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Original poster

To be terrified I'll lose my license

434 replies

PepsiMaxx0 · 04/04/2024 10:15

I have a clean driving license. Driving for over 40 years with no incidents. Like many others I sometimes go over the limit on motorways if I consider it safe to do so....
I was travelling back from Manchester airport on the m62 during the early hours of this morning. Almost empty motorway. Doing about 80mph average I would say. Occasionally crept to 85. I noticed a camera flash on the gantry. No limits were lit up. I assumed it was from the other side and carried on. Several miles later it did it again and yes for a 3rd time which is when I thought this is too much of a coincidence it must be me! I've just woken and have that sick feeling. The only defence I can offer is motorway was empty, it was between 4 - 5 am this happened and I do not think I was driving dangerously. I just wanted to get home to bed after a late night flight. What will be the penalty for this?

OP posts:
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Blondeshavemorefun · 04/04/2024 23:21

Yes Likely to get 9p and means if you ever get caught again for speeding :bald tyre etx in the next 3yrs or is if 5 - uou will get a another 3 and lose license

Surely the first flash should have warned you to slow down

But 3 flashes /speeding is madness

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 04/04/2024 22:59

Calamitousness · 04/04/2024 10:51

first of all a flash is not an automatic prosecution because often there’s no film in camera/space on memory etc. So wait and see. You should have a letter within 2 weeks. That’s their legal notice period. If no letter you are ok. Otherwise it will be points and fine. I doubt you’ll be able to negotiate driving awareness for those speeds. You should be ok and just hit maximum points. You won’t lose your licence. Try not to panic. I hate that feeling though. I know how you feel.

Not necessarily. We got caught doing 38 in a 30- thought it was a 40. We received a letter months later saying we’d ignored the previous two letters- we hadn’t received anything! It was that long we couldn’t remember who was driving so as the car was in DH’s name he took the hit. 3 points and £400 fine. They said they would prosecute for the speeding and the letters but a solicitor said if you plead guilty to the speeding they don’t do anything about the ignoring. Obviously he plead guilty to the speeding as it’s obviously happened. He then got caught a few months later doing 58 in a 50 (motorway-temp speed limit). They offered him the speeding course which he did. Neither of us speed now and our cars have cruise control and a speed limiter.

ConsuelaHammock · 04/04/2024 22:56

Jovacknockowitch · 04/04/2024 18:50

So do you now never exceed 30 mph?

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Not in a 30mph zone! The areas where children are more likely to run out. So the outskirts of towns and cities etc.

CagneyAndLazy · 04/04/2024 22:50

JosieJones1987 · 04/04/2024 17:23

@Jovacknockowitch it's becoming less common.

If you're talking about the tolerances becoming less common, then that's more bull.

I don't understand why people are so keen to show their ignorance by posting nonsense on threads where the pertinent facts are so easily checked.

There has been no change to the tolerances applied prior to consideration of action for exceeding the speed limit in the UK (potentially excluding Scotland as they operate differently). FOI requests and disclosures would tell you that.

🙄

AfraidToRun · 04/04/2024 22:47

The thing is, you know there's no defence and then proceed to offer defence after defence. You were in the wrong, there are consequences, just be grateful they weren't worse.

CagneyAndLazy · 04/04/2024 22:40

Kitkat1523 · 04/04/2024 22:23

9 points if you hit all 3…no chance of opting for speed awareness course

Absolute total and utter bullshit.

Again.

goldenretrievermum5 · 04/04/2024 22:31

PumpkinPie2016 · 04/04/2024 22:27

There is no defence. You were speeding, end of. Doesn't matter if the motorway was empty or not. Once, in error, could be forgiven but to carry on is just reckless.

I don't know whether you will lose your licence or not. You will most certainly get points and a fine.

Going forward, just stick to the speed limit. Both for your safety and the safety of others.

Having been in an accident on the M62 that wasn't our fault (someone lost control of their car causing them to spin all over the place - probably going too fast) that has left me with a lifelong back problem, it really annoys me when selfish people speed.

This. The being distracted and accidentally going over the limit is one thing, to knowingly continue doing it is another

PumpkinPie2016 · 04/04/2024 22:27

There is no defence. You were speeding, end of. Doesn't matter if the motorway was empty or not. Once, in error, could be forgiven but to carry on is just reckless.

I don't know whether you will lose your licence or not. You will most certainly get points and a fine.

Going forward, just stick to the speed limit. Both for your safety and the safety of others.

Having been in an accident on the M62 that wasn't our fault (someone lost control of their car causing them to spin all over the place - probably going too fast) that has left me with a lifelong back problem, it really annoys me when selfish people speed.

Kitkat1523 · 04/04/2024 22:23

9 points if you hit all 3…no chance of opting for speed awareness course

IWanderedLonely · 04/04/2024 22:21

Licence, not license

Jovacknockowitch · 04/04/2024 22:19

ShowOfHands · 04/04/2024 20:36

Do you ever post without the reductive and wilful misunderstandings?

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You were being reductive. This thread is about breaking the national speed limit on a motorway so discussions about hitting a child in a 20 or 30 limit don’t have any relevance.

BusyMummy001 · 04/04/2024 22:19

Willyoujustbequiet · 04/04/2024 21:19

For claiming to have driven at 160mph in Germany and 100 on public roads on the Isle of Man obviously.

It's breathtakingly selfish.

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Could they have muddled km with miles? 160km/h (Germany uses km not miles) = @ 100m/hr?

goldenretrievermum5 · 04/04/2024 22:19

Idideridest · 04/04/2024 22:04

If you think this is what’s causing premiums to increase so dramatically, can I suggest you read up on the past five years of global news.

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Inflation exists, yes but so does the year on year rise on the amount of claims being processed

FixTheBone · 04/04/2024 22:12

I would just admit the offences when they arrive.

Your excuse of I just wanted to get to bed could easily be taken as an aggravating factor if someone wanted to make an example....

"so mrs pespsimaxx, not only do you admit to driving over the limit, but also doing so while tired and potentially unfit to drive?... Do you realise tiredness can have a bigger impact than an alcoholic drink...?"

It could be a very unconfortable experience if you try to contest this in front of someone who has a bee in their bonnet about speeding...

Idideridest · 04/04/2024 22:04

goldenretrievermum5 · 04/04/2024 20:59

This thread is basically just one big example of how people who knowingly speed will try to desperately justify their self centred, dangerous and immature behaviour at all costs. Maybe if the wannabe racing drivers kept it to the racetracks instead of the public roads we could all stop paying for the actions of the selfish minority with our skyrocketing car insurance premiums

If you think this is what’s causing premiums to increase so dramatically, can I suggest you read up on the past five years of global news.

SoupDragon · 04/04/2024 22:02

Willyoujustbequiet · 04/04/2024 21:19

For claiming to have driven at 160mph in Germany and 100 on public roads on the Isle of Man obviously.

It's breathtakingly selfish.

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But not illegal.

goldenretrievermum5 · 04/04/2024 21:59

Samlewis96 · 04/04/2024 21:01

But legal and necessary doesn't make it any " safer" does it?

If the speed is dangerous then is dangerous whatever reason you are doing it

Edited
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Blue light drivers are specially trained, speeders within the general public are not - is that not obvious to you?

Willyoujustbequiet · 04/04/2024 21:19

CagneyAndLazy · 04/04/2024 14:11

Go on then, I'll bite.

Darwin Award for which?

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For claiming to have driven at 160mph in Germany and 100 on public roads on the Isle of Man obviously.

It's breathtakingly selfish.

Samlewis96 · 04/04/2024 21:01

goldenretrievermum5 · 04/04/2024 18:20

The key difference is that they are speeding legally and out of necessity, not just some arse who thinks that they’re more important than everyone else + above the law

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But legal and necessary doesn't make it any " safer" does it?

If the speed is dangerous then is dangerous whatever reason you are doing it

goldenretrievermum5 · 04/04/2024 20:59

This thread is basically just one big example of how people who knowingly speed will try to desperately justify their self centred, dangerous and immature behaviour at all costs. Maybe if the wannabe racing drivers kept it to the racetracks instead of the public roads we could all stop paying for the actions of the selfish minority with our skyrocketing car insurance premiums

Iwasafool · 04/04/2024 20:45

GoingJacobsandRitz · 04/04/2024 18:30

They've also had a lot of training in driving at speed.

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They also get told it is more important to get there safely than to get there fast. I used to work in Police admin and I've heard Inspectors saying that more than once on one occasion it was to an officer in a hospital bed with badly broken legs as well as other injuries.

ShowOfHands · 04/04/2024 20:36

Jovacknockowitch · 04/04/2024 18:50

So do you now never exceed 30 mph?

Show quote history

Do you ever post without the reductive and wilful misunderstandings?

Samlewis96 · 04/04/2024 19:02

hangingonfordearlife1 · 04/04/2024 13:02

if you have 3 at the same time you could be looking at a ban definitely.

Nonsense. You better read up on it before spreading lies

Jovacknockowitch · 04/04/2024 18:50

ConsuelaHammock · 04/04/2024 17:25

Another stat I recall from the course. If you hit a child at 40mph they have an 80% of dying. If you hit a child at 30mph they have an 80% chance of surviving. Scary but important to be aware that an additional 10 miles an hour could take a child from their family. I am very conscious of reading speed limits properly.

So do you now never exceed 30 mph?

Idideridest · 04/04/2024 18:35

Ihearyousingingdownthewire · 04/04/2024 18:16

I try not to, but I do find the vast flappy majority of replies on any motoring thread on here very entertaining.

Making my hospital stay less dull, that’s for sure.