Speeding - Danerious driving? A507 Bedfordshire

[Zod]

STW2010 said:

Zod said:

I hope they don't start using mobile cameras on the Baldock to Buntingford bit!

That's a fun road isn't it!

Oh yes!

[Zod]

Wills2 said:

STW2010 said:

Zod said:

I hope they don't start using mobile cameras on the Baldock to Buntingford bit!

That's a fun road isn't it!

I drive that section every Monday morning, fast road in places but those corners can catch you out!

That's the point; it's quite a demanding road. Makes you think.

[Wills2]

Zod said:

That's the point; it's quite a demanding road. Makes you think.

Indeed.

[Blue Oval84]

To answer an earlier question, the cameras don't just look for speeding, they do pick up safety offences as well....

This is one of the stories that I've seen over the years that show what I mean, he wasn't even speeding!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/3819443...

[anonymous-user]

Do you know the indicated speed you was doing? When I did similar I checked that speed with TomTom (where legal to do so!) to get my actual speed. Then Google your local police area & can pretty well work out the punishment, or not as the case may be..

[Blakewater]

I assume we're talking about this stretch?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.026828,-0.304976...

The limit will be 60mph but if you had vehicles between you and the camera van it may not have had a clear line of sight at you. Plus the operator may have been setting up, closing down, sexting his mistress or whatever at the time. As far as I'm aware, speed traps measure only speed and you're either above or below the threshold. Nothing else about driving is taken into account.

[Mr Gearchange]

Have we really got to the stage of people expecting a ban because they were recorded overtaking a car?

[whysub]

Thames Valley Police use that road frequently for its advanced car and bike training. It's an excellent road for "progressive" driving and riding, as is the Buntingford to Baldock road. If I have to travel up the M1 or go to Oxfordshire, that is a big part of my preferred route.

[C.A.R.]

whysub said:

Thames Valley Police use that road frequently for its advanced car and bike training. It's an excellent road for "progressive" driving and riding, as is the Buntingford to Baldock road. If I have to travel up the M1 or go to Oxfordshire, that is a big part of my preferred route.

I use this route every day, it's fantastic. Even some of the experienced truck drivers manage 50+ for most sections. You do get some really moronic overtaking in some spots though, which considering there are lots of safe opportunities makes no sense. Impatience gets the better of people I guess.

[R8VXF]

Blakewater said:

I assume we're talking about this stretch?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.026828,-0.304976...

The limit will be 60mph but if you had vehicles between you and the camera van it may not have had a clear line of sight at you. Plus the operator may have been setting up, closing down, sexting his mistress or whatever at the time. As far as I'm aware, speed traps measure only speed and you're either above or below the threshold. Nothing else about driving is taken into account.

Bloomin eck, I would be tempted to overtake an overtaker down that road there is that much space!

[Casa1862]

R8VXF said:

Bloomin eck, I would be tempted to overtake an overtaker down that road there is that much space!

yes, that was where the I was. on the photo it seems less space, never had any doubt that i was in trouble, easily passed traffic, still saying was stupid move but overtaking regularly occurs.

Spoke to an ex police officer friend today and he said that they will only do me for speed, had a more serious offence been commited then they should have stopped me sooner or would have sent a officer to my address , the speed van according to him is for speeding offence only unless very serious i.e. caused potential accident. As mentioned no issue accepting three points, hopefully won't take it further.

[itcaptainslow]

Knowing the section of road well (I live in one of the villages off it)-the overtaking that goes on down there can be pretty moronic, but the road itself is safe for very high speeds-well sighted, decent surface and wide. Unfortunately, the straightest, widest (therefore safest) bit is where the speed camera van naturally sits.

Overtaking down there should be conducted in the same manner you would for a narrower single carriageway, unfortunately most people don't, and just go regardless of oncoming (and sometimes oncoming overtaking!) traffic.

[Chris Type R]

L

itcaptainslow said:

Knowing the section of road well (I live in one of the villages off it)-the overtaking that goes on down there can be pretty moronic, but the road itself is safe for very high speeds-well sighted, decent surface and wide. Unfortunately, the straightest, widest (therefore safest) bit is where the speed camera van naturally sits.

Overtaking down there should be conducted in the same manner you would for a narrower single carriageway, unfortunately most people don't, and just go regardless of oncoming (and sometimes oncoming overtaking!) traffic.

I used to drive this section daily a few years back, and it's possible to get 4 cars abreast.

Due to speed enforcement I rarely perform my overtaking on this section now, preferring the sections just before and after the straight safe section.

There are other sections along the A507 which I would consider less safe and being better candidates for monitoring e.g. the blind corner near Aresely Station, the blind uphill rise from the roundabout near the Esso garage etc.

[Chris Type R]

Wills2 said:

I drive that section every Monday morning, fast road in places but those corners can catch you out!

It's a lovely road, but I avoid trying to be too enthusiastic along it as on a couple of occasions I've seen other drivers having to take avoiding action around cyclists. The carriageway widths through the corners does not allow much room for error.

[Cudd Wudd]

R8VXF said:

Bloomin eck, I would be tempted to overtake an overtaker down that road there is that much space!

I've seen that happen on that stretch, and had it happen to me when I was a youngster driving a 1.1 Saxo. Had a Nova SRI steam past me, as I performed my own overtake.

The road is wider in places than that image suggests, and overtakes with oncoming traffic is very commonplace. I'd guess the OP is looking at a speeding fine at worst, but if luck were on his/her side the slower car may have even shielded him/her.