Speeding - Danerious driving? A507 Bedfordshire
Discussion
Was there a solid white line in the middle of the road? I'm not entirely sure on the legality of overtaking when there is oncoming traffic on a road as wide as the one you were on. Maybe someone can advise?
I doubt the speed camera will do anything apart from focus on the 'speeding' you were carrying out.
I doubt the speed camera will do anything apart from focus on the 'speeding' you were carrying out.
Swanny87 said:
Was there a solid white line in the middle of the road? I'm not entirely sure on the legality of overtaking when there is oncoming traffic on a road as wide as the one you were on. Maybe someone can advise?
If it's the road I'm thinking of, in peak times people tend to keep far over to the left & the lanes are just about wide enough to complete the overtake without crossing the lines. 
Casa1862 said:
It was probably under 80, and I'm not sure how fast the car in front was travelling, it's mainly the on coming cars and single carriageway that's the problem, I assume the mobile camera can prosecute for more than just speeding, I'll happy take the speeding points. It was a stupid thing to do particularly as I know the road well but not seen a camera van of a while. I think anyone who has used the road will know how common it is, just I'm the idiot who gets caught.
They always seem to wait where they're going to catch the most people, so where the safe speed to travel is most different from the actual speed limit, rather than the places where road safety will be improved with less speeding, but because people realise it's a dangerous spot, fewer people speed....Chris Type R said:
If it's the road I'm thinking of, in peak times people tend to keep far over to the left & the lanes are just about wide enough to complete the overtake without crossing the lines.
Yes, but I think I did cross the line, the car in front was slow and right in the of middle of the lane, I normally stay to the left and let others pass.If the mobile cameras are only looking for speeding then I might have got lucky, if not it won't look good
Chris Type R said:
Swanny87 said:
Was there a solid white line in the middle of the road? I'm not entirely sure on the legality of overtaking when there is oncoming traffic on a road as wide as the one you were on. Maybe someone can advise?
If it's the road I'm thinking of, in peak times people tend to keep far over to the left & the lanes are just about wide enough to complete the overtake without crossing the lines. You are correct, everyone does it. We refer to them as the 'suicide lanes' as it often feels like you're driving straight at the other traffic, even though you're not.
I was there only a few days ago trying hopelessly to keep up with a Jaguar XF. Overtaking trucks - but this was the dead of night (11pm).
Unfortunately you have identified yourself as an 'easy target' - just the sort of thing the Police should be cracking down on really, now we can all sleep at night knowing that our money is being well spent etc etc. Best of luck with it.
I was there only a few days ago trying hopelessly to keep up with a Jaguar XF. Overtaking trucks - but this was the dead of night (11pm).
Unfortunately you have identified yourself as an 'easy target' - just the sort of thing the Police should be cracking down on really, now we can all sleep at night knowing that our money is being well spent etc etc. Best of luck with it.
Casa1862 said:
Chris Type R said:
Was it the section between Henlow & Shefford next to the airfield ? I often see trapping being done there on the straightest section of road.
Exactly there, and I pass it everyday.You may get luck on the speeding too - if you were doing closer to 70, you may well get away with it, that's certainly slower than many users I, ahem, know, on occasion travel down that road at.
That trap is all about revenue generation - they are well aware of the ease with which you can travel safely at speed due to the width of the road, the visibility, and the lack of on/off access in-between the roundabouts. I certainly don't recall any major accidents from the 4 or so years I spent living in Shefford & Meppershall.
had ham said:
Yup, I use this road often, and the mobile unit is often on that section, typically towards the Henlow end on the left when travelling eastwards. I wouldn't worry too much about the actual overtake, it's very, very, common on that road, as you must know. I know a construction chap who does stuff with the planning dept. - they made the road that width to facilitate safe overtaking, for a whole host of reasons.
You may get luck on the speeding too - if you were doing closer to 70, you may well get away with it, that's certainly slower than many users I, ahem, know, on occasion travel down that road at.
That trap is all about revenue generation - they are well aware of the ease with which you can travel safely at speed due to the width of the road, the visibility, and the lack of on/off access in-between the roundabouts. I certainly don't recall any major accidents from the 4 or so years I spent living in Shefford & Meppershall.
Thanks I hope you're right, sounds like a moronic thing to do overtaking with on coming traffic but as you and others have used the road you'll understand more how easy it is to do. If they take the attitude of single carriageway, over speeding with on coming traffic then they'll throw the book at me, if they take the road into consideration and low volume of traffic (13.00hrs) excellent visibility then maybe I'll stand a chance. I've got no other convictions and clean license, I hoping for just speeding which I'll happily take.You may get luck on the speeding too - if you were doing closer to 70, you may well get away with it, that's certainly slower than many users I, ahem, know, on occasion travel down that road at.
That trap is all about revenue generation - they are well aware of the ease with which you can travel safely at speed due to the width of the road, the visibility, and the lack of on/off access in-between the roundabouts. I certainly don't recall any major accidents from the 4 or so years I spent living in Shefford & Meppershall.
Can anyone confirm if the mobile camera's only look for speeding, I'm thinking that it will be a police officer operating the unit and if they view as dangerous driving then they can prosecute. Will they video evidence?
Swanny87 said:
I'm not entirely sure on the legality of overtaking when there is oncoming traffic on a road as wide as the one you were on. Maybe someone can advise?
Not a problem. I do it on the bike a lot and have done it in the car when the traffic cop/advanced instructor sitting next to me suggested it. I pointed out that some people might regard the move as aggressive, he pointed out that some people regard any overtake as aggressive.I wouldnt worry about it too much if it was a NSL.
80 indicated on your speedo is probably more like 75 true speed so you'd only realistically be looking at 3points and a fine.....and thats only if it caught you. Youd have needed 81 true speed before being summoned to court. Guess you'll have to wait and see.
You may be surprised and get away with it.
80 on the speedo is circa 77mph true (at least it's Tom-Tom verified true on my car)
If the road was NSL, you shouldn't get a speeding charge
As regards to the overtake, I would expect a police officer to have to take a seriously dim view of your actions to pursue it. 80mph on a wide road with plenty of space would surprise me.
Finally: I was heading down a hill in a 30mph limit near to where I live in thick fog a few years back. It was early, I wasn't concentrating and let the speed build up to just under 40 I would say, then......camera van at the bottom of the hill pointing straight at me.
I was stone cold 100% convinced I was caught, and was just hoping for a speed awareness course, rather than points.
Never heard a thing about it. You may be in the same position.
80 on the speedo is circa 77mph true (at least it's Tom-Tom verified true on my car)
If the road was NSL, you shouldn't get a speeding charge
As regards to the overtake, I would expect a police officer to have to take a seriously dim view of your actions to pursue it. 80mph on a wide road with plenty of space would surprise me.
Finally: I was heading down a hill in a 30mph limit near to where I live in thick fog a few years back. It was early, I wasn't concentrating and let the speed build up to just under 40 I would say, then......camera van at the bottom of the hill pointing straight at me.
I was stone cold 100% convinced I was caught, and was just hoping for a speed awareness course, rather than points.
Never heard a thing about it. You may be in the same position.
Muzzer79 said:
You may be surprised and get away with it.
80 on the speedo is circa 77mph true (at least it's Tom-Tom verified true on my car)
If the road was NSL, you shouldn't get a speeding charge
As regards to the overtake, I would expect a police officer to have to take a seriously dim view of your actions to pursue it. 80mph on a wide road with plenty of space would surprise me.
Finally: I was heading down a hill in a 30mph limit near to where I live in thick fog a few years back. It was early, I wasn't concentrating and let the speed build up to just under 40 I would say, then......camera van at the bottom of the hill pointing straight at me.
I was stone cold 100% convinced I was caught, and was just hoping for a speed awareness course, rather than points.
Never heard a thing about it. You may be in the same position.
Problem is, it's a 60mph limit along there so 77 in a 60 could well be a visit to court...80 on the speedo is circa 77mph true (at least it's Tom-Tom verified true on my car)
If the road was NSL, you shouldn't get a speeding charge
As regards to the overtake, I would expect a police officer to have to take a seriously dim view of your actions to pursue it. 80mph on a wide road with plenty of space would surprise me.
Finally: I was heading down a hill in a 30mph limit near to where I live in thick fog a few years back. It was early, I wasn't concentrating and let the speed build up to just under 40 I would say, then......camera van at the bottom of the hill pointing straight at me.
I was stone cold 100% convinced I was caught, and was just hoping for a speed awareness course, rather than points.
Never heard a thing about it. You may be in the same position.
Court for 17mph over the limit? Absolute BS. Guidelines say no action below 68, speed awareness course between 68 and 75, 3 points between 75 and 86, court appearance if speed was above that.
http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/uniformed/2013...
I have used that road most weeks since I started driving 18 years ago. I'll be driving down it tomorrow. It's a great example of an inherently safe road layout, with good visibility, laybys with proper sliproad exits (so you can easily tell if parked vehicles are likely to pull out) and enough width for very easy and safe overtaking. If it wasn't for Barbara Castle's outdated finger-in-the-air speed limit, you could happily do 100-120 down there in light traffic.
https://goo.gl/maps/D63PH
I have fond memories of travelling down that stretch one night, when an Ultima came past me like my Supra was a milk-float with a flat battery. An unholy din, culminating in great gouts of flame from the exhausts and he leaned on the brakes and changed down a couple of gears for the roundabout at the end.
http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/uniformed/2013...
I have used that road most weeks since I started driving 18 years ago. I'll be driving down it tomorrow. It's a great example of an inherently safe road layout, with good visibility, laybys with proper sliproad exits (so you can easily tell if parked vehicles are likely to pull out) and enough width for very easy and safe overtaking. If it wasn't for Barbara Castle's outdated finger-in-the-air speed limit, you could happily do 100-120 down there in light traffic.
https://goo.gl/maps/D63PH
I have fond memories of travelling down that stretch one night, when an Ultima came past me like my Supra was a milk-float with a flat battery. An unholy din, culminating in great gouts of flame from the exhausts and he leaned on the brakes and changed down a couple of gears for the roundabout at the end.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff