Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be so worried about this?

55 replies

DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 11:35

Two weeks ago I was phoned at 6pm and told that my Nan (who lives approx one hour away via the M1) had took a turn for the worst and the Doctors were not sure if she would survive the night. I went and saw her and she was very poorly. Driving home I was double flashed by the speed cameras.

I got home at 10.30pm and went to bed as I had work the next day. At midnight my Mum phoned to say Nan's breathing had changed and they had been called in ASAP. I made my way to her again. Unfortunately in my haste to get there in time I was going much much to fast and was double flashed again. I was going at at least 95mph.

I don't normally drive like a complete idiot but I was desperate to get there and being 12.30am the road was empty.

I have worried for the last two weeks about the implications but my DH keeps telling me to stop worrying and it will all be fine. Am I BU to be worried??

I have a clean licence at the moment. Realistically I can get the children to and from school each day. My difficulty is my DS who is autistic and needs to be driven to his clubs.

Completely my own fault and I will take the punishment (I just feel so crap about how my boys will suffer). No excuse to drive so fast but I honestly didn't realize the speed and I HAD to get to her. My Dad (her only child) died last year and my other Nan earlier this year, so life has been stressful lately.

It has now been 14 days and I have not heard anything. How likely is it that the ticket is lost in the post and I will get a court summons in a few months??

OP posts:
AreYouFeelingLucky · 16/04/2014 11:40

Unfortunately, it's impossible for anyone to say.

Tickets are supposed to be sent out within a fortnight, so as long as your address details are up-to-date, logic says that if you had been caught, you'd have received your ticket by now.

The flipside of that is that if you were going at 96mph, or faster, and you definitely saw a double flash at least once, you are likely to have been caught.

There's nothing you can do about it now, so you have to play it by ear. Worrying about it will do absolutely nothing other than stress you out, and it won't help if you do get a ticket.

SpringBreaker · 16/04/2014 11:43

Even if you have been caught (and sorry but regardless of the circumstances, you should not have been speeding), you will get a fine and points but will not lose your licence.

Fairenuff · 16/04/2014 11:43

At least 95mph Shock

What was the limit on the road?

ThePriory · 16/04/2014 11:43

Those speed cameras quite often don't have any film in them, so they flash but nothing is recorded. I am not condoning speeding! But I wouldn't worry unless u get the fine in the post.

So, basically yes- don't be so worried about this!

Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 16/04/2014 11:48

If you do get a summons, you go to court and explain the circumstances under which you were speeding, and also that you need your car for your disabled (is that the right word?) son. Court will be sympathetic. You will get points and/or a hefty fine, but you're unlikely to lose your licence for a first offence, if you really need car to carry on living.

Fullpleatherjacket · 16/04/2014 11:51

At least 95mph?

Fucking hell. Shock

If you ^do get away with just a ticket, count yourself lucky.

Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 12:01

My car details are up to date as we have lived here for over 10years and I have had the car since new. So the tickets should come to me directly.

OP posts:
Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 12:03

It was a 70mph but..... this particular part of the M1 has Variable Speed Limits and I can't remember if they were in action. Although at 12.30am I can't see why they would be??

OP posts:
Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 12:05

I don't condone speeding at all and it has given me a much needed reminder of how much I need my car.

OP posts:
Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 12:06

I will count myself lucky if I don't get charged but I also count myself lucky that I got to my Nan in time.

OP posts:
HandragsNGladbags · 16/04/2014 12:07

Over 100mph is an automatic ban I think?

Put two speeding offences would be 6 points (again I think) so you wouldn't lose your license if you were doing under 100mph. But it would affect your insurance.

Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 12:07

Does anyone know if many tickets get lost in the post? ?

OP posts:
Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 12:09

I just feel that I am putting mine and my boy's life hold at the moment as I don't want to book thing's for the boy's if I can't get them there.

OP posts:
kentishgirl · 16/04/2014 12:11

www.gov.uk/speeding-penalties

Here's a link for you that explain it all.

They need to notify you within 14 days so if you haven't heard in that time, you got away with it.

If it isn't quite 14 days, cross your fingers. If each 'flash' was on a live camera, that's 4 separate offences. Each offence 3 points. Get 12 points and you can be disqualified from driving (but might not be, especially if you can explain the circumstances). Assuming you've had your licence more than 2 years. If not, it's an automatic revoke of the license at 6 points.

Sorry to hear about your nan.

HandragsNGladbags · 16/04/2014 12:14

1 offence would be a double flash Kentish as they take two pics to evaluate the speed.

MyDHhasnomemory · 16/04/2014 12:16

I don't think they can get lost in the post. I got one ten years ago and I had to sign for it with the postie smirking at me. I think you are jumping to the worst case scenario and you'll be fine.

Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 12:20

I totally accept it is my own fault. Just worried about the implications of not receiving it!

OP posts:
Confused27 · 16/04/2014 12:23

sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk/docs/MCSG_Update9_October_2012.pdf

Page 131, Magistrates Court sentencing guidelines.

At that speed, you are at risk of a disqualification, particularly if it was in a 50mph zone.

If you do get a summons, go along and explain. But do not try and justify it - I have ever sympathy re your nan but you put other people's lives at risk going at that speed. There really isn't an excuse.

TurnOverTheTv · 16/04/2014 12:37

I got flashed in November, and the ticket didn't turn up till the end of January! I couldn't believe it took so long.

MaidOfStars · 16/04/2014 13:30

I think you've maybe got away with it.

Were the two incidents from the same part of the road or even the same set of cameras? Or very separate places?

While you would be able to plead mitigating circumstances for the second infringement, I can't see much excuse for the first infringement. If you've been caught for both, you look like a habitual speeder. Caught for the first, you have no excuse. Caught for the second, you have mitigating circumstances.

I don't think you'll lose your licence, even if you're caught both ways.

Squeaky bum time....

Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 13:44

Opposite sides of the M1. One heading north one heading south

OP posts:
maras2 · 16/04/2014 13:45

Did you get to see your Nan ?

NurseyWursey · 16/04/2014 13:46

I'm sorry about your nan, but maybe think on, going at that speed you could have easily been involved in an accident and risked someone elses life.

Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 16/04/2014 13:47

I had no excuse for the first one - only that I wanted to get to bed. The only excuse for the second was to get there in time.

I totally expect to be charged as I was breaking the law - no matter what "excuse" I have. I just want to know NOW!

OP posts:
Mothergothel1111 · 16/04/2014 13:57

I hope you loose your license. Sorry but speeding kills. Never an excuse for it, generally it's the innocent that die.

Had this thread read, I hit a car and killed the family inside the car, you wouldn't get an easy time.

Doing 95mph whilst distracted ( enough to not notice the varianle speed limit) and emotional, it could so easily have been the truth.

Swipe left for the next trending thread