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AIBU?

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Original poster

Average Speed camera

160 replies

Mummy289 · 30/07/2023 10:02

So I have had my licence 10 years never speed, tbh see it as dangerous and don’t want to risk other people’s lives. Never been pulled over nothing ever.
Yesterday driving along a motor way, go around a roundabout the motor way has no speed signs, stupidly go by the sat nav (it’s a motor way so just assumed 70mph).
See i have passed an average speed camera as I turn in which is fine as doing 70 or under, halfway down the road there is a bloody 40mph sign, so I have slowed down to 40mph (this is half way up the road). Anyway turns out the whole road is 40mph just no sign 🙄, I’m not going to fight it as I don’t want to make it worse, and it’s miles from where I live to get a picture would be a pain. I did check it as I left so I know there was no sign. The cameras are working at the temples speed limit of 40mph. So I was doing 70mph (prob just under half the way) then 40mph just under half way the rest. So assuming averagely doing 56mph-58mph.
Seems I’m looking at 4-6points or even disqualification 🤷🏼‍♀️. First offence is there any chance of a course? I’m gutted as I never speed and it was a new area and if there had been a sign I would have stuck to it. I’m assuming it fell over although even on google maps there is no signs 🤦🏼‍♀️. Which was 2 months ago although was road work signs. Too busy talking to the kids. I’m clearly not going to try and get out of it, just really worried about the consequence tbh.

OP posts:
Motherhubbardscupboard · 30/07/2023 13:54

OP I know exactly where you mean and I did the exact same thing yesterday. The 40 sign was halfway along, and I think they were big 40 signs not little reminder ones. Also, I only saw one camera and it was at the far end of the 40, so would only have clocked me at 40. The only thing is, maybe i was already in a 40? I came from Marks Tey direction. Until I read this thread I didn't think anything of it. Fingers crossed for us both, like you I'm really fastidious about speed limits and hate nothing more than people who drive 40 in a 60 and then 40 in a 30, like some of the idiots I was following on another part of my route yesterday.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 30/07/2023 13:53

My DH got caught on a 70 which was a 50 average speed. He got the course and he'd already had a fine a year before for speeding (in that scenario we'd been sent two letters we'd never received so it was a £400 fine and 3 points and we couldn't remember which one of us was driving.

Popworld · 30/07/2023 13:52

SerendipityJane · 30/07/2023 13:48

Yes. It's a bit of a PITA.

I had a hire car once that claimed to do it automatically. Which was fine until it saw the "5mph" limit sign inside a roadworks, and decided that was that.

I use the limiter far more than the cruise control. Especially in 20 zones.

My bosses Tesla is supposed to be all singing, all dancing ...

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Sounds terrible.

Just out of interest can you push past the set limit? Or would you need to turn it off first?

DanceWithTheBigBoysAgain · 30/07/2023 13:52

VisionsOfSplendour · 30/07/2023 13:44

I did a speed awareness course some years ago and I'm pretty sure thats not true. You have to look at each specific road, it's not one speed limit for all A roads or even for all parts of the same road

There one near me where it's a 40 limit and it's well known for speed camera vans to hang out there

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Yes. There are A roads near me with a 20mph limit. The limit on A roads can be anything from 20 to 70.

LadyLeo99 · 30/07/2023 13:49

SerendipityJane · 30/07/2023 11:05

You need markings on the road for that to hold up.

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Markings aren't needed for average speed cameras to work. Oh my goodness, so much misinformation in this comments section 🙄

SerendipityJane · 30/07/2023 13:48

Popworld · 30/07/2023 13:36

You change your limiter manually?

Show quote history

Yes. It's a bit of a PITA.

I had a hire car once that claimed to do it automatically. Which was fine until it saw the "5mph" limit sign inside a roadworks, and decided that was that.

I use the limiter far more than the cruise control. Especially in 20 zones.

My bosses Tesla is supposed to be all singing, all dancing ...

LadyLeo99 · 30/07/2023 13:46

Ohdearwhatnow4 · 30/07/2023 10:04

Did the camera flash, when you went past? As not all cameras work are switched on.

OP is talking about average speed cameras, they don't flash

VisionsOfSplendour · 30/07/2023 13:44

topnoddy · 30/07/2023 12:44

Nope !

It's 60mph on an A road , regardless of the average speed cameras set up you were speeding anyway .

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I did a speed awareness course some years ago and I'm pretty sure thats not true. You have to look at each specific road, it's not one speed limit for all A roads or even for all parts of the same road

There one near me where it's a 40 limit and it's well known for speed camera vans to hang out there

CaputDraconis · 30/07/2023 13:43

LadyLeo99 · 30/07/2023 13:41

An A road CAN be a 70 speed limit when it's a dual carriageway

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Exactly! Bit worrying some of the comments on this thread and possibly why you get cars driving at dangerously slow speeds on dual carriageways!

LadyLeo99 · 30/07/2023 13:41

topnoddy · 30/07/2023 11:59

That's been in place for months now , always seen the 40 signs when i've been on that stretch .

It's an A road so that ain't no motorway speed limit at anytime

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An A road CAN be a 70 speed limit when it's a dual carriageway

WhiteFire · 30/07/2023 13:40

KateyCuckoo · 30/07/2023 10:41

I mean, you don't sound the most observant of drivers if you didn't notice the difference between a dual carriageway and a motorway so you probably missed the signs.

Where I live a lot of people call the main dual carriageway the motorway. 23 years of living here and I've given up caring.

ZellyFitzgerald · 30/07/2023 13:38

In your defense OP, I live there and the signage is not that clear for anyone not used to travelling on the road.

Also, I think you'll be fine. I've done similar on that road and haven't had a ticket.

JustKeepSlimming · 30/07/2023 13:38

I also thought the average speed cameras served as regular speed cameras too. The point is that you can't just slow down for the camera and then speed up again because you'll reach the next camera too quickly. But you also can't fly past the first one doing twice the speed limit and then stop for coffee to fool the system.

Popworld · 30/07/2023 13:37

LondonQueen · 30/07/2023 13:36

If it's a motorway the speed limit would have been on the gantry, and you missed it. Worrying.

As said many times it an A road

LondonQueen · 30/07/2023 13:36

If it's a motorway the speed limit would have been on the gantry, and you missed it. Worrying.

Popworld · 30/07/2023 13:36

SerendipityJane · 30/07/2023 13:29

The only times I've been caught speeding it's been accidental -

My SAC came about because I was doing 32 as I was changing my limiter from 40 to 30 on a stretch of road that goes 40-30-40-30-40-30-40-30 over a couple of miles. Flashed, not an average.

We have average cameras on a few A roads in Brum. Generally they keep the traffic at the limit.

You change your limiter manually?

Toottooot · 30/07/2023 13:34

RocketIceLollie · 30/07/2023 10:54

I'm pretty sure those average speed cameras also clock your original speed as you enter the average speed zone, so even if you slow down to make up for the initial speed they will still have you over the limit at the start. You are gonna be quite a way over the limit so you might get a lot of points...

Defeats the purpose of average then eh.

SerendipityJane · 30/07/2023 13:29

The only times I've been caught speeding it's been accidental -

My SAC came about because I was doing 32 as I was changing my limiter from 40 to 30 on a stretch of road that goes 40-30-40-30-40-30-40-30 over a couple of miles. Flashed, not an average.

We have average cameras on a few A roads in Brum. Generally they keep the traffic at the limit.

SerendipityJane · 30/07/2023 13:26

Mummy289 · 30/07/2023 12:41

A roads are still 70 mph?

If you have to ask that question, you really should be going on a speed awareness course.

Fatkittythinkitty · 30/07/2023 13:14

Having just done a speed awareness course myself, it's only 70 on a dual carriageway if there's some kind of barrier in the middle.

The only times I've been caught speeding it's been accidental - I haven't noticed a sign showing a change of speed. But there is always a sign - you say yourself that it was on the roundabout entrance.

You have my sympathy though, I absolutely accepted my punishment and realise I should have been more aware but it does rankle slightly when you see people driving like arseholes but effectively getting away with it because they know where the cameras are. I'd like us all to have black boxes so the most naughty drivers get harsher fines and those of us who are careful drivers 99.9 percent of the time are fined less.

Original poster
Mummy289 · 30/07/2023 13:14

@TheGoogleMum thank you

OP posts:
TheGoogleMum · 30/07/2023 13:08

You might not get a letter, don't panic too much till it comes (if it does)

Original poster
Mummy289 · 30/07/2023 12:59

It’s dual and def was 70 at one point. Not that it matters as it was 40mph. Just wanted to see what I was looking at consequence wise

OP posts:
Popworld · 30/07/2023 12:50

For a car an motorcycle

Popworld · 30/07/2023 12:49

And also depends on if its a national speed limit

National speed limit for motorways and dual carriageway is 70mph