M25 speed cameras, just a little advice

[paulr23]

Hi all first post here,

Know you guys probably get this one a lot. And I fully accept that it is my fault.

I was on the m25 last night around midnight heading anticlockwise towards dartford bridge, judging by total guess I assume I was around junction 2-5 where this happened (I exited at the A2 going west). Basically the camera was flashing like a bloody christmas tree around one of the gantries, I've done a bit of googling and dreading the result of a NIP through the door. I assume these are the HADEC cameras as the flash seemed to have been coming from the back left of the car. If I'm honest it flashed so many times I'm not sure whether it was at me or the cars next to me.

There was a VSL in place for a closed lane I believe, and I believe it was 50 and I believe I was going 50, then the next gantry I think displayed 40 and I probably went through at 50 and didn't notice, just as every other driver on the road at the time, seems a bit strange to me that the cameras dont work whenever there isnt a VSL but only when there is, which doesnt seem fair at all, judging what I've read on here at least.

I assume I will be getting a letter in the post, which I also could do with some advice on. Will I receive the option to go on one of these speed awareness courses as it is a first offence and pay a fine?

Also wondering if I should tell my insurer straight away (directline) or should I wait till my renewal, dreading the price hike of that too.

Cheers
Paul

[paulr23]

Not sure if we are allowed to bump posts?

[Pistonheader101]

Unlucky. Only a 3 mile stretch of the m25 has working cameras.

[anonymous-user]

I'm not too fluent in the M25, but it seems another pher has travelled on the same section of road, same time as you, lurk on this thread and see what it says:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Danxr46]

As a first offence you will be offered the SAC or 3 points fine but you don't have to declare the course and just make sure you don't get caught in the next three years.

[911xx]

For the letter - yes you will get a letter with the option to pay a fine or attend a speed awareness course, which will cost you around 100 pounds

As I am not British I was offered a fine of 100 pounds and 3 points (which I dont care about as not going on my actual EU licence).
If you are British you might have to pay much more...

[paulr23]

Danxr46 said:

As a first offence you will be offered the SAC or 3 points fine but you don't have to declare the course and just make sure you don't get caught in the next three years.

Hi,

So if I do the course I'll have to pay a fine but wont actually have to declare it on insurance and stuff, I swear they ask if you have received any speeding fines or whatever in the last 5 years or something similar. I'm perhaps wrong though, I generally am.

[Pica-Pica]

I would imagine (no proof) that VSLimits are more likely to use cameras than National Speed Limit on motorway. After all they are there for a reason, either to control flow or a hazard ahead. From years of M25/M20 driving they are usually quite justifiable, because of hold ups from junctions which may be 5 miles ahead.

As for your situation, you would most likely get a Speed Awareness Course SAC (you may not get anything and be OK). So I would say, take the SAC, you may not need to notify your insurance company, Admiral/Elephant seem to be the worst for treating SACs like 3 points. You don't need to advise them yet. As others have said (largely), if you do get a SAC, take it, attend, show interest (if you do not participate, you may 'fail' the course. Switch phone off, texting etc may well constitute a fail).
I assume they were red-ringed limits (compulsory) rather than just a number (advisory). On gantries they are almost always red-ringed.
Others will offer their advice, take your pick!

Edited by Pica-Pica on Monday 21st August 20:59

[cuprabob]

paulr23 said:

Danxr46 said:

As a first offence you will be offered the SAC or 3 points fine but you don't have to declare the course and just make sure you don't get caught in the next three years.

Hi,

So if I do the course I'll have to pay a fine but wont actually have to declare it on insurance and stuff, I swear they ask if you have received any speeding fines or whatever in the last 5 years or something similar. I'm perhaps wrong though, I generally am.

If you get offered and choose the SAC, you have to pay for the course but don't get points or a fine.

So you are not paying a fine.

Unless your insurance company specifically asks about Speed Awareness Courses, you don't need to declare it.

[anonymous-user]

I assume you are quite a young chap?

Stop fretting, you haven't even received anything yet.

Once you receive the paperwork, then you can look at the options.

[Pica-Pica]

paulr23 said:

Danxr46 said:

As a first offence you will be offered the SAC or 3 points fine but you don't have to declare the course and just make sure you don't get caught in the next three years.

Hi,

So if I do the course I'll have to pay a fine but wont actually have to declare it on insurance and stuff, I swear they ask if you have received any speeding fines or whatever in the last 5 years or something similar. I'm perhaps wrong though, I generally am.

Doing the course is not a 'fine'! I did a course and always responded with the words 'alleged', but still a polite letter. You may need to research on line about whether you need to notify your insurance. They may not regard you as increased risk (MOST do not), but it could/would be seen as a relevant factor or circumstance.

Edited by Pica-Pica on Monday 21st August 20:04

[paulr23]

jsf said:

I assume you are quite a young chap?

Stop fretting, you haven't even received anything yet.

Once you receive the paperwork, then you can look at the options.

Yeah I am, still in my first two years of driving. So am naturally a bit anxious about the whole ordeal, but seems that this has put my mind at rest.

Thanks to everyone else as well (still not sure how to multiple quote). As others have said, them cameras seem to go off a lot of times and no one hears a thing.

Will definitely be back on this forum for some advice.

[CSK423]

I was flashed at around the same area this time last year, I had just came off a plane into gatwick,after a sht day jumped in a hired car and drifted to around 80mph on this section heading for dartford at late o'clock.

I've heard nothing since, so either my speed was borderline but still triggered the camera or it got lost in the hire companies paperwork bundle.

I wouldn't worry about it if you currently have a clean licence, 3 points is becoming the norm on everyone's licence these days.

[Pica-Pica]

CSK423 said:

I was flashed at around the same area this time last year, I had just came off a plane into gatwick,after a sht day jumped in a hired car and drifted to around 80mph on this section heading for dartford at late o'clock.

I've heard nothing since, so either my speed was borderline but still triggered the camera or it got lost in the hire companies paperwork bundle.

I wouldn't worry about it if you currently have a clean licence, 3 points is becoming the norm on everyone's licence these days.

But if you have only had your licence for less than two years. 6 points is licence-losing territory.

https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/new...

[SV_WDC]

Pistonheader101 said:

Unlucky. Only a 3 mile stretch of the m25 has working cameras.

Is that this section? I HATE the M25 'smart' motorway now.

Often it has 50 as the speed restriction. You slow right down, then everyone in all other lanes is doing at least 60, but usually 70. Actually feels dangerous then trudging along at that speed. So it becomes a question of sheep mentality or not.

[lucido grigio]

Pistonheader101 said:

Unlucky. Only a 3 mile stretch of the m25 has working cameras.

I believe that to be untrue ,seeing as people are getting tickets from a much larger section than 3 miles.

[Zod]

I was on the M25 last night at around 7.30 from J2 to the Dartford Tunnel, going anti-clockwise. You'd have been lucky to have made it to 10mph, let alone get flashed by a camera!

[CSK423]

Pica-Pica said:

CSK423 said:

I was flashed at around the same area this time last year, I had just came off a plane into gatwick,after a sht day jumped in a hired car and drifted to around 80mph on this section heading for dartford at late o'clock.

I've heard nothing since, so either my speed was borderline but still triggered the camera or it got lost in the hire companies paperwork bundle.

I wouldn't worry about it if you currently have a clean licence, 3 points is becoming the norm on everyone's licence these days.

But if you have only had your licence for less than two years. 6 points is licence-losing territory.

https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/new...

I'm aware of the 2yr rule, just means he'll be super conscious of his driving skills now opposed to someone over 2yrs who has 3 more strikes and they're possibly out

[frankenstein12]

M25 has a lot of speed cameras that work now all around it. The Hadecs cameras are at clackets two sets each direction. Hadecs both directions JCT2-3 and 3-2 M25. Hadecs just before slip road into cobham services clockwise (a sneaky fker that one). Another one just after a3 junction both ways etc etc etc

Lots of camers and they do work as I see them flash often. I feel a bit more sympathy for those caught by hadecs as they are a lot more difficult to spot than the old overhead gantry ones (except the ones through M3-M4 section of M25 which were well hidden)

Odds are this chap has been caught as said by someone else by the Hadecs between 3-2 anti clockwise just before the M2 turn off. There are then average speed cameras into and out of the dartford tolls.

They are putting speed cameras everywhere. All the way from bexleyheath to the blackwall tunnel and vice versa average speed cameras.
Lots of new hadecs cameras around the northern M25.

I see there is another Hadecs recently gone in between Jct 8-7 anti clockwise
Lots of new cameras on the M1.
New cameras on M3
A12 is one long average speed camera zone snooze fest now.

Its getting a bit boring.

[PaulG40]

Having just attended a 'national speed awareness course. It is force/region dependant but the bracket for 40mph is 45mph-52mph if I recall for if you are offered an SAC. I got done in a 30, so for me it was 35-42mph caught (I was 35) to be offered a SAC. Anything over was points or a different course, subject to their decision. If a lot higher speed, they apparently offer a different kind of course.

And they told us the cameras are never 'off', just set to a higher speed (say 100mph i guess) when not displaying on NSL.