Everyone speeding!!

[wrightj]

Was travelling to Bath this morning, not on the main road but around the back roads from Norton St Phillip. About 8.30am, full roads, the traffic is all moving at the same speed (about 40mph). Wasn't thinking about speed limits as we were all doing the same speed, and then saw a police van on the side of the road, back doors open and 2 policemen inside with a camera pointing at the oncoming traffic. I saw it straight away, and thought there is absolutely no reason to slow down here because not going that fast + just following the car in front of me, + in front of that one etc. Glanced at speedo and was showing about 40mph. About 20 yards after the van.....national speed limit sign, so glanced back to see that i had just left a 30mph zone. Surely they can't have just been nailing every car as it went past.....could they?!! (There wasn't a flash) Was caught 3 times towards the end of last year, and have been trying so hard to obey the limit. Even changed my company car to a slower one (Leon) + bought a road angel. Not again!!! Makes me really want to give it some just out of anger when it is tvr time at the weekend.

[miniman]

So, with 9 points on your licence you knowingly drove past a Talivan at 40 in a 30? Interesting...


PS no offence meant, just had a bad day

[Richard92c2]

hmm. I can see it now,

well your honour, I was speeding because, well... everyone else was!!

[outlaw]

Richard92c2 said: hmm. I can see it now,

well your honour, I was speeding because, well... everyone else was!!

that only works if the juge was in frount of you with a rent boy and you got pics.

[swilly]

There's a safety issue here isn't there.

If all the traffic is travelling at constant speed, to introduce a slower moving vehicle would only disrupt things and create a risk of accident occuring.

[robp]

wrightj - To be honest you MIGHT be OK I reckon.

If you were doing an indicated 40 AND NO MORE, you were probably doing a true 36-38. You might be lucky.
Fingers crossed, especially with 9 points!

[madcop]

Wasn't thinking about speed limits as we were all doing the same speed,

And there was the fatal mistake. Had you been switched on instead of dreaming, then those in front of you would have gone past the van at 40mph. You and everyone else behind you would have gone past at 30mph unless those behind you decided to throw themselves on the sacrificial alter by overtaking you because you were just doing the limit .

Stick to the limits, concentrate and think to your self, I am helping other people to keep their cash and their licences and therefore I am a model citizen and I can proceed through the day with thoughts of the many good deeds I have accomplished on my journey to/from work.

Laugh and wave at those who so foolishly decide you are a P.I.T.A. when they pass you into the jaws of the safety partnerships welcoming procedures

[manek]

[NLJdH]

madcop said:

Wasn't thinking about speed limits as we were all doing the same speed,

Stick to the limits, concentrate and think to your self, I am helping other people to keep their cash and their licences and therefore I am a model citizen and I can proceed through the day with thoughts of the many good deeds I have accomplished on my journey to/from work.

Laugh and wave at those who so foolishly decide you are a P.I.T.A. when they pass you into the jaws of the safety partnerships welcoming procedures

With due respect to your point, which is idealistically is correct, I have seen police cars in flowing traffic that have got pissed off behind people being 'model citizens' at 30mph and pulled out aggressively and proceed with the heard at 35-40+. No they were not on a call either.

Point is, where the road is open and the distance you can see is safe, it is near impossible to remain at 30 while the column ahead dissappears at 40 ahead of you and those behind are kissing your bumper in frustration. If they can't overtake you either, what do you do? Hold everyone up and get a dose of road rage every few yards?

I'm not saying it's right to speed or that there is an excuse to break the law, I am saying that surely in many areas the limits are just ridiculous if even police cars are 'following the heard' and breaking the limits?

Regards,
Nicholas

Edited to say:
PS - I witnessed three incidents lately of marked police cars doing this, one of unmarked police.

>> Edited by NLJdH on Wednesday 12th March 18:24

[dazren]

The lesson you should be learning from this is that speed safety partnerships are large businesses. Maximum revenue can be generated and thus business expanded by concentrating on those roads with a high density of traffic where the speed limit has been set artificially low.

DAZ

[madcop]

NLJdH said:

With due respect to your point, which is idealistically is correct, I have seen police cars in flowing traffic that have got pissed off behind people being 'model citizens' at 30mph and pulled out aggressively and proceed with the heard at 35-40+. No they were not on a call either.

How do you know? Do you have some link into the radio system and a method of identifying the particular vehicle call sign you see 'take off'. It is not always the best policy to make progress with everything going, especially if you are in a marked car and trying to 'sneak up' on a suspect vehicle some distance ahead.

Point is, where the road is open and the distance you can see is safe, it is near impossible to remain at 30 while the column ahead dissappears at 40 ahead of you and those behind are kissing your bumper in frustration.

No it isn't. I do it all the time. All you have to do is keep the needle on the 30mph, it really is not that difficult.
Put some soothing music on the CD player and think of pleasant things. That helps too.
If the 'bumper kisser' kisses mine, he/she will have to pay for the consequences. They may well be greater than the time they think they are losing by being so close ;D

Just remember that it is wise to indicate well in advance though if you want to change direction or speed.

If they can't overtake you either, what do you do? Hold everyone up and get a dose of road rage every few yards?

Remind yourself of the favour you are doing them, or ammuse yourself about how much steam is generating from under the collars of those who are complying with the limit and the dreadful day that they will now have because you decided to help them retain both cash and licence.

I'm not saying it's right to speed or that there is an excuse to break the law, I am saying that surely in many areas the limits are just ridiculous if even police cars are 'following the heard' and breaking the limits?

Regards,
Nicholas

Edited to say:
PS - I witnessed three incidents lately of marked police cars doing this, one of unmarked police.

>> Edited by NLJdH on Wednesday 12th March 18:24

How do you know unless you were inside all of those vehicles. You assume much

You are right that in some areas the limits do seem ridiculous but they are limits and if you decide to drive through them with your thumb up your ar5e (Baaaaaa, baaaaaaa) then don't be surprised to appear on "You've been safety framed"

[robp]

dazren said: The lesson you should be learning from this is that speed safety partnerships are large businesses. Maximum revenue can be generated and thus business expanded by concentrating on those roads with a high density of traffic where the speed limit has been set artificially low.

DAZ

How very true.
Quite how they argue otherwise is beyond me.

A friend of mine was issued with a NIP a few days ago. The leaflet inside said that the "Safety Partnership" now use unmarked cars to sit at the side of the road and carry out speed checks in addition to the mobile scamera units.

So, what are their interests? Safety or revenue?

[SpudGunner]

madcop said:

Stick to the limits, concentrate and think to your self, I am helping other people to keep their cash and their licences and therefore I am a model citizen and I can proceed through the day with thoughts of the many good deeds I have accomplished on my journey to/from work.

And who says the rozzas dont have a sense of humour?

Mind you it is normally a case of do as I say and not what I do in my experience. I often see (admittedly panda cars) doing well excess of the limit when not on call.

However I do have to admit that traffic cars often adheer to the speed limits. Guess this is because:-

a) they dont want to spill their coffee.
b) they dont need to get to anywhere in particular unlike the rest of us
c) they are trying to get the best fuel consumption out of their car





>> Edited by SpudGunner on Thursday 13th March 00:15

[NLJdH]

madcop said:
How do you know? Do you have some link into the radio system and a method of identifying the particular vehicle call sign you see 'take off'. It is not always the best policy to make progress with everything going, especially if you are in a marked car and trying to 'sneak up' on a suspect vehicle some distance ahead.

I'm not saying it's right to speed or that there is an excuse to break the law, I am saying that surely in many areas the limits are just ridiculous if even police cars are 'following the heard' and breaking the limits?

Regards,
Nicholas

Edited to say:
PS - I witnessed three incidents lately of marked police cars doing this, one of unmarked police.

>> Edited by NLJdH on Wednesday 12th March 18:24

How do you know unless you were inside all of those vehicles. You assume much

You are right that in some areas the limits do seem ridiculous but they are limits and if you decide to drive through them with your thumb up your ar5e (Baaaaaa, baaaaaaa) then don't be surprised to appear on "You've been safety framed"

Okay, fair point, how do I know if the police car was on a silent call or not...?

Well, I guess it must be normal for said police car to speed past you down the road on this 'call' and then as you progress you find them pulled over buying sandwiches from a street stall, hmm sounds like a major emergency alright, the infamous stomach rumbler...

Regards,
Nicholas

[JMGS4]

Was travelling to Bath this morning, not on the main road but around the back roads from Norton St Phillip. About 8.30am, full roads, the traffic is all moving at the same speed (about 40mph). Wasn't thinking about speed limits as we were all doing the same speed, and then saw a police van on the side of the road, back doors open and 2 policemen inside with a camera pointing at the oncoming traffic. I saw it straight away, and thought there is absolutely no reason to slow down here because not going that fast + just following the car in front of me, + in front of that one etc. Glanced at speedo and was showing about 40mph. About 20 yards after the van.....national speed limit sign, so glanced back to see that i had just left a 30mph zone. Surely they can't have just been nailing every car as it went past.....could they?!! (There wasn't a flash) Was caught 3 times towards the end of last year, and have been trying so hard to obey the limit. Even changed my company car to a slower one (Leon) + bought a road angel. Not again!!! Makes me really want to give it some just out of anger when it is tvr time at the weekend.

Of course you other excuse is that the road rage numpty behind was frightening you so much you had to speed up, he intimidated you into the speed and you wanted to avoid an accident didn't you!!!

[jumjum]

Write to your MP stating that the speed limit on that road is clearly too low.

Also complain to your Mp and local Police authority about the the shockingly low clear up rate for burgalaries, rape etc in your area and how you would rather police resources were directed toward these areas.

Won't get you off now but might do some good for the future.

Good luck