Been an utter tool!
Author
Discussion

gazmk2

Original Poster:

159 posts

196 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Hey guys

I know the outcome of this is not likely to be a good one but I was an utter tool coming back from holiday last night. Hammer down, late at night and not concentrating I managed to tear past almost the whole length of the speed cameras on the M5 and m4 (where the variable speed limit is) at over 85mph.

I always knew I was destined for a potentially life changing balls up but didn't think I'd do it like this!

Has anyone else been this dumb? If so what could I expect?

Cheers

Gary

Corpulent Tosser

5,468 posts

275 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
I would hope you would get a single fixed penalty, I think that you could argue it is a single offence even though you passed several cameras.

Good luck.

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

256 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
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Would it be considered a single offence if it spans two or more forces' jurisdictions?

Sheepshanks

41,196 posts

149 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Where the variable limits set?

miniman

30,117 posts

292 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
I wouldn't panic about it until you get a FPN. Are the cameras even on unless the reduced limits / hard shoulder running are active?

Pebbles167

4,598 posts

182 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
They are very much active I'm afraid, all the time. Doesn't matter if a lower limit is displayed or not on these.

I too hope you could argue that it's a single offence. It's easily done and I have sympathy, I've nearly done the same but luckily managed to to slow before. Not all the gantries are armed with a camera though, if you were doing 85ish on the clock you might have occasionally slowed enough to get away with not triggering all of them. They'll snap you at 79mph.

Good luck.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Saturday 6th August 11:00

Geekman

2,907 posts

176 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Surely at night you'd have noticed if any of them flashed?

gazmk2

Original Poster:

159 posts

196 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Didn't see a single flash, I didn't think these ones did? I'm kicking myself now though. I always thought the cameras were only active when a reduced speed limit was displayed but I checked this morning and they've been on all the time since the middle of last year.

CoolHands

23,578 posts

225 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Pebbles is scare-mongering. They blatantly don't snap you at 79 that's bullst.

Fermit The Krog and Sarah Sexy

13,240 posts

130 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
You may, may, get away with it. some speedos over-read by as much as 10%, and as suggested elsewhere the trigger point is usually 79 (limit+10%+2mph) so, you could have actually been going 8mph less than the speedo reading, tucking you under the trigger point.
Good luck, and no point fretting till such a time the ticket lands.

SVTRick

3,633 posts

225 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Did you say your "Friend from Poland was driving" smile

Geekman

2,907 posts

176 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
gazmk2 said:
Didn't see a single flash, I didn't think these ones did? I'm kicking myself now though. I always thought the cameras were only active when a reduced speed limit was displayed but I checked this morning and they've been on all the time since the middle of last year.
If they're variable speed gantry cameras and not SPECS average speed cameras then yes, they do flash, and when they flash at night, you'd certainly know about it.

mygoldfishbowl

4,287 posts

173 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
CoolHands said:
Pebbles is scare-mongering. They blatantly don't snap you at 79 that's bullst.
Agreed.

tapereel

1,860 posts

146 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
CoolHands said:
Pebbles is scare-mongering. They blatantly don't snap you at 79 that's bullst.
No no no no no, you're wrong.

mygoldfishbowl

4,287 posts

173 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
You may not receive anything through the post, depends on how much over 85 you were doing.

mygoldfishbowl

4,287 posts

173 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
tapereel said:
CoolHands said:
Pebbles is scare-mongering. They blatantly don't snap you at 79 that's bullst.
No no no no no, you're wrong.
No he is not wrong & you know it.

Pebbles167

4,598 posts

182 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
You lot are a bunch of weirdos! hehe

mygoldfishbowl

4,287 posts

173 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Pebbles167 said:
You lot are a bunch of weirdos! hehe
We wouldn't be posting on this st forum if we were anything close to normal.

Sheepshanks

41,196 posts

149 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Local press says they work when not on variable although even that might be scaremongering.

The M25 ones never used to work when not on variable, then they were used all the time but set considerably over the limit.

mygoldfishbowl

4,287 posts

173 months

Saturday 6th August 2016
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
Local press says they work when not on variable although even that might be scaremongering.

The M25 ones never used to work when not on variable, then they were used all the time but set considerably over the limit.
The local press only report what they've been told. These cameras do work when not variable but like the M25 & others they activate at a higher speed than 79.