Police "educating" me on my driving

[JoolzB]

I've travelled along the same stretch of dual carriageway for at least the last 12 years and driven in pretty much the same manner/speed along with countless other drivers.

Last Thursday I got stopped for exceeding the limit but the only thing that was different from any other day was an unmarked police car was following me. After a long hard thought of what I was doing so dangerous I could only conclude that the police car behind was making the conditions hazardous.

Doing 64 in a 40 will sound bad in court but on an open stretch of dual carriageway with excellent visibilty and dry roads surely isn't dangerous?? Afterall there have been very few accidents in that time and none(in my memory) involving pedestrians.

Yet everyday I encounter numerous drivers braking in the outside lane to pull onto a sliproad, people not indicating or using their mirrors when overtaking and people stuck in the outside lane for no apparent reason. Would the "education" not be better aimed at them??

Sorry for the rant, I'm just bewildered by police tactics to reduce accidents and fatalities.

[Targarama]

So did you tell the officer you have done exactly the same thing every day for the past 12 years, never had an accident or seen one on this stretch of road? I can see your point, but I don't think I'd say anything incriminating.

However, you still broke the law so you either get a talking to or pay tax and get some Tony bonus points.

Of course if you had admitted to doing this every day to the officer they would a lot more likely to ticket you for it ;-)

[JoolzB]

Targarama said:

So did you tell the officer you have done exactly the same thing every day for the past 12 years, never had an accident or seen one on this stretch of road? I can see your point, but I don't think I'd say anything incriminating. However, you still broke the law so you either get a talking to or pay tax and get some Tony bonus points. Of course if you had admitted to doing this every day to the officer they would a lot more likely to ticket you for it ;-)

Nope I hardly said a word, what's the point? The bloke isn't going to listen or change his mind and neither is the law.

I can only assume that he used telepathy to signal to the non-existant pedestrians and stream of traffic waiting to pull onto the main road from the farmers field that he was travelling at a dangerous speed(in order to keep up with me).

[Streetcop]

You can't really complain at that speed on that road, can you?

You knew the road speed on that road and you took the chance. You've got away with it for 12 years and now you've been caught. Just one of those things i'm afraid.

All that has actually happened is this; THAT copper at THAT time has decided to deal with you in THAT fashion. He will no doubt do lots and lots other motorists, just like you; but he will also be there to educate others and also sort those out who YOU believe are dangerous....

Everyone thinks that the time they get done is the only driver that copper has ever ticketted.

I remember recently doing someone for speeding along a 30mph zone. The driver complained that there are lots of uninsured vehicles on the road and that's what I should be addressing. I briefly showed him my workload sheet for that day and it nicely listed something like this;

0910 no insurance
0930 no seat belt
0937 no seat belt
0949 use mobile phone
1000 no insurance, no mot, no licence
1150 disqualified driver
1447 due care and attention
1552 speeding
1600 contravene red traffic light.
1622 HIM FOR SPEEDING.

[JoolzB]

Streetcop said:

You can't really complain at that speed on that road, can you?

In the eyes of the law, no I can't. If I argued from safety perspective then yes I could.

Streetcop said:

Everyone thinks that the time they get done is the only driver that copper has ever ticketted.

Nope I don't think that at all, it just really aggravates me with the amount of poor driving I witness EVERYDAY that the police don't target these drivers - I have read your list tho.

Thanks for responding btw, everyone(bar 1 person who couldn't explain why apart from the obv.) who I've spoken to on this matter has agreed with me so it's good to hear an opposing view. :-)

[Streetcop]

Hi JoolzB

Firstly, thanks for reading my post in the manner that it was intended; ie: an overview and vague (no way personally directed at you)....

I also agree with you regarding safety; ie if the dual carraigeway isn't particularly windy or hasn't any junctions, the 40mph speed limit a bit weak...

As for police dealing with the 100s and 1000s of other things we see on the roads....I agree...pity that the government and ACPO decided to drastically slash trafpol numbers leaving only a bare amount of officers who are spread so thinly that they don't really make an effect. What with that and dealing with road deaths...policing of the roads if very much in the hands of cameras..

Like i've said many times; it's a pity that those people who complained about traffic police in the past "having nothing better to do"..didn't have the foresight to see what might be the alternative...

[james_j]

It seems to me that the 40 limit on that road is way too low and for all these years you have been travelling at the speed with which you are comfortable as do most drivers every day on most roads, quite safely.

It's annoying to have money taken away from you in such circumstances and a lecture doesn't exactly help one's mood either.

All I can suggest is that you say you were happy that your driving was safe in the circumstances (you never know, you may elicit quiet sympathy from the magistrate...well I said maybe).

I know of a retired ex-class 1 BIB driver who is always getting points; he's an excellent driver (much smoother than me), but hell what's driver ability / safety got to do with it?

[JoolzB]

Streetcop said:

Hi JoolzB Firstly, thanks for reading my post in the manner that it was intended; ie: an overview and vague (no way personally directed at you).... I also agree with you regarding safety; ie if the dual carraigeway isn't particularly windy or hasn't any junctions, the 40mph speed limit a bit weak... As for police dealing with the 100s and 1000s of other things we see on the roads....I agree...pity that the government and ACPO decided to drastically slash trafpol numbers leaving only a bare amount of officers who are spread so thinly that they don't really make an effect. What with that and dealing with road deaths...policing of the roads if very much in the hands of cameras.. Like i've said many times; it's a pity that those people who complained about traffic police in the past "having nothing better to do"..didn't have the foresight to see what might be the alternative...

Hi StreetCop
Agreed! shame the officer who stopped me didn't have the same attitude and common sense as you. If the offence was that bad surely he should have sent me to court and had me banned from driving: either I was a danger to others or I wasn't. The whole principle behind the points system makes as much sense as Janet Street Porter after a skin full.

james_j said:

It seems to me that the 40 limit on that road is way too low and for all these years you have been travelling at the speed with which you are comfortable as do most drivers every day on most roads, quite safely. It's annoying to have money taken away from you in such circumstances and a lecture doesn't exactly help one's mood either. All I can suggest is that you say you were happy that your driving was safe in the circumstances (you never know, you may elicit quiet sympathy from the magistrate...well I said maybe). I know of a retired ex-class 1 BIB driver who is always getting points; he's an excellent driver (much smoother than me), but hell what's driver ability / safety got to do with it?

Speed limits are too general imo. This particular stretch of road is a 40mph limit for approx 1/4 mile followed by a scamera then straight onto a 70.

The money bit bothers me but the points on my license for 3 years is worse.

The ref to the BiB driver is spot on, scameras can't distinguish between safe and unsafe driving. I would take it to court but unfortunately the magistrate would probably be a middle lane numpty.

[2 Smokin Barrels]

You knowingly exceeded the speed limit & got caught. End of story.

[Tonyrec]

JoolzB said:

If the offence was that bad surely he should have sent me to court and had me banned from driving: either I was a danger to others or I wasn't.

Dammed if you do and dammed if you dont eh?

[Tonyrec]

I dont know many BiB that wouldnt have given you a ticket in this case...64 in a 40. Regardless of whether or not any danger was caused.

You are indeed very fortunate.

[Tonyrec]

james_j said:

I know of a retired ex-class 1 BIB driver who is always getting points;

I know some serving ones with points so nobody is imune.

[TripleS]

JoolzB said:

The whole principle behind the points system makes as much sense as Janet Street Porter after a skin full.

...or before?

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[rude girl]

Am I right in inferring that he pulled you, gave you a ticking off (some "education") and then let you go without a ticket?

I wouldn't be ranting on here if I were you, I'd have given him a massive snog and asked him if he wanted to have my babies! Bloody hell, more than 50% over the speed limit (whether you or anyone else thinks it's set right or wrong) and he let you off? Remind me again what you've got to moan about will you?

Guess that's a half empty glass you've got there.

[2 Smokin Barrels]

rude girl said:

Am I right in inferring that he pulled you, gave you a ticking off (some "education") and then let you go without a ticket? I wouldn't be ranting on here if I were you, I'd have given him a massive snog and asked him if he wanted to have my babies! Bloody hell, more than 50% over the speed limit (whether you or anyone else thinks it's set right or wrong) and he let you off? Remind me again what you've got to moan about will you? Guess that's a half empty glass you've got there.

Blimey. I thought it was a bit whingey when I was assuming penalty points. But all this over a wigging? WTF. I'm with you Rude Girl (except the baby thing)

>> Edited by 2 Smokin Barrels on Wednesday 19th January 22:50

[TripleS]

rude girl said:

I wouldn't be ranting on here if I were you, I'd have given him a massive snog and asked him if he wanted to have my babies!

That would be a bit tricky for him wouldn't it, or are you giving them away?

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[rude girl]

Nah, reading it again I think I'm wrong - it was 3 points and a tank and a half of optimax.

Still, getting away with it for 12 years isn't bad.

I look at it this way - I've been doing about 30-40k miles a year for oh, 20 years. So that's two SP30s and a finger wagging in 700,000 miles. Which isn't that bad. Unlucky of me to get caught the only three times that I exceeded the speed limit in my entire driving career though, wasn't it?

Look on the bright side, everyone's got 3 points nowadays, insurance companies don't care about one SP30. In fact, they disqualify you if you haven't got them within 5 years of passing your test now.

[rude girl]

TripleS said:

That would be a bit tricky for him wouldn't it, or are you giving them away?

Listen mate, have you seen how they get those things out?

That's the best offer I'm prepared to make

[Tonyrec]

rude girl said:

In fact, they disqualify you if you haven't got them within 5 years of passing your test now.

Thats what i keep saying but it doesnt cheer anyone up

[rude girl]

Tonyrec said:

rude girl said: In fact, they disqualify you if you haven't got them within 5 years of passing your test now. Thats what i keep saying but it doesnt cheer anyone up

So you're just doing us all a favour then Tony? You're all heart!!

Pick the Griff up from Joolz on Sunday - fancy a couple of hours play and swapping builder stories soon?