The Weekly Gripe

Speed fines and speeding traps advice

Speeding fines, yet another one!

Discussion forum - caught speeding?

Do you think that police speed traps and Gatso cameras are out there just to make money? Have you ever been caught speeding and received points on your licence, do you think the fine was fair?



Ok, so in July I get caught speeding by a Gatso camera. I appreciate I am in the wrong for breaking the speed limit but what's gone wrong? Police gone soft, can't catch anybody if they are a car thief or a house burglar?

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Posted Comment Visitor
14-8-2010 I see your point G.Lad, but each one of the other four factors I mentioned causes more deaths than speeding. Speed cameras don't catch drivers who exercise poor judgement, drive recklessly, are inattentive or just don't see what they are looking at! And as Swindon seems to show, they don't really help.grumpyoldwoman
13-8-2010 Switzerland fines people an amount which rises in relation to their wealth and how much they were over the speed limit. A Swedish driver caught doing 180mph may be fined £656,000! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10960230Sally
13-8-2010 If 7.3% of road deaths are caused by speeding, then that is still 200 deaths a year in the UK and 2000 in a decade, imagine if a loved one of yours was mowed down on the pavement by an out of control 60mph suburban speeding driver? I am not for speed cameras on three lane motorways, perhaps average speed cameras set at 80 or 90mph may be a good idea there.Gainsborough lad.
13-8-2010 Forgot to mention that accidents in Swindon have gone down since they switched off their speed cameras, Yes, DOWN!grumpyoldwoman
13-8-2010 I think it worth mentioning here that only 7.3% of accidents are caused by speeding. Failure of judgement, careless or reckless behaviour, inattention and looking but not seeing between them account for over one third of accidents.grumpyoldwoman
12-8-2010 In regards to Police with a Laser Speed Gun, I'm afraid the author appears slightly mis-informed. Police with a hand held laser do not have to be visible in advance, nor are they required to have any signs out warning you of their presence. And where they do put signs out there is no requirement for it to be on the same road as the enforcement site. You would also be surprised as to what officers can find at these sites: I personally have stopped a car for speeding, found the car to be in a dangerous condition and had a Prohibition notice placed on it, and seen thre driver in court. Also, car speedo's generally read high. If caught at 38 most speedos were probably reading just over 40, though I'm not saying that this was the case with the author of this article. Most people don't have a problem with being got by a person. It's camera's that bug people. The camera catches Mr and Mrs Honest who have a licence, register, tax and insure their cars. The copper on the roadside catches all these yes, but more still. Most people that I've come accross that feel aggrieved by their ticket have been got by a camera. They know they've done wrong but its finding out 2 weeks later that bugs them. We can all try to defend our speed as a mistake, but the fact is in town, empty road or not, 30 is the maximum limit, not the minimum. Yes we all make mistakes, but with driving the risk is to other people's lives and thus the punishments are harsher. If while speeding you had an accidnet and injured or even ki11ed someone, would you feel persecuted and receive sympathy for the charge and possible conviction for driving without due care or causing death by dangerous driving? Why then this feeling when we are caught breaking the law by exceeding the speed limit?Robert
12-8-2010 Another go at the government, the switching off of the speed cameras, ten people lose their life on the UK's roads every day, surely everything should be done to lower this tally, I have been caught once by one of these for doing thirty eight in a thirty, a £30-00 fine and three points, (400 yards from my home as well after coming off a seventy mph duel carriageway) One of the things that I would like to change would be that a driver couldn't say lose his licence in the space of a short time, say if you went on a UK two week driving holiday and came home to find five speeding fines on your doormat, all for being six MPH over the limit on roads that you have never driven down before, But switching them all off will be a disaster, the amount of deaths only disguised by less drivers on our roads, and drivers watching their fuel consumption by driving more slowly.Gainsborough lad.
20-7-2010 If you break the speed limit you are committing an offence so why do you think you have any ground to complain? The police do spend a hell of lot of time dealing with burglaries and thefts and just because you are obviously not aware of the facts and what actually goes on then I dont think you can really use this as a point to argue your case. The bottom line is if you dont break the law by speeding then you wont have a problem. Just because you may have no previous convictions and have an honest job does not make you exempt from the law....chris c
02-7-2010 You don't deserve a license you thick illiterate twat. I'd have locked you up had your kids taken into care and had your wife shot for putting up with you.Joker
01-7-2010 Serving a 6 month ban for totting up 12 in 3 years (not happy but will get by as still got my job not that the tossers in court give a toss that I have a wife and 2 kids to support) exceptional hardship was a no. I not sure about when my license is back, does it come back clean ? I was on 9 points and the cow gave me another 3 to make me up to 12 and a 230.00 pound fine just to add icing on the cake. did explain that how the f*** am I gonna pay as I dont have a job now and as she wasnt from the real world asked someone if I could appeal after seeing me and the wife distressed. Just trying to earn a living and getting this b*******.Joke
20-6-2010 TJ sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it is not true that Camera's can only be sited at accident black-spots,and YES a police car can detect what speed your doing in the opposite direction,also when its in front of you,or behind. M.Moore,I agree with what you are saying but the 30 limit you imply is the maximum you can do safely (in your local councils view)and I'm sure common sense would tell us when to do less.But I don't think a speed camera flashing you at 30 in a 30 mph restriction would stand in court (ie,the Camera would not even have photoed you).as for the evidence from a Patrol car following you it would show that you were not speeding,that of course would not deter johnny law of charging you for any other offence such as careless driving etc. The Police camera teams are I believe allowed to give a certain amount of leeway,such as shall we say 45 in a 40 limit or maybe 75 on a motorway,but they don't have to,to be sure is simple=Dont Speed..arrawn
20-6-2010 Sharon,I suppose in fact you are allowed to go around a roundabout at the speed of the road approaching it,ie 30 on a 30 mph road,40 on a 40 mph road,but you must let common sense be your guide,how big (or small is the roundabout)just how busy,light,dark or,foggy,obviously on a 60 or 70 mph road it would never be safe to do so. Speed limit signs in the UK are Maximum speed allowed,they do not imply that you MUST travel at the speed indicated.I believe there may actually still be a few places that do show a minimum speed limit,though I do not pretend to ever having seen one(I think though your vehicle must be able to do at least a certain speed on a motorway,after all I wouldn't want to try going up the M1 at 15 mph.).arrawn

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