Did the camera van get "my friend"?

[Desiderata]

Indicated 80mph on speedo- later checked against sat-nav as 77/78.
A66 dual carriageway section, "the driver" crested a hill and immediately saw the camera van about 1500m away, was down to an indicated 70mph very quickly, the van was still over 1000metres away.
Driver is from Scotland but the offence (if committed) was in England. Might the driver be offered a naughty boy lecture rather than a conviction or fixed penalty?

[BertBert]

Why are you even asking with a speed below the prosecution threshold? And why the emergency brake to get the speed below even the speed limit?

Just the driving behaviour that causes accidents and drives people nuts.

[Jamescrs]

By the time you have seen the van the van has seen you it will have registered your speed (whatever it was) at that distance

[Andeh1]

I'd say 40% caught 60% got away with it, I've had a few near misses in very similar scenarios!

Take it as a lesson either way, slow down! (I say to you, as much as to myself)

[number2]

As Bert says. Non-issue.

Good eyesight, identifying a vehicle from almost a mile away .

[Sheepshanks]

If the distances quoted are accurate then would be fine anyway as their max range is 1000 metres - they might cheat though, reasoning that there no way anyone would challenge a course or FPN.

A66 is the only place I’ve ever seen sequential speed vans, a couple of miles apart.

[parabolica]

Desiderata said:

Indicated 80mph on speedo- later checked against sat-nav as 77/78.
A66 dual carriageway section, "the driver" crested a hill and immediately saw the camera van about 1500m away, was down to an indicated 70mph very quickly, the van was still over 1000metres away.
Driver is from Scotland but the offence (if committed) was in England. Might the driver be offered a naughty boy lecture rather than a conviction or fixed penalty?

I wish your friend luck; I was done for 78 (80 on my speedo) on the M6 just south of Penrith and had to do a SAC (they rejected my appeal*). I posted about it on a thread on here a few years back (2017 I think) and posted a copy of the letter as no-one believed you would get done for 78 on a motorway.

*Satisfied the camera equipment was correctly calibrated on the morning of the event and maintained that 10% + 2mph is the starting point for punishment.

[spookly]

Jamescrs said:

By the time you have seen the van the van has seen you it will have registered your speed (whatever it was) at that distance

The camera in the van is capable of doing that. But that's not always true.
They might have been concentrating on another vehicle, having a donut or calling the Mrs. It's still a good idea to hit the brakes when you see them if you're well over the limit.

I spotted a camera van on a bridge over the motorway. Hitting the brakes was the difference between a court appearance and the SAC which I attended.

[Mammasaid]

A66 here perchance?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.5197058,-1.94447...

With the camera parked just as the road narrows?

I got caught there at 83 mph in January - result was a SAC taking 2 1/2 hours.

[OutInTheShed]

If the OP's speed was 78, they could have 'measured' that and got an indication of 80 or 81.

That's why there's a tolerance.

[Desiderata]

Mammasaid said:

A66 here perchance?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.5197058,-1.94447...

With the camera parked just as the road narrows?

I got caught there at 83 mph in January - result was a SAC taking 2 1/2 hours.

No, more like about here.
A66
https://maps.app.goo.gl/u1SFdkCXs28WWqB76

[Super Sonic]

OutInTheShed said:

If the OP's speed was 78, they could have 'measured' that and got an indication of 80 or 81.

That's why there's a tolerance.

ROFL!

[Sheepshanks]

Indicated 80 is a bit of a daft speed to drive at - back off a couple of MPH and you don't have to think about being on edge looking out for camera vans.

Or drive faster and at least make getting nicked worthwhile.

[Super Sonic]

parabolica said:

I wish your friend luck; I was done for 78 (80 on my speedo) on the M6 just south of Penrith and had to do a SAC (they rejected my appeal*). I posted about it on a thread on here a few years back (2017 I think) and posted a copy of the letter as no-one believed you would get done for 78 on a motorway.

There are many that still don't believe it, demanding people show proof. I can only assume they missed your thread.

[littleredrooster]

Sheepshanks said:

...A66 is the only place I’ve ever seen sequential speed vans, a couple of miles apart.

Happens quite often on the A19/A168 around Thirsk/Topcliffe. It must be like shooting fish in a barrel because I've yet to see a van doing less than 70mph.

[Pit Pony]

spookly said:

Jamescrs said:

By the time you have seen the van the van has seen you it will have registered your speed (whatever it was) at that distance

The camera in the van is capable of doing that. But that's not always true.
They might have been concentrating on another vehicle, having a donut or calling the Mrs. It's still a good idea to hit the brakes when you see them if you're well over the limit.

I spotted a camera van on a bridge over the motorway. Hitting the brakes was the difference between a court appearance and the SAC which I attended.

SARCASM MODE : That sounds safe. I wonder how many accidents occur due to "pressing the E Stop"
That's why they are called safety partnerships right?

[Sheepshanks]

littleredrooster said:

Sheepshanks said:

...A66 is the only place I’ve ever seen sequential speed vans, a couple of miles apart.

Happens quite often on the A19/A168 around Thirsk/Topcliffe. It must be like shooting fish in a barrel because I've yet to see a van doing less than 70mph.

Actually - just realised it was the A64 I saw then - going out beyond York (they were on the York bound carriageway from the coast).

I bet it catches a lot of people who relax after passing the first van.

[Desiderata]

Just to update, 17 days have passed since the date of the "offence" and no NIP. I presume "my friend" can relax now.

[martinbiz]

parabolica said:

I wish your friend luck; I was done for 78 (80 on my speedo) on the M6 just south of Penrith and had to do a SAC (they rejected my appeal*). I posted about it on a thread on here a few years back (2017 I think) and posted a copy of the letter as no-one believed you would get done for 78 on a motorway.

*Satisfied the camera equipment was correctly calibrated on the morning of the event and maintained that 10% + 2mph is the starting point for punishment.

A lot on here would very interested to see that, do you still have copy of the NIP? Your quote from them seems to be at odds with what you have said, they have Said 10% +2 is the point that they will commence action, you are saying they took action at 10% + 1 correct? Did you not query the contradiction?

[Brassblaster]

Sheepshanks said:

Indicated 80 is a bit of a daft speed to drive at - back off a couple of MPH and you don't have to think about being on edge looking out for camera vans.

Or drive faster and at least make getting nicked worthwhile.

Two ways to look at it... I tend to think as you do.



The other way of looking at it is to think you're then close enough for last minute braking to dip you just under the threshold... I'll be honest, I don't like it, but I'd imagine it's the justification many would give.

That braking being unpredictable to vehicles behind (who almost certainly won't have seen the speedvan if it's far enough away not to get the you) is enough to justify going either slower to begin with or faster and (as you put it) "make getting nicked worthwhile".
In my book "unpredictable driving is unsafe driving" is probably the key golden rule of staying safe out there, which logically justifies taking a decision between staying out of the risky zone or accepting the possibility of being caught.