Ordinarily, I don't over speed with speed camera around or not. This afternoon while on an outing with my family with some interesting discussion, I unwittingly increased my speed to between 36 to 37miles per hour on a 30 miles per hour on a dual carriage road. I realised this when about 30 to 50 yards from a speed camera after which I reduced my speed to less than 30 miles per hour. Don,t forget I am still within the first year of obtaining my british full driving less, thus my license would be revoked if I get up to 6 points. Moreover, driving is essential for my source of livelihood.
I am so confused now and afraid. Have I got my 3 points ? For how long should I wait for the notice to the aforementioned before I assume I have not been fined after all? Is it every speeding offence that is followed by 3 to 6 points? I need your reassurance and advice.
{Volume in subject header lowered. Some of us are trying to sleep}
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 14/06/2008 at 21:31
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Akin, don't panic.
Cameras do sometimes flash without any follow-up. You were doing probably under 35 so you may have triggered the flash without triggering the paperchase.
If you are sent a bit of paper, I would think the worst you can expect is 60 quid and three points.
Go carefully because you won't want those other three points.
Edited by Lud on 14/06/2008 at 18:52
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If the car is registered in your name, correct address etc, then you would get a Notice of Intended Prosecution within 14 days.
The penalty is fixed at £60 and 3 points.
However, if your speedo showed 36/37 then your real speed may have only been 34/35, which probably wouldn't trigger the camera.
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Was it a camera that faces you as you approach it or one that would take a pic after you have passed it?
If it was one that takes a pic as you approach it, then you would know if you had been caught as you would have been met by a bright purple flash. If it's one that takes the pic after you have passed, as long as you were below 30 when you passed through the markings on the road, then I can't see that you will be getting anything through the post.
If it was a handheld camera/van then chances are you will have been caught, but you never know, you may be lucky and get away with it!
If you were caught though you have to wait a max of 14 days, but after that, you won't be getting anything.
As for your other question, if you had been caught doing 36-37 in a 30, then it's 3 points and £60 fine, no further questions. Just have to follow the instructions on the paper work you'll get (well - hopefully you won't get but you know what I mean!)
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How do I know which speed camera takes picture as one approaches it and which one takes pictures after one has passed it? Further more just for knowledge sake what is the point for jumping red traffic light? Thanks
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£60 and 3 points when I got flashed.
You haven't done that too have you Akin?
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I haven't done that so far.( I hope so, because I think I had a close call recently). I am just a bit worried about running away from 3 to 6 points for the next 2 years. I would inform you guys if I get any points. In my next job they are so particular about my owing a car that on the first day on the job I have to show them my full license and my car insurance. it is unbelievable how much driving became so essential when one goes outside London.
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You have to keep your mind on the task in hand. A moment's inattention can have annoying results. You attributed your near miss (we hope) to 'interesting conversation' with your passengers. Nothing wrong with that, but you have to know when to switch off rudely and concentrate. Takes practice.
Westpig who often posts here and is an experienced pilot won't talk when he's driving and doesn't like his passengers talking. I'm not like that, but it might be an idea for you to be like that for a while until your autopilot is better programmed (so to speak). I don't mean to sound pompous.
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The cameras that face you as you approach, and usually have just 3 very close lines on the road, take pic of you as you approach. Their look is box with 2 circular bits on it - the top one that has a purple colour to it.
The ones that you drive away from usually have a white/clear flash, that is rectangle and then a lense. On the road, there are little markings that go for about 20m (depending on the speed limit)
For jumping red lights, depends on who catches you I think. If it's a red light camera, I think it's 3 points and £60 - but these points do affect your insurance more than speeding points (different penalty codes) as it does tend to show driving without due care. If you get stopped by police, then penalty can be a talking to (if you catch them on a good day!), or points and fine (same as by camera).
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slightly off the subject, but one of my favourite comedy sketches of recent years ,The KUMARS,i believe, where there's a family standing at the side of the road. They kept on saying "no" not yet, as cars went past, then when one went past really quickly, they all jumped out and smiled for the camera.
Whilst I've been single flashed numerous times, still yet to receive a letter through the post, both of my spent SP30's were cop provided
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In my pal's car recently, every time he exceeded the speed limit or approached a speed camera his Tom Tom pinged, i was well impressed.
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yeah my tom tom pings too. however it goes into a mad fit occaisionally and picks up speed cameras on paralell roads or if you go under/over a road with one on. It drove me mad pinginging all over the place in the middle of slough one day. nearly chuked the noisy thing out the window. also makes a siren noise like a fire alarm when going over the speed limit, equally as annoying.
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also makes a siren noise like a fire alarm when going over the speed limit equally as annoying.
I've got the PocketGPSWorld speed camera database on mine, coupled with spoken speed camera alerts. No sirens or anything just a female voice, e.g. 'Warning! GATSO ahead. Speed limit 30mph.'
It takes a bit of setting up, especially for the trigger distances for the different speed cameras, but it's an excellent way to remind you to be extra careful around known camera sites. I'm not a speeder by nature, but it is easy to miss speed limit signs occasionally, especially when you're in unfamiliar areas.
I drove into central London recently and it was going off every few seconds, mainly for red light cameras.
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Kennybase, thanks for your sympathetic and helpful replies. I have gone back to check and it is the one that one drives away from and I saw the little markings that go for about 20m as you described . I am very sure I had reduced my speed to below 30 miles per hour just before reaching the camera and definitely before and inside the little markings. I now presume that the camera hasn't caught me after all. My honda has in built sat nav that does not show speed cameras but I also have Tomtom sat nav that shows speed cameras about 500 yards ahead. I guess I may be forced to be using the tomtom inside the honda just to detect speed cameras Don't forget my work is community based (traveling to a lot of unaccustomed places). Kennybase your reply is welcomed. Thanks again everybody.
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