Farewell sweet clean license
Discussion
Unfortunately had to succumb to the inevitble this evening.
Stopped by very polite and helpful trafpol on way home tonight for my first ever offence, speeding after i passed through a speed trap rather too briskly.
Still support more trafpol on the road and their words were at least reassuring. However as it is likely that i will soon have 6 points on my license i cannot help but feel at this stage that my days of driving on the public road are over.
Reason for this, both officers stated that i was driving safely and this is why they gave me a bit of a break, yet i will be fined and endorsed. On the way home i was for the first time in a while concious of my measured speed and my driving suffered. i witnessed the carnage of an horrific accident on the opposite carriage way on the M8 and realised that if i am being punished for driving safely whilst this is happening, what is the point?
think i will sell the car when the fine is due and maybe look into getting a track day only machine.
a genuine thankyou to the trafpol officers ( it could have been a much bigger problem) and hello the world of an uncomfortable passenger.
Stopped by very polite and helpful trafpol on way home tonight for my first ever offence, speeding after i passed through a speed trap rather too briskly.
Still support more trafpol on the road and their words were at least reassuring. However as it is likely that i will soon have 6 points on my license i cannot help but feel at this stage that my days of driving on the public road are over.
Reason for this, both officers stated that i was driving safely and this is why they gave me a bit of a break, yet i will be fined and endorsed. On the way home i was for the first time in a while concious of my measured speed and my driving suffered. i witnessed the carnage of an horrific accident on the opposite carriage way on the M8 and realised that if i am being punished for driving safely whilst this is happening, what is the point?
think i will sell the car when the fine is due and maybe look into getting a track day only machine.
a genuine thankyou to the trafpol officers ( it could have been a much bigger problem) and hello the world of an uncomfortable passenger.
catso said:
Bloody hell mate, give up easily don't you?
just the realisation that my approach to driving is incompatible with the modern political climate. the guys that pulled me said the same thing.
if i get stopped again for the same thing in the next few years it will be a license loss. If the trafpol guys hadn't been so decent i could have lost it tonight. they also warned me that the prosecuter may push for a dangerous driving charge because of current policy, despite the officers assertion that i was not driving dangerously.
i don't think i want to drive in a country where politics dictate road policy.
unlikely to be 3 im afraid.
they did say if i was in that range it would have been ignored.
No excuses but on the spot they got me it is very easy to get up to very high speed without realising, i was surpised when they told me the number.
they also pointed out the speed they had to sustain to catch me. it was BIG!
the guys were supeb though, they did all the speel, asked a couple of Q? and then issued the producer.
Asked what height i was, that caught me out.
Also pointed out that as i was actually driving safely they ignored another number they noticed, but per the speed trap it was non negotiable.
will think more tomorrow, but i see this as an opportunity to get into amatuer motorsport. all that can go wrong there is i kill myself but with a clean license
they did say if i was in that range it would have been ignored.
No excuses but on the spot they got me it is very easy to get up to very high speed without realising, i was surpised when they told me the number.
they also pointed out the speed they had to sustain to catch me. it was BIG!
the guys were supeb though, they did all the speel, asked a couple of Q? and then issued the producer.
Asked what height i was, that caught me out.
Also pointed out that as i was actually driving safely they ignored another number they noticed, but per the speed trap it was non negotiable.
will think more tomorrow, but i see this as an opportunity to get into amatuer motorsport. all that can go wrong there is i kill myself but with a clean license
Hollywood Wheels said:
KB, tell us a bit more about what the circumstances were.....you make it sound really bad.....if it was just a case of speeding let us know the speed. Why are you talking of 'Dangerous Driving'? That's a serious offence. You're amongst friends here so please expand....
not sure if i can?
officer did suggest that proc' fiscal may issue DD although they did not see it that way.
can i stick numbers up?
feck it, 86 on an NSL, only vehicle within 1 mile, loads of space on road. slowed down when approached a van about a minute later was actually adjusting my position due to a bit of spray kicking up of th van when i notice a car approaching REALLY QUICKLY from about 300m away. so pulled left again and increaesed gap to about 5s. then blue lights came on so i naively thought they were on a call, eased off and moved as far left as possible, and even flashed H'lights as i didn't think the van had noticed. about 5s later realised they had eased up and mibbee they were indicating left.
so i continued with left indicator on for another 200-300yds easing off looking for a good spot to pull over. spotted a minor lane pulled right in and stuck wheels towards the left.
At no stage did either officer suggest i was driving dangerously, just that due to current policy it may come through.
Hollywood Wheels said:
Ahh, they were in a vehicle. That makes things a bit clearer. Do you not know how to spot unmarked BiB?! It's not difficult. Well, hopefully it'll just be three points and a lesson learnt. If you're going to hoon USE THOSE MIRRORS!!
HW
the bit i am genuinly feeling bad about!!
fully marked up 5 series.
they said they were in a layby with a set speed trap, i don't know if they were obscured but i did not see them untill they were on the move.
i am worried that i did not see them, every time i drive something will make me think, "i could have done that better" or "i should have spotted that earlier"
this has got me thinking, but the officers words did reassure me.
unfortunately i do drive at relatively high speed, but i do not drive fast if you understand. I never push on because i am in a hurry or because i need to show off.
Hollywood Wheels said:
Unlucky mate. 86mph doesn't seem unreasonable but maybe they were looking for 84+ that day, that's just the way these things go. You mention 'spray', so if raining they probably dropped the threshold a bit. Not the end of the world, heres hoping it's just three points....
Can i just say thank you for not going into a whinging rant about BiB and why they aren't out catching 'real' criminals etc, the usual fare on here. You're a gentleman, a rare thing nowadays, and i wish you luck...
HW
i will still stick my neck out to call for more trafpol!
discussion from me will end soon, to top off a crappy month i just realised that i have left my laptop power supply in the studio.
Earl, where is my KARMA!
Deeps, that last comment rings so true.
it has been playing on my mind recently that i see some awful driving every day, inclding 30mis before i was pulled a blind overtake that caused me to brake to half speed, and i was following! yet so often the divers that actually consider safety are being punished.
I am no driving authority, i often disagree with others re: correct practice (see the give way thread inGG) but i do honestly attempt to drive actively and not in blind faith.
HW, cheers mate, making me feel a bit better.
interestingly i stuck a photo up in the roads section showing a spot about 3 miles from where iwas pulled proclaimng it to be my favourite shred of tarmac in the world. amongst my plus points were lack of scams. if they ha spotted me ther i would have probably been doing around 45-50 due to the neg' camber, car park entrance and gravely debris possiblility on following corner.
hey ho tho.
battery defo dying, be tuesday before i can post agian.
K
it has been playing on my mind recently that i see some awful driving every day, inclding 30mis before i was pulled a blind overtake that caused me to brake to half speed, and i was following! yet so often the divers that actually consider safety are being punished.
I am no driving authority, i often disagree with others re: correct practice (see the give way thread inGG) but i do honestly attempt to drive actively and not in blind faith.
HW, cheers mate, making me feel a bit better.
interestingly i stuck a photo up in the roads section showing a spot about 3 miles from where iwas pulled proclaimng it to be my favourite shred of tarmac in the world. amongst my plus points were lack of scams. if they ha spotted me ther i would have probably been doing around 45-50 due to the neg' camber, car park entrance and gravely debris possiblility on following corner.
hey ho tho.
battery defo dying, be tuesday before i can post agian.
K
Sorry for the lack of response from me on this, I left my laptop powersupply in my studio and the battery died. At parent's for a visit so nabbed the chance.
Clarification on 'facts':
86 on a single carriageway (A83), weather not perfect but not bad, I was actually slowing down gradually due to the dropping temperature.
My speed was slower than it has been in the dry, this is a very straight well surfaced section of road with good visibility off the road.
The officers stated that they did not consider my driving dangerous, however they warned me that due to a new zero tolerance approach to speeding it was possible that the sherrif may push for careless or danerous driving. I do not think the case would have anything to be based on but when is evidence necessary for road policy just now.
I am a bit surprised by the measured speed, i was not pushing on, the only time I will have a play is in slower sections of road, I am not that brave tbh.
They did state that it was in my benefit that they would ignore the speed i was doing as they caught up to me.
Still find it a touch amusing that when i spotted them as Police behind me I moved as close to the nearside as possible and eased off a touch to let them pass easier.
Reason I am really fed up is that I was actually havin a really good drive, I had spotted a couple of potential hazards very early and taken appropriate action, my car control had been really smooth and everything felt good.
After i was stopped my drivin was rubbish, I made so many mistakes and spent half my time watchin the speedo. driving at or around 60 on the A83 is very awkward.
I make an active effort and contribution to road safety every time I drive and am now bein punished yet I see awful drivin everyday but nothin done about it. Will wait and see what the letter brings. If it is 3 points then fair enough but 6 points for this?
Clarification on 'facts':
86 on a single carriageway (A83), weather not perfect but not bad, I was actually slowing down gradually due to the dropping temperature.
My speed was slower than it has been in the dry, this is a very straight well surfaced section of road with good visibility off the road.
The officers stated that they did not consider my driving dangerous, however they warned me that due to a new zero tolerance approach to speeding it was possible that the sherrif may push for careless or danerous driving. I do not think the case would have anything to be based on but when is evidence necessary for road policy just now.
I am a bit surprised by the measured speed, i was not pushing on, the only time I will have a play is in slower sections of road, I am not that brave tbh.
They did state that it was in my benefit that they would ignore the speed i was doing as they caught up to me.
Still find it a touch amusing that when i spotted them as Police behind me I moved as close to the nearside as possible and eased off a touch to let them pass easier.
Reason I am really fed up is that I was actually havin a really good drive, I had spotted a couple of potential hazards very early and taken appropriate action, my car control had been really smooth and everything felt good.
After i was stopped my drivin was rubbish, I made so many mistakes and spent half my time watchin the speedo. driving at or around 60 on the A83 is very awkward.
I make an active effort and contribution to road safety every time I drive and am now bein punished yet I see awful drivin everyday but nothin done about it. Will wait and see what the letter brings. If it is 3 points then fair enough but 6 points for this?
Update to the tale.
Letter has arrived today relating to the pull mentioned at the start of thread. haven't seen it with own eyes yet as it had to go to my parents address.
Letter form Sherrif court basicly states that being charged with some rule to do with 'temporary'? speed limit violation of 86 in a 60 limit.
Carries maximum of £1000 and 6 points however on advice willing to offer conditional fixed penalty of 3 points and £60 fine.
So not as bad as could be but still a bit disillusioned with it all. After checking the markings and finding out where the trafpol car was sitting i think it is highly unlikely an accurate reading could be taken.
the little layby is partially obscured if you are travelling south (as i was) by trees and the start of the speed trap markings are about 30-40 metres from that spot and finish about 200m + up the hill. To watch a car pass these points and hit a stopwatch accuratley is a bit tricky i would have thought especially as we are talking small blocks on the road, not the big lines you see at scamera locations.
If it had been 6 points i would have gathered pics and such like and contested but as it is 'only' 3 points i will grab it.
Just wish they would do more to stop all the bad driving on these roads, getting worse everyday with more tourists coming in.
Still considering future options.
Letter has arrived today relating to the pull mentioned at the start of thread. haven't seen it with own eyes yet as it had to go to my parents address.
Letter form Sherrif court basicly states that being charged with some rule to do with 'temporary'? speed limit violation of 86 in a 60 limit.
Carries maximum of £1000 and 6 points however on advice willing to offer conditional fixed penalty of 3 points and £60 fine.
So not as bad as could be but still a bit disillusioned with it all. After checking the markings and finding out where the trafpol car was sitting i think it is highly unlikely an accurate reading could be taken.
the little layby is partially obscured if you are travelling south (as i was) by trees and the start of the speed trap markings are about 30-40 metres from that spot and finish about 200m + up the hill. To watch a car pass these points and hit a stopwatch accuratley is a bit tricky i would have thought especially as we are talking small blocks on the road, not the big lines you see at scamera locations.
If it had been 6 points i would have gathered pics and such like and contested but as it is 'only' 3 points i will grab it.
Just wish they would do more to stop all the bad driving on these roads, getting worse everyday with more tourists coming in.
Still considering future options.
Yugguy said:
So you're going to have 3 points on your licence and you're now going to give up driving? Bit of an over-reaction don't you think? The world and his wife have 3 points these days and the only one adversely affected by your giving up driving is yourself.
not the points, the wake up call that even though the roads i drive on hav a fair number of trafpol they are being ordered to sit in laybys setting up speed traps when there is some v.bad driving going on. Don't know if i want to be part of that scene that is all.
i can be quite strongly principled at times and if the attitude to our roads does not improve i may just step away. i put a lot of effort into my driving yet am punished when every time i am on the road i see a lot of mediocre to v.dangerous behaviour slip by.
miniandy said:
Where on the A83 was this Keith?
I was out yesterday for a run and spotted 2 Trafpol with their gun (no hi-vis) tucked up a side road, but that was in Tarbert. Also spotted a marked BM at the rest and be thankful, but thankfully it was going the other way!
It was the marked BM about 5 miles after 'the rest' at the junction for Dunoon. I have also spotted them doing the gun with no hi-vis vests and it was about 10pm in february so pitch black. had the gun on me but i had slowed way down as i could see something moving and an occasional glint therefore feared it may have been a deer
mybrainhurts said:
How does Enlish law interact with Scottish law..?
If there is a link, remember two English Courts have held that 150mph is not dangerous driving.
Scottish law is more in line with old European (Roman) law, the law is set and less grey area, sometimes a good thing. To set a case precedent i believe the law chnge scenario has to be done out of court and seperate from case.
much better for record contracts usually!
to clarify the sherriff court offered 3 points and £60 fine, it does suggest in the letter this was based on advice of reporting officer.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff