113 on M5 Worcester, anyone else?

[Caffiend]

Yup, sure enough, late at night, northbound on the M5, pulled at 113.

My stupid fault, yeah I'm an idiot, split up with the mrs, all the usual excuses but I got busted, I was doing the speed, i got caught, that's that.

Anyone had experience with Worcester Magistrates and got any idea what I can expect?

I've googled it and it's so hard to guess, different cases vary so wildly.

29 with no points or convictions.

Secondly, if I get ban, can I just bail out to Australia for the duration? No chance I'm staying in the UK if I can't drive...!

[anonymous-user]

Others can advise as to how long a ban you may face. If agtlaw posts in this thread, listen to him and not to anyone else.

If you want to go to Australia, go to Australia, so long as they'll have you. What makes you think that you might need some sort of permission to do so from some authority in the UK? They won't give a toss where you are.

A period of time without driving would be a fag for most of us, but it's pretty much a first world problem. We weren't born with wheels.

BTW, Mad Max is a film. It's not, er, true.

[caziques]

Interesting point (re non EU cross border driving licence validity).

Until you get a summons, a court hearing, and a ban, you have a full UK licence. So at anytime within the next six months there is nothing to stop you travelling to any other country and obtaining a driving licence, ie Australia.

If you did get a ban, your overseas driving licence would allow you to drive in any country in the world except the UK.

Another interesting point - if I go to Oz and hire a car with my NZ driving licence - they don't ask (and AFAIK) have no way of finding out it if I have any points on my licence. (I tend to use my UK one as it happens, paper and valid until 2027, clean since 1979)

[Gazzas86]

If makes you feel any better, my old man was out with his pals on his Superbike and got caught by a sneaky speed camera a couple of years ago near Stratford upon Avon doing 123 in a 50,He went to Worcester magistrates, turned up in a suit, there was a Scrote in before him in a tracksuit who came out effing and blinding, My old man went in, with a little help from the guy before being a scrote and my old man saying how a lengthy ban would affect his work (He was a prison officer), He got a 1 month ban. So out the came push bike for a few weeks.

[Caffiend]

Thanks all... Done some research and figured out what the best and worst case scenarios are. It'll be a bit of a pig but we've all done it, we've all been doing it for years, every now and then you gotta get caught right?! Guess I've just learnt to use the cruise control more sparingly.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Caffiend said:

Secondly, if I get ban, can I just bail out to Australia for the duration?

I thought they'd stopped taking convicts.

[agtlaw]

Caffiend said:

Yup, sure enough, late at night, northbound on the M5, pulled at 113.

My stupid fault, yeah I'm an idiot, split up with the mrs, all the usual excuses but I got busted, I was doing the speed, i got caught, that's that.

Anyone had experience with Worcester Magistrates and got any idea what I can expect?

I've googled it and it's so hard to guess, different cases vary so wildly.

29 with no points or convictions.

Secondly, if I get ban, can I just bail out to Australia for the duration? No chance I'm staying in the UK if I can't drive...!

Quite fast and "off the scale". There isn't a guideline for this speed. The guideline for 101-110 mph is a Band B fine* and a 7-56 day ban, or 6 points.

On one view, you deserve more than 56 days and a Band C fine. However, it's only marginally "off the scale" so I'd anticipate the bench wouldn't depart from their 110 mph guideline.

Without knowing your personal circumstances, there's a 90%+ chance of a ban. I might revise my estimate depending on the nature and place of your work, medical issues, and others dependent on you for transport. I had a similar case only last week 76/40 temporary motorway limit - "off the scale" by 1 mph - 6 points and a fine.

• Band B has a starting point of 100% of net weekly income. Band C is 150% of the same. The court will normally give credit/discount of up to one-third for an early guilty plea.

Edited by agtlaw on Monday 3rd August 10:07

[battered]

Obviously get some proper legal advice but when the summons arrives I'd be trading on the "mitigating circumstances, flawless driving record to date, for 12 years, difficult personal events, was for a moment unaware of the speed at which I was travelling on an empty motorway in good conditions, terribly sorry, a lengthy ban would affect my work as an adult literacy instructor and careers guidance officer for young offenders and my voluntary work in taking disabled pensioners on holiday at my own expense (Do they call me Luigi 'oo take on 'oliday ze orphaned children? No they do not-a. Do they call me Luigi 'oo repair ze old peoples' 'ome, no charge? No, they do not-a. One time, I shagga ONE sheep! Boohoohoo!) and hoping for the best.

You might get away with crucifixion, first offence. Couple of months of cycling, at a guess, best case, if the grovelling pays off.

[anonymous-user]

Caffiend said:

Thanks all... Done some research and figured out what the best and worst case scenarios are. It'll be a bit of a pig but we've all done it, we've all been doing it for years, every now and then you gotta get caught right?! Guess I've just learnt to use the cruise control more sparingly.

I would buy you a beer for saying that! What a pleasant contrast to all the moaning meanies who come on here whingeing about speeding tickets, and don't get me started on the "speeding is a hoomin right innit" brigade. We all speed, we mostly get away with it, sometimes we don't, but mostly we do. Yippee!

PS: Cruise control is the work of Beelzebub. Bin it!

[anonymous-user]

battered said:

....(Do they call me Luigi 'oo take on 'oliday ze orphaned children? No they do not-a. Do they call me Luigi 'oo repair ze old peoples' 'ome, no charge? No, they do not-a. One time, I shagga ONE sheep! Boohoohoo!) ...

The Luigi Joke is arguably one of the world's top five or ten greatest jokes. It is right up there in the United Nations World Heritage Joke list along with Sherlock Holmes going camping, Elephants and Bigears, and the blind man from the shop. Jesus and St Peter playing golf is close, but no cigar. I take it that you know the Pierre ze fameurse Fraairnch fightair pailot variant of Luigi.

[anonymous-user]

PPS: Cruise control is THE SPAWN OF SATAN, especially in a 50mph zone, IMO. I would use cruise control (a) NEVER, but (b) only on a motorway. I hate the feeling that the car is driving me. When I used to fly, I avoided aircraft with autopilots, and wouldn't use the things anyway even if fitted. Boats are different, because on boats you can have a drink and a blonde while the thing sails itself.

[Caffiend]

Thanks all, I'll keep you posted with what happens from here.

[Rude-boy]

OP, not seen anyone say anything directly, only BV infer, but if you think our road traffic laws are a bit strict and that, when caught, the authorities tend to be a bit 'firm' in imposing the penalties you really, really, really don't want to go to Oz.

Seriously.

Over there the Police certainly used to be 'incentivised' by getting a cut of their tickets (iirc) and certainly I know that when a family member got caught they were left in no doubt that another click or two and they would have been eating Ozzie porridge. Now I don't know about you but the thought of being a Pom in a prison in Australia makes my bottom feel very insecure...

[Sushifiend]

Hanging around to hear "Pierre ze fameurse Fraairnch fightair pailot"

[Rowley Birkin]

Breadvan72 said:

PPS: Cruise control is THE SPAWN OF SATAN, especially in a 50mph zone, IMO. I would use cruise control (a) NEVER, but (b) only on a motorway. I hate the feeling that the car is driving me. When I used to fly, I avoided aircraft with autopilots, and wouldn't use the things anyway even if fitted. Boats are different, because on boats you can have a drink and a blonde while the thing sails itself.

Ben - The Stig - Collins recounts in his book the tale of an instructor teaching an airline pilot to drive at speed on track. After a few laps the pupil took his hands from the wheel and said, "over to you" whereupon they crashed.

[k99]

Breadvan72 said:

PPS: Cruise control is THE SPAWN OF SATAN, especially in a 50mph zone, IMO. I would use cruise control (a) NEVER, but (b) only on a motorway. I hate the feeling that the car is driving me. When I used to fly, I avoided aircraft with autopilots, and wouldn't use the things anyway even if fitted. Boats are different, because on boats you can have a drink and a blonde while the thing sails itself.

What's wrong with Cruise Control? I use it all the time ( traffic conditions permitting). AND whilst the car is on cruise, I'm still concentrating. Ideal in most scenarios to keep to the required speed and not stray over your limit. It allows you to concentrate on the road rather than looking at your speedo every few seconds.
You do have to be careful as it takes longer to react if you need to suddenly slow down but when in doubt I have my foot hovering over the brake pedal or disable it.

[battered]

I know the Pierre joke as Baron von Richtofen the German ace, but it's a great joke indeed.

[battered]

I use cruise a lot in 50 limits. About a year or 18 months ago I had a tyre fail on the M1 near Castle Don, had to fit the space saver. 100 miles at 50 followed, trundling along on the wheelbarrow tyre. Now that was the cruise control in its element. Got about 42mpg as well from a Saab 2.3 turbo. Nearly lost the will to live, but it was a cheap trip.

[theboss]

k99 said:

Breadvan72 said:

PPS: Cruise control is THE SPAWN OF SATAN, especially in a 50mph zone, IMO. I would use cruise control (a) NEVER, but (b) only on a motorway. I hate the feeling that the car is driving me. When I used to fly, I avoided aircraft with autopilots, and wouldn't use the things anyway even if fitted. Boats are different, because on boats you can have a drink and a blonde while the thing sails itself.

What's wrong with Cruise Control? I use it all the time ( traffic conditions permitting). AND whilst the car is on cruise, I'm still concentrating. Ideal in most scenarios to keep to the required speed and not stray over your limit. It allows you to concentrate on the road rather than looking at your speedo every few seconds.
You do have to be careful as it takes longer to react if you need to suddenly slow down but when in doubt I have my foot hovering over the brake pedal or disable it.

I'm with BV on this - I'm not keen on CC. The only time I might use it is when traffic levels are very light (or you're just coming on/off it constantly) and then in that situation I find my overall concentration and alertness decreases - for some reason I pay more attention when I have my foot on the throttle.

OP I am using this stretch of road a lot at the moment and this could just as easily have been me posting... I will heed this as a warning to take it easier. Was it an unmarked car?

[Rude-boy]

For those who are not local, have local knowledge, or aren't clued up.

West Mercia HQ is about 5 miles from Junction 6 of the M5.

There are more Jam Sarnies and Unmarked cars and vans round there than you cam shake a stick at and it's a happy hunting ground for them.

OP's pace will have been a sore thumb and even the most philosophical and time pressed traffic cop could have turned a blind eye. I've even had words of advice for overtaking a van up the slip road a while back. He wasn't impressed apparently.