I thought i was doing the speed limit!
Discussion
ok people, i went to london on saturday night with a few mates very late at night! it was a small road trip if you like.....anways my chosen route was to go straight down the M40, however, as you start to get into london the motorway changes from a 70mph speed limit to a 40mph limit. by this time it was 3 in the morning and i was distracted by the women in the back of my car. this stretch of road is covered in cameras and i only saw them as i was going past at 70 (i thought i was doing the speed limit!) how long would you say it will take until im in the clear as i cant afford the fine and my parents didnt no i was in london at this time and if they found out they would kill me! the ironic thing is for this one journey my road angel wasnt pluged in which made me very angry. any help would be great. thanks guys.
SGirl said:
The only problem is that if you have been caught, ignorance of the speed limit is no defence - if you were doing 70 in a 40, you were doing 70 in a 40. You can't defend yourself by saying you didn't know what the speed limit was. Unfortunately.
Thats not entirely true.
There are technicalities, such as the one with the speed limit signs on slip roads...
However if the signage/distance between is correct then you're banged to rights your honour.
SGirl said:I heard that if you try that defense you lay yourself open to an additional charge of driving without due care and attention.
The only problem is that if you have been caught, ignorance of the speed limit is no defence - if you were doing 70 in a 40, you were doing 70 in a 40. You can't defend yourself by saying you didn't know what the speed limit was. Unfortunately.
Could be talking bo11ocks though!
v8ers said:
$hit there's a 50mph limit too?! well when i saw the camera i slowed to bout 50-55 as i only saw it at the last min. it was the first time i had ever driven to london so i was inexperienced if you want! 2 weeks tho, im gonna go into hybernation!
As many drivers along that stretch of A40 know, the limit goes from 70 to 50, down to 40, and finally 30. All on three and two lane dual carriageways. There are plenty of camera signs, and obviously big yellow boxes on poles both east and west bound. If you went through a camera in the 40 zone, you must have passed one camera in the 70 zone, and others in the 50 zone.
At 03:00, you may have been flashed, but probably no film in the camera.
This is why I'd prefer to see more bib on the road and less cameras by the side.
I was once pulled for 40 in a 30 by a bike cop, was distracted by the universal girlfrend holding the map comment "How should I know which way to go?" he let me off by virtue of the fact that I was bang on the old limit, wasn't distracted enough not to pull straight over for a fire engine on a shout, and I was honest and polite.
It happens to the best of us, bad luck matey.
I was once pulled for 40 in a 30 by a bike cop, was distracted by the universal girlfrend holding the map comment "How should I know which way to go?" he let me off by virtue of the fact that I was bang on the old limit, wasn't distracted enough not to pull straight over for a fire engine on a shout, and I was honest and polite.
It happens to the best of us, bad luck matey.
Dwight VanDriver said:
Could be longer than 14 days XXplod if he aint the Reggy keeper???
DVD
yes im just a named driver on the car, even tho its mine im 17 years old so its cheaper insurance and stuff like that. i have no points on my licence but this could really mess that department up tho! im a safe driver tho before you all start slaging me off.....! i thought i was doing the speed limit, i was tired at the end of the day its my fault, and when the fine comes thorough its gonna have my dads name written all over it, i feel bad about that but then hes going to ask " what were you doing in london 200 miles away in the early hours of the morning" its been nice knowing you guys for this short time! if anyone feels like putting my mind at ease, please go for it....
With parents Liebchen - honesty is best policy! Always tell my stroppy kittens that it is no point fibbling to me as I will find out anyway! 
Best to let them know and get the rollicking over with - and then find that the scam had no film in it after all - because that is your Murphy's Law
Best to let them know and get the rollicking over with - and then find that the scam had no film in it after all - because that is your Murphy's Law
smashmonkey1984 said:
If you do get a NIP, say it was not you driving because you were drunk so you asked someone else to drive but no-longer remember. Your parents may still kill you but you won't get any points. its worth a try.
>> Edited by smashmonkey1984 on Tuesday 20th April 19:27
yeh but no one else in the car could drive, this excuse would work but....im confused!! i had a good night tho so it was all worth it
i love being a teenager 
im just praying that nothing comes through and that some of you were right by saying that the cameras have no film in them! thanks guys you made me feel better 
You're not going to like this, but ....
If it's your car and you're the owner and main driver then having insurance that suggests you're not the main driver but only an occasional one is illegal, it's insurance fraud (or thereabouts) and neither is it helping you gain a NCD that will eventually lead to cheaper legitimate insurance. The reason it's more expensive to insure in your name is the insurance company is setting the premium according to risk. You're fooling the insurance company into a false sense of security by telling lies - in the event of an accident or claim they could argue your policy to be void. Could be expensive if you crash and kill someone and end up paying compensation out of your pocket money.
Again, you're not going to like me for this, but aged 17 you can't have been driving long and therefore you're not really in a position to call yourself a safe driver. There's a lot to learn. If you thought you were doing the speed limit (but weren't) then that could be interpreted as driving without due care and attention (a greater offence than an SP30 speeding fine). Driving whilst tired can also have drastic consequences, particularly in this instance where you blame tiredness for your lack of attention and knowledge of your vehicle speed.
I guess I'll get shot down in flames for all of the above, so I'll grab my coat.....
>> Edited by zoomzoomzoom on Wednesday 21st April 02:13
v8ers said:
yes im just a named driver on the car, even tho its mine im 17 years old so its cheaper insurance and stuff like that.
If it's your car and you're the owner and main driver then having insurance that suggests you're not the main driver but only an occasional one is illegal, it's insurance fraud (or thereabouts) and neither is it helping you gain a NCD that will eventually lead to cheaper legitimate insurance. The reason it's more expensive to insure in your name is the insurance company is setting the premium according to risk. You're fooling the insurance company into a false sense of security by telling lies - in the event of an accident or claim they could argue your policy to be void. Could be expensive if you crash and kill someone and end up paying compensation out of your pocket money.
v8ers said:
im a safe driver tho before you all start slaging me off.....! i thought i was doing the speed limit, i was tired at the end of the day
Again, you're not going to like me for this, but aged 17 you can't have been driving long and therefore you're not really in a position to call yourself a safe driver. There's a lot to learn. If you thought you were doing the speed limit (but weren't) then that could be interpreted as driving without due care and attention (a greater offence than an SP30 speeding fine). Driving whilst tired can also have drastic consequences, particularly in this instance where you blame tiredness for your lack of attention and knowledge of your vehicle speed.
I guess I'll get shot down in flames for all of the above, so I'll grab my coat.....
>> Edited by zoomzoomzoom on Wednesday 21st April 02:13
Zoomzoom
Sounds like his Papa is Reg. Keeper as the little chap is panicking in case NIP goes to Papa and he gets found out for not telling Papa he was out on razzle with his harem in back of his cat!
Should think his insurance will be OK on that score as a named driver? Papa will be paying extra anyway for having youngster named on policy. Must be lots of parents who do this - do know that my cousins with young student drivers have the kids named on policy for all their cars. The kids (some now advanced) are always behind wheel of car to gain experience.
But agree with most of your points anyway. Still say V8ers should 'fess up to Papa. Worst he can do is tick you off, ground you and and ground use of car for a couple of weeks or so! (That would be my punishment when faced with it)
Look at it as one of those lessons in life - and we have all had the acid lectures from our respective Papas! You'll live
Sounds like his Papa is Reg. Keeper as the little chap is panicking in case NIP goes to Papa and he gets found out for not telling Papa he was out on razzle with his harem in back of his cat!
Should think his insurance will be OK on that score as a named driver? Papa will be paying extra anyway for having youngster named on policy. Must be lots of parents who do this - do know that my cousins with young student drivers have the kids named on policy for all their cars
. The kids (some now advanced) are always behind wheel of car to gain experience. But agree with most of your points anyway. Still say V8ers should 'fess up to Papa. Worst he can do is tick you off, ground you and and ground use of car for a couple of weeks or so! (That would be my punishment when faced with it
) Look at it as one of those lessons in life - and we have all had the acid lectures from our respective Papas! You'll live
inexperienced? lack of observation more like.
Ive done that route about 8 times now the first about 2 months ago, he limit signs are clear, the camera sites are clear.
You cant say just becasue you dont know the area you didnt notice the limit signs. (whether they are the right limits is another question)
its lack of observation thats the killer either of your licence or someone/some car you should have seen perhaps its lucky you only didnt see the speed cameras /signs.
Take the IAM then RoSPA courses, your observation skills will improve. Safe driving/
Ive done that route about 8 times now the first about 2 months ago, he limit signs are clear, the camera sites are clear.
You cant say just becasue you dont know the area you didnt notice the limit signs. (whether they are the right limits is another question)
its lack of observation thats the killer either of your licence or someone/some car you should have seen perhaps its lucky you only didnt see the speed cameras /signs.
Take the IAM then RoSPA courses, your observation skills will improve. Safe driving/
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff