M40 NIP for 79mph - speed awareness course?

[Sigmamark7]

I’m doing a SAC later this month for 80mph on the M5 in Gloucestershire. I’m taking my own spoon and will sit quietly and shovel in the humble pie, which will hopefully keep my mouth full and stop me speaking, because what I actually want to say, would get me thrown out!
I think that I’ve already learned my lesson, because yesterday I came back to Gloucestershire along the M4 at an indicated 75 on cruise. What totally boils my p155, is that during that trip, I undertook 4 or 5 cars that were meandering along, totally oblivious to their poor lane discipline, (one of which was in lane 3 of the 4 lane section with 2 empty lanes inside and was still there when I could no longer see them in my mirrors) and several people on their phones.
I know that 80 is above the speed limit, but it’s so easy to catch someone breaking the limit, but poor lane discipline, holding your phone and wandering across lanes relies on Police Traffic cars to sort out and my experience suggests that the OPs 79mph or my 80mph wouldn’t attract anything other than a stern look or a wagged finger from them.

[MC Bodge]

Sigmamark7 said:

I’m doing a SAC later this month for 80mph on the M5 in Gloucestershire.

80mph was once a fairly standard speed for many people, and is still the dry speed limit on the Autoroute.

It would have been quite unlikely to result in a ticket.

[James6112]

blank said:

Presumably this was for "inconsiderate driving" or similar rather than the speed itself? I.e. driving too slowly?

[Mr Tidy]

I feel your pain OP.

I did an SAC in December after getting a NIP for 61mph in the temporary 50 limit they had on the M40 in Warwickshire just after the M42 junction.

They had a forward facing camera rigged up where the NSL sign was visible - gits!

[autumnsum]

Mark V GTD said:

Presumably if the actually speed was 79 the Speedo will be reading 80 something. Just keep it beginning with a 7.

Aye, I was thinking that. He was well over 79mph as far as his non-gps speedo was concerned.

[Patio]

Having the experience of a SAC for 73 on the m1(having not noticed the 60 on the gantry(probably too busy talking on the hands free phone)) I hope everyone on this thread can sleep comfortably at the lives saved through this learning experience

To share this experience I now routinely blast on the horn when passing any slow moving/leaning/possibly asleep highways worker I see dangerously close to the temporary barrier so they know how seriously I take they're safety when doing 53 on the motorway

[Bendo]

autumnsum said:

Aye, I was thinking that. He was well over 79mph as far as his non-gps speedo was concerned.

Unless he was driving a Merc in which case the speedo might be pretty much bang on.

[Mr Tidy]

Patio said:

Having the experience of a SAC for 73 on the m1(having not noticed the 60 on the gantry(probably too busy talking on the hands free phone)) I hope everyone on this thread can sleep comfortably at the lives saved through this learning experience

To share this experience I now routinely blast on the horn when passing any slow moving/leaning/possibly asleep highways worker I see dangerously close to the temporary barrier so they know how seriously I take they're safety when doing 53 on the motorway

TBF that's what annoyed me about my 61 in a temporary 50 on the M40. It was a Wednesday after 9.30 at night. There were no workers to hoot at and the photos I got sent had no other vehicles in them!

If I'd been pulled by a Traffic Patrol I might well have got away with a b*llocking, but cameras don't have discretion.

[Patio]

Mr Tidy said:

Patio said:

Having the experience of a SAC for 73 on the m1(having not noticed the 60 on the gantry(probably too busy talking on the hands free phone)) I hope everyone on this thread can sleep comfortably at the lives saved through this learning experience

To share this experience I now routinely blast on the horn when passing any slow moving/leaning/possibly asleep highways worker I see dangerously close to the temporary barrier so they know how seriously I take they're safety when doing 53 on the motorway

TBF that's what annoyed me about my 61 in a temporary 50 on the M40. It was a Wednesday after 9.30 at night. There were no workers to hoot at and the photos I got sent had no other vehicles in them!

If I'd been pulled by a Traffic Patrol I might well have got away with a b*llocking, but cameras don't have discretion.

I could be wrong but I doubt there's another country on this planet this is as screwed as we are when it comes to safety/disruption/speed cameras

Experience today was temp lights on a main A road, 1 Lane closed and the inevitable temp lights. There was a small pile debris from digging up the footpath for some electrical work. No hole in road, just debris. That was left for the whole weekend

The 1st political party that has a policy making this st illegal gets my vote

I don't think any other nationality would accept it like we do

[Little Bob]

autumnsum said:

Aye, I was thinking that. He was well over 79mph as far as his non-gps speedo was concerned.

Perhaps you misunderstood- My post wasn’t looking for sympathy, or complaining that this was unjust.

I was simply enquiring whether I may be offered a SAC rather than a straight 3 points and fine.

It was a fair cop,

For info the car wasn’t a Mercedes, it was a 330d, and I estimate Speedo reads ~2mph over the actual speed.

[Mr Tidy]

Patio said:

I could be wrong but I doubt there's another country on this planet this is as screwed as we are when it comes to safety/disruption/speed cameras

I don't think any other nationality would accept it like we do

Actually I think Australia maybe worse despite all their rufty-tufty bravado.

Tolerance is minimal, they'll confiscate your car if they think your are hooning and as a special treat speeding fines are doubled on Bank Holidays!

So I'd rather be here than there.

[KTMsm]

Mr Tidy said:

Actually I think Australia maybe worse despite all their rufty-tufty bravado.

Tolerance is minimal, they'll confiscate your car if they think your are hooning and as a special treat speeding fines are doubled on Bank Holidays!

So I'd rather be here than there.

It is - my sister lives in Victoria - BiL got a big fine and a 3 month ban for 16 mph over the limit !

[Mont Blanc]

E-bmw said:

KTMsm said:

Either set it for GPS 77 (to give you 1mph leeway) or at GPS 84 to do the same to avoid points, anything in between is pointless

Personally, I would say GPS 77 is a bit close, I use GPS 75 as a maximum.

Don't forget 84 won't avoid points if you have already had an SAC.

This.

I set my limiter for GPS 75 whenever I go on any motorway, and have done for years.

It takes some of the stress out of journeys as you don't even have to think about the speed or watching for fixed cameras/vans/police etc, and you never end up wondering if a NIP will arrive.

[MrBig]

Mr Tidy said:

I feel your pain OP.

I did an SAC in December after getting a NIP for 61mph in the temporary 50 limit they had on the M40 in Warwickshire just after the M42 junction.

They had a forward facing camera rigged up where the NSL sign was visible - gits!

This is a common trick now. The same setup is on the A46 where it changes in the M69 on the outskirts of Coventry.

[Patio]

Mr Tidy said:

Patio said:

I could be wrong but I doubt there's another country on this planet this is as screwed as we are when it comes to safety/disruption/speed cameras

I don't think any other nationality would accept it like we do

Actually I think Australia maybe worse despite all their rufty-tufty bravado.

Tolerance is minimal, they'll confiscate your car if they think your are hooning and as a special treat speeding fines are doubled on Bank Holidays!

So I'd rather be here than there.

Wow, as the man in orthopaedic shoes said......I stand corrected!

They get better weather though

[Pica-Pica]

MrBig said:

Mr Tidy said:

I feel your pain OP.

I did an SAC in December after getting a NIP for 61mph in the temporary 50 limit they had on the M40 in Warwickshire just after the M42 junction.

They had a forward facing camera rigged up where the NSL sign was visible - gits!

This is a common trick now. The same setup is on the A46 where it changes in the M69 on the outskirts of Coventry.

Let me get this right. You hadn’t reached the NSL sign, but decided to drive to that speed before it. Hmmm.