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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:
smartypants1000 · 16/04/2014 14:01

Count yourself lucky that you got to your nan in time, but also that you didn't kill yourself or an innocent road user in the process. Sorry, can underdstand the circumstances, but you could have left your kids without a mother, or someone else's kids without theirs.

Grennie · 16/04/2014 14:10

I have a friend who has been to court a few times with 12 points on her licence. She has never been banned because they accept she needs her car. They won't accept that if driving is easier than getting public transport. But if it is absolutely impossible for you to manage without a car, they will may let you off.

maras2 · 16/04/2014 14:11

Sorry. Just re read and saw that you did see your Nan .< lazy reading on my part >

Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 17/04/2014 06:58

Mothergothel1111 - But it doesn't read as that as I didn't hit a car or kill anyone, so your comment has no relevance.

I have admitted that what I was doing was wrong and that I didn't have an "excuse" really. I have also seen first hand what reckless driving can do due to my job. Also the reason I was able to drive at 95mph was because there wasn't anyone else around - so even if I had crashed I wouldn't have hit anyone anyway - not that there is much to crash in to on a straight empty road Hmm If there were others around I would not have gone as fast as that.

I am normally a careful driver - I don't tailgate, flash, beep my horn, weave in and out etc. I always give others the benefit of the doubt when they are going like that as they may need to get to somewhere ASAP. I always let people out at junctions, in at traffic queues etc.

But as I said previously it has given me a "kick up the bum" as we all need at times in many situations - to realize the huge implications it will have on my family if I loose my licence.

I just want to know if it is coming as it is over 14 days now and how likely it is that it has been lost in the post on route to me. Wish there was a website I could check on to see!

OP posts:
somewheresomehow · 17/04/2014 08:29

hi, dont know how up to date this information is but as I look at it you may have not been done.
www.which.co.uk/cars/driving/driving-advice/dealing-with-speeding-tickets/speeding-fines-your-rights/

Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 17/04/2014 08:46

somewheresomehow - thank-you and to all the others who have posted helpful information.

I am over the 14 days now (16 days today) and so technically they are out of time to get it to me BUT if it has been posted by them in time and just delayed by the postal service I could still get it. I am just so bothered that it has got lost and I will be charged with not responding and so incur even more fines/ban.

OP posts:
MargotLovedTom · 17/04/2014 08:52

They will contact you again if you don't respond to the first notice.

LaurieFairyCake · 17/04/2014 08:56

Don't forget it's 14 working days, weekends and bank holidays don't count.

I don't think you should lose your license - speeding on an empty motorway in the middle of the night doesn't kill.

Driveway · 17/04/2014 09:17

I also hope you lose your license.
You could have killed yourself and others. 95 when upset and in a state of extreme worry is stupid.

Fairenuff · 17/04/2014 09:22

this particular part of the M1 has Variable Speed Limits and I can't remember if they were in action

Don't mention this when you write your mitigating circumstances OP as that could be classed as driving without due care and attention which is a different offence to speeding and you could be prosecuted for that too.

LindyHemming · 17/04/2014 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doubtfuldaphne · 17/04/2014 11:06

Dh got a fine today after going seven miles over the 30mph limit. It happened two days ago. I'm pretty sure you would have heard from them by now
Even if you do there's no way you'll lose your licence.

StrawberryGashes · 17/04/2014 11:32

If you were caught don't expect the court to be sympathetic because your child is disabled. My brother was called to court over something similar. He explained the circumstances and that he had a very severy disabled child in a wheelchair who needed to be driven to appointments as the mother didn't drive. It made no difference and he was given points and a fine.

Rafflesway · 17/04/2014 11:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fairenuff · 17/04/2014 12:01

It's funny how anyone who admits to being caught speeding was always on an open road, with no other car in sight. Do people think this is a valid reason to speed?

chrome100 · 17/04/2014 12:06

I am sorry about your nan but I have no sympathy with you regarding the speeding. It is dangerous and to be flashed twice in the same night does not paint you in a good light. You put other people's lives at risk.

BornLippy · 17/04/2014 12:07

Dragging I have been flashed twice on the M1, in both directions. Never received any fine. I suspect they are dummy cameras with no film in. In fact, most speed cameras don't have film in! Personally, I wouldn't worry. 14 days are up and if one comes in the post you can object to it as it's been past 14 days

BeaWheesht · 17/04/2014 12:09

I see you say it's given you a kick up the bum but you're still making excuses as to why it was ok. If you were doing 70-80 miles I'd maybe get that because you can sometimes do that without meaning to iyswim, but 95mph? No way you can do that without it being deliberate. Needing to get home to bed? I suspect lots of people want to get to bed but don't all speed.

My dad has been at deaths door and I live 3 hours away I have never went anywhere near 100mph and honestly, I think people who do should get fined / points and twice in one night? Come on now.

Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 17/04/2014 18:44

Sorry if I was not clear earlier. The first double flash was on Monday 31st March at approx 9.45pm going North (around the Watford/Hemel area) and I was travelling at around 80mph. This was when I was heading home to bed.

The second was on Tuesday 1st April 12.30am heading south when I was going much to fast.

OP posts:
Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 17/04/2014 18:53

Rafflesway - thank-you for your kind comments, it had me well up with tears. I still can't believe my Dad has gone and now my two Nan's. I have no excuse to speed - no-one has really but I am sure even the most careful driver does at times. Reading about your workplace bullying also struck a cord with me as I was panicking about having to phone work the next day to say I wont be in. The NHS isn't known for it's empathy towards its staff.

I am really not bothered by getting a fine or points on my licence. That is the least I expect to happen. A motorway fine can be up to £2500. I just know that life will be so so hard because of my eldest's autism if I don't have a car. Every day is a struggle to get through and I feel lucky if I manage to get to the end of it without being hit, damage done to the house or had to go searching the streets as he has absconded again.

OP posts:
OhGoveUckYourself · 17/04/2014 19:16

Hi Dragging. I don't know where you got your information but there is no difference in court fines just because the offence happened on a motorway. The sentencing guidelines are to do with your speed compared with actual speed limits regardless of what sort of road you were on .
You could possibly get a short disqualification of 56 days because you were driving so far over the speed limit and that is an aggravating circumstance, or you could get points and a fine. Fines are based on your financial circs as well as how much over the limit you were caught doing. Try not to beat yourself up too much over it now, it has happened, you realise how dangerous it was, learn from it and be thankful nobody got hurt.

Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 17/04/2014 19:29

I read it on here: www.speedingfinesuk.co.uk/speeding_fines_penalties.htm

OP posts:
Original poster
DraggingDownDownDown · 17/04/2014 19:30

Would that be my own income or on mine and my husbands ?

OP posts:
FraidyCat · 17/04/2014 20:06

It's funny how anyone who admits to being caught speeding was always on an open road, with no other car in sight. Do people think this is a valid reason to speed?

It sounds like a pretty good justification to me, but only if it's not the authorities you're trying to convince.

The vast majority of people I see speeding aren't being particularly dangerous, in my opinion. Although the roads I travel on tend to be so congested that you're lucky if you can get up to the speed limit.

I avoid speeding myself because I want to maintain good habits that avoid the legal consequences, not because I always agree with the limits. (40/50 mph on a three-lane dual carriageway? Ridiculous, even if it's full of cars. And these are the same roads that had 60/70 limits for far longer than they've had 40/50 limits.)

I once read a rant by a transport engineer that the correct speed limit for a road is some percentile (don't remember, say 90th) of the speeds people would choose to do if there were no limits posted, i.e. the correct limit is not something politicians should set but something that should be measured by people like him. He had an explanation (which I've forgotten) as to why setting lower limits was more dangerous. (I'm not saying I agree, I can think of situations e.g. near schools where I don't mind unnaturally low limits. Just found it an interesting perspective.)

OhGoveUckYourself · 17/04/2014 20:11

Forget that site, it is not a government one. Use the link someone has used to the Sentencing Guidelines Council website as they produce guidelines for the magistrates court to use when sentencing speeding offences. If you were travelling at 96 mph on a road where the speed limit is 70 then the starting point for someone pleading not guilty is a Band B fine (100% of your weekly income or 110 pw if on benefits). The offence also attracts penalty points which can range between 4-6 or a short disqualification between 7-28 days). For more than one offence you could get two fines or one with no separate penalty for the other,lesser charge. More than 12 points would result in a ban but you could ask for leniency due to your individual circumstances.
These are guidelines and courts can sentence outside them but must give reasons. An early guilty plea should entitle you to one third off any punishment either a reduction in points but most probably a reduction in the fine. Only your income is used to calculate the fine. This is just a rough guideline. Hope it helps.