Caught for doing 80mph in a 70mph? M74

[jenksndubs]

Just got the letter through today that my old man was caught doing "80mph" on the M74 by a camera van on a bridge? I'm aware this is a 70mph limit but I thought 80mph was ok?

Have I been incredibly stupid and unbelievably lucky in the last 13 years of driving at 80mph on motorways or is this new rules? Years ago my old man got pulled for doing 82 or 83 and the traffic boys said stick to 80mph and we can't touch you?

Different with camera vans then?

Thanks
Michael

[SS2.]

jenksndubs said:

Just got the letter through today that my old man was caught doing "80mph" on the M74 by a camera van on a bridge? I'm aware this is a 70mph limit but I thought 80mph was ok?

Limit is the limit, but the camera van boys won't normally take action until the alleged speed reaches [limit +10% +2mph] ie 79mph on a motorway.

jenksndubs said:

Years ago my old man got pulled for doing 82 or 83 and the traffic boys said stick to 80mph and we can't touch you?

There's a big difference between 'can't' and 'won't'..

[JG5]

jenksndubs said:

I'm aware this is a 70mph limit but I thought 80mph was ok?

I think your answer is in the question.


Officer's have more discretion than cameras.

[Bat21]

Sorry,but which bit of the national speed limit is 70mph did you not understand?

Whilst there used to be said to be an error margin of 10% + 2 mph, a true 80 mph is over that and, it was never official, his indicated speed was probably significantly higher than 80mph in any event.

[jenksndubs]

Right guys c'mon take it easy eh?

Just assumed ( obviously wrongly ) it was common general knowledge that you could drive at 80mph and be ok.

So I have been incredibly stupid and unbelievable lucky in 13 years!

I understand the speedo difference - his speedo was probably showing the 82-83 maybe more.

[speedking31]

Bat21 said:

Whilst there used to be said to be an error margin of 10% + 2 mph, ...

M74 = Scotland.

[cjb1]

jenksndubs said:

Years ago my old man got pulled for doing 82 or 83 and the traffic boys said stick to 80mph and we can't touch you?

There's a big difference between 'can't' and 'won't'..

There is also a big difference between then and now.

[guru_1071]

I did a naughty boys course for doing 80 on the A1, so its 100% a speed that the fixed cameras will nab you at.

[cjb1]

speedking31 said:

Bat21 said:

Whilst there used to be said to be an error margin of 10% + 2 mph, ...

M74 = Scotland.

It's common knowledge that whilst the M74 isn't littered with fixed camera's it is frequently patrolled by unmarked police cars and the use of marked mobile camera vans is common place. There are plenty of signs warning of this.

[SS2.]

jenksndubs said:

Just assumed ( obviously wrongly ) it was common general knowledge that you could drive at 80mph and be ok.

With plod following behind, you probably would.

Not so a drone from the local SCP manning a camera, unfortunately.

[Osinjak]

Bat21 said:

Sorry,but which bit of the national speed limit is 70mph did you not understand?

Nice touch. How is life on Planet Sanctimonious?

[mcflurry]

I believe that an indicated 80 is probably ok in most cars, as the over reading speedo would pull you under the 10%+2 limit.

To be caught at 80, i'd imagine an average speedo showing 82-85


(Awaits tale of a car with a perfect calibrated one lol)

[gruffalo]

I believe the 10%+2 is out of favour now. There have been many people I am aware of who have been done for 72-75 MPH by the camera's on the M25.

[Cat]

speedking31 said:

Bat21 said:

Whilst there used to be said to be an error margin of 10% + 2 mph, ...

M74 = Scotland.

Lord Advocate's guidelines in Scotland suggest 10%+2 as the starting point for prosecution same as the rest of the UK.

Cat

[JonRB]

For anything up to 88mph in a 70 limit, you'll be offered a Speed Awareness Course rather than points, provided you haven't already attended one in the last 3 years.

As for whether you should or shouldn't be nabbed at 80 then the old "10%+2" was only ever a guideline anyway and never a rule. It's not something to rely on and never was.

[Cat]

gruffalo said:

I believe the 10%+2 is out of favour now. There have been many people I am aware of who have been done for 72-75 MPH by the camera's on the M25.

Can you provide any documentary proof of anyone being prosecuted for those speeds in a 70 limit? If so LoonR1 has previously offered to pay their fine.

Cat

[SamR380]

The M74 is a favorite for giving out tickets. I always stick to 70 until near Glasgow.

[mygoldfishbowl]

gruffalo said:

I believe the 10%+2 is out of favour now. There have been many people I am aware of who have been done for 72-75 MPH by the camera's on the M25.

[mcflurry]

gruffalo said:

I believe the 10%+2 is out of favour now. There have been many people I am aware of who have been done for 72-75 MPH by the camera's on the M25.

In a 70, or when the limit was lowered?

[agtlaw]

gruffalo said:

I believe the 10%+2 is out of favour now. There have been many people I am aware of who have been done for 72-75 MPH by the cameras on the M25.

Wrong. I very much doubt it.