Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Speed camera flashed me doing 41 on a 40

60 replies

Lacucuracha · 06/06/2023 16:00

Hi all, I got flashed by a speed camera last night on a dual carriageway with a speed limit of 40. I was doing 41 (I know as I had an eye on the speedometer as I went through the speed camera markings).

Do you think I will get a fine / points? Or will they assess it and find it's in the tolerance limit?

Other context is there have been a few pedestrians killed on people turning into junctions from this dual carriage way.

Thank you for your comments in advance.

OP posts:
Joevanswell · 06/06/2023 17:17

It’s a massive money making enterprise. Almost everyone I know has done one, even my mum in her late 70s she was doing 31 in a 30. Pity the effort is being put into catching violent criminals

Shade17 · 06/06/2023 17:15

Nothing will happen, it was probably an accidental trigger.

eurochick · 06/06/2023 17:12

I'd be surprise if you get a fine. As others have mentioned, most speedos overread your speed so if they show 41 you are probably actually doing 37-38. If you've had a GPS unit that shows your speed this is typically the sort of difference they show. It has been like that in every car I have owned since GPS units became available. But maybe your Speedo is calibrated to show actual speed.

The people who say they were clocked at 21 and 31 were probably doing more than this according to their speedometers.

Elevel · 06/06/2023 17:08

The 10% tolerance isn't a myth in every area. Over 30 police forces in England have publicly confirmed at which percentage above the speed limit they send out fines/prosecute, and many have confirmed a 10% margin. Ig you Google it, you can find the information from many reputable sources including the RAC.

It is likely, I think, that they won't bother for 1mph over the limit, OP. You would hope so anyway.

Soontobe60 · 06/06/2023 17:07

Lacucuracha · 06/06/2023 16:07

Thanks all. Definitely a 40, have lived here all my life.

I’m surprised I was flashed too.

If you’re flashed do you automatically get points? Or do they assess it first?

It’s irrelevant how long you've lived there; speed limits are being reduced all the time!

billyt · 06/06/2023 17:05

In our area! Definitely need an edit option Grin

billyt · 06/06/2023 17:04

Mind you. There are several speed cameras in area. None are maintained anymore. One does flash if someone is speeding but no film anymore apparently.

@Lacucuracha

If you can say where the camera is maybe better/more advice can be given.

Original poster
Lacucuracha · 06/06/2023 17:03

Suzi9989 · 06/06/2023 17:00

Are u sure it actually flashed not the sun reflection/ brightness?

Thanks, it was at night and a clear flash.

OP posts:
Conkersinautumn · 06/06/2023 17:00

My husband managed to get a fine for doing 21mph (limit was adjusted to 20) so absolutely expect a letter inviting you to take the fine or a speed awareness course.

Suzi9989 · 06/06/2023 17:00

Are u sure it actually flashed not the sun reflection/ brightness?

Original poster
Lacucuracha · 06/06/2023 16:57

FlounderingFruitcake · 06/06/2023 16:09

Was it 30mph and you missed a sign? Could it have been flashing someone overtaking you or were there cameras also on the other side of the road? I know the +10% thing is a bit of a myth but I imagine people would be getting fined a lot more than you hear of if there was only a 1mph margin not to mention that speedos aren’t always accurate. There’s one of those signs that displays your speed with a happy or sad face in a 20 zone near me and it tells me that I’m doing 19 when my speedo says 22. In short I’d be very surprised if you got a fine for 41 in a 40.

No, definitely not a 30mph. There was only one other car and they were going slower than me.

Interesting, those happy or sad face signs seem to show me doing 1 or 2 miles more than I'm actually doing. Or maybe that's just my perception.

OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 06/06/2023 16:56

Guavafish1 · 06/06/2023 16:05

10% margin of error is a myth.

You'll probably get points or attend speed awareness course (if never done before).

Speed awareness course if you haven't done one in the last 3 years.

I know people who have been on more than one.

Original poster
Lacucuracha · 06/06/2023 16:54

ToeJammed · 06/06/2023 16:16

@Lacucuracha They usually give you the option of points and a fine or taking a speed awareness course.
If you take the course, you won't have points on your licence.
It's unlikely that you will get a ticket though for being just 1mph over the limit.
My local force gives a 10% error margin.

Thanks, I always knew this day would come. But I didn't think it would come on a day where I was doing 41 on a 40!

OP posts:
Original poster
Lacucuracha · 06/06/2023 16:53

tonyatotter · 06/06/2023 16:49

Its an old type speed camera if it flashed, so a Gatsometer or a Peek. If it flashed as you were driving towards it then it cannot determine your speed, they can only register cars driving away from the unit, but if poorly aligned they can be triggered by cars going the other way, but the images taken are useless.
A good proportion of these older cameras still use 35mm film, this has often run out or is not loaded and the unit is just triggering and not taking any pictures.
Two photographs are taken, as you would have been over the 40 limit, that would trigger the unit to take the first photograph, a second photograph is taken as you pass the far measuring point, the unit imprints the time on the shots, this allows the speed to be calculated by comparing the time code on the near and far shots.

Very helpful, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lacucuracha · 06/06/2023 16:52

billyt · 06/06/2023 16:14

Which way was the camera facing? Towards you so capturing the front of your car, or to the rear so capturing the rear of your car?

Many front facing don't flash (Truvelo type). It could have been the standard type and capturing a car going the opposite way.

Whereabouts is the camera?

And as said a few times. Speedometers always over read your speed.

Thanks, it captured the rear of my car.

OP posts:
tonyatotter · 06/06/2023 16:49

Its an old type speed camera if it flashed, so a Gatsometer or a Peek. If it flashed as you were driving towards it then it cannot determine your speed, they can only register cars driving away from the unit, but if poorly aligned they can be triggered by cars going the other way, but the images taken are useless.
A good proportion of these older cameras still use 35mm film, this has often run out or is not loaded and the unit is just triggering and not taking any pictures.
Two photographs are taken, as you would have been over the 40 limit, that would trigger the unit to take the first photograph, a second photograph is taken as you pass the far measuring point, the unit imprints the time on the shots, this allows the speed to be calculated by comparing the time code on the near and far shots.

NomDePrune · 06/06/2023 16:24

Before any mention of pints or fines, you'll get a letter from the police asking to confirm who was driving the car at the time and date. You tell them then they send the appropriate form - someone who's already done the course in the last 2 years won't get the option to do it again.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 06/06/2023 16:24

AlfietheSchnauzer · 06/06/2023 16:19

I've had a ticket for 31 in a 30. Had to go on a speed awareness course 🙄 Mentioned it during a group discussion and the leader was like "Well yeah! It's over the limit!" and was AGHAST that I was in any way shocked or questioning it....

Well he wasn't wrong?

HanSB · 06/06/2023 16:20

My husband did an online speed awareness course for doing 31 in a 30 - had to pay over £100 for the course.

AlfietheSchnauzer · 06/06/2023 16:19

I've had a ticket for 31 in a 30. Had to go on a speed awareness course 🙄 Mentioned it during a group discussion and the leader was like "Well yeah! It's over the limit!" and was AGHAST that I was in any way shocked or questioning it....

ToeJammed · 06/06/2023 16:16

@Lacucuracha They usually give you the option of points and a fine or taking a speed awareness course.
If you take the course, you won't have points on your licence.
It's unlikely that you will get a ticket though for being just 1mph over the limit.
My local force gives a 10% error margin.

Badbudgeter · 06/06/2023 16:16

I always thought it was speedometers that had the margin of error and could show you up to 10% over so 33 would be 30 actual speed. I’ve had a number of cars Volvo was always over by about 8%. Volkswagen was pretty much bang on. Toyota is 6% over. I work it out in Comparison to the sat nav.

TheSnowyOwl · 06/06/2023 16:15

It depends and the 10% leeway isn’t true. It’s possible your speedometer is faulty and you were going faster than you think. You’ll just have to wait for the post and see if a fine or warning turns up.

billyt · 06/06/2023 16:14

Which way was the camera facing? Towards you so capturing the front of your car, or to the rear so capturing the rear of your car?

Many front facing don't flash (Truvelo type). It could have been the standard type and capturing a car going the opposite way.

Whereabouts is the camera?

And as said a few times. Speedometers always over read your speed.

Jupiter15 · 06/06/2023 16:12

It’s probably faulty