72 in a 40 zone

[ChrisUK]

Got caught doing 72 in a 40 zone - the A4 in London leading up to the M4 elevated section.

Obviously I'm in the 30+speed limit category so no fixed penalty offered.

I guess my best bet is to plead guilty, grovel like mad, wear a suit and take a letter to say I really need a car to do my job properly.

What do you all think I'm likely to get ? Fine and points ? Fine and ban and points ?

Any suggestions (helpful ones !) also welcome...

[dontlift]

Save yourself some money on the new suit etc, by the sounds of it your going to need it for new shoes (although hopefully for not 2 long) so yes groveling would be good.

Was it in a built up area etc, i would imagine that would make a big difference in court.

>> Edited by dontlift on Friday 30th May 23:11

[ChrisUK]

yes, built-up area (Chiswick in London). But 3 lane road with central reservation.

I've got a clean license, so I'm hoping I'll just get a relatively short ban...

[dontlift]

If it is built up area your probably right, although your never know you might get away with it, lots at groveling letter etc to say you will lose your job if you cannot drive, suit, and a decent representative

[CarZee]

Also, pedestrians are separated from the road down that stretch.

I expect that the reason that stretch is 40, tempting as it is to do 80, is that the lanes are extremely narrow.

[UpTheIron]

My best guess would be a sub 56 day ban. If you get lucky then you could just end up with a lot of points instead I suppose.

If get a sympathetic bench then it might depend on how badly you need you license for your job, and more importantly how it affects any dependents you have.

Good luck!

[ChrisUK]

Thanks for the quick responses guys. I have to say, to be fair, the plod was perfectly good about it, no real lecture or anything. He did say 9 people had been killed in the last 6 months which DID make me feel guilty.

I feel such a plonker - 3 mph less and I'd have got a FPN.

[bobthebench]

Ban look likely, but you could still talk your way out of it. Note details carefully and appear in person to put them. Sounds like dual carriageway, so highlight this, in a grovelling way, road was quiet, dry and pedestrian free due to barriers by the sounds of things, and any other points in your favour. Accept your error, tongue in cheek or otherwise, that the road was such that it could have been a far higher limit, you didn't see repeater signs for some distance, and thought from the flow of traffic a higher limit appled than you thought. You risk a lecture on lemmings and the dangerous of presumption, but at least you drive home, not get the bus. Best of luck.

[steve-p]

I guess my best bet is to plead guilty, grovel like mad, wear a suit and take a letter to say I really need a car to do my job properly.

That can't hurt, can it and I certainly would. However, unless you are rich and famous, I think it makes less difference nowadays. You would probably be treated more leniently for stealing a car. I wouldn't drive to court.

[CarZee]

bobthebench said: you didn't see repeater signs for some distance,

I wouldn't try that.. IIRC there are repeater signs on about every 3rd lamppost on that stretch

>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Saturday 31st May 12:06