by Garybee on Friday 31st October 05:43

Edited by Garybee on Friday 31st October 05:44

[lbc]

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

Most cars speedo's are much more accurate than some people on here seem to think.
Both of my cars are accurate to within 3mph, with one accurate to within less than 1mph of GPS.

I could do 40mph or more in most 30 limits, so does that mean all 30mph limits are inappropriate?

[CallorFold]

lbc said:

Most cars speedo's are much more accurate than some people on here seem to think.
Both of my cars are accurate to within 3mph, with one accurate to within less than 1mph of GPS.

Mine too, indicated 55 generally about 52 on the SatNav - even when up the speed to 75 on the speedo, Nav still sits at 72

[g3org3y]

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

What kind of car are you used to that does an actual 73 at speedo indicated 80!?

[Usget]

Whenever I sit at the limit in an average speed zone, there are always one or two cars who go flying past me. I always wondered - "What do they know, that I don't?"

Now I know the answer - nowt

[v12Legs]

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

So if it's ever possible to exceed the speed limit, the limit is by definition too low?
What drivel.

[anonymous-user]

v12Legs said:

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

So if it's ever possible to exceed the speed limit, the limit is by definition too low?
What drivel.

Drivel indeed, but very PH!

[JustinP1]

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

You understand why the variable speed limits on the M6 are there right?

They're there because when there is a large volume of traffic it's a lot more efficient in terms of time and fuel for everyone to do 40 than for everyone to spend half their time doing 10 mph or stationary and the other half doing 60.

[Cooperman]

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

Doing an indicated 75 to 80 in a 40 limit shows either lack of due care in knowing what the limit is, or a positive decision that the limit should not apply to that driver and that the law could simply be ignored.
Now that lack of due care or decision to disregard has turned and bitten her 'in the bum' there is a discussion as to how to mitigate the result in some way.

We all now have to realise that electronic enforcement is here to stay and will, in fact, proliferate over the coming years. On all the major roads driving in excess of an often artificially low limit will result in a penalty and, if continued, disqualification. Unfair it may seem, but that is happening on a motorway near you now. We are, ladies & gentlemen, going to have to drive within the posted limits whether we like it or not and when we don't there is no point in whinging about the penalties for not doing so.

[WinstonWolf]

g3org3y said:

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

What kind of car are you used to that does an actual 73 at speedo indicated 80!?

A Porsche 996 will over-read by design on both the analogue and digital speedo. You can display true speed (only in 😚😚KPH) if you enable debug mode on the OBC.

[mph1977]

Breadvan72 said:

v12Legs said:

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

So if it's ever possible to exceed the speed limit, the limit is by definition too low?
What drivel.

Drivel indeed, but very PH!

that was my thoughts on reading speedking's assertion

very much PH, PH is the infamous statistic in the first chapter of Roadcraft writ large ...

[jonah35]

Usget said:

Whenever I sit at the limit in an average speed zone, there are always one or two cars who go flying past me. I always wondered - "What do they know, that I don't?"

Now I know the answer - nowt

Lol me too. They still blast past at 80 under the variable speed gantrys that show 40 or 50mph.

To be honest though it's just as if someone is randomly changing the limits on each gantry. 70, 40, 60, 40, 70 70 40 70 etc under each gantry its a joke but you must stick to it.

[Matthen]

speedking31 said:

Being able to do 73, an indicated 80, pretty much shows that 40 was not an appropriate limit for the conditions

Driving home last Friday (11PMish) M25 was limited to 40 mph. Not because of the traffic, but because workmen were setting up for some over night roadworks. They're not always enabled because of traffic levels.

[bobthebench]

Letter may be useful, but not decisive. Better with a solicitor to make reference to it as well. You're not going to persuade a court though that a probable 30 day ban would have a catastrophic effect on your business, but perhaps if it were shown that internal disciplinary matters are under way, or already happened, that could help. e.g. on written warning, or restrict driving duties or opportunities ? Cover the usual stuff too showing explored public transport alternatives, and family commitments.