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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if people who speed through motorway cameras just don't care about a fine?

147 replies

5toMidnight · 26/10/2016 18:10

I am regularly on a motorway with variable speed limits and active cameras/painted speed lines positioned behind every gantry. Every single time it seems I am the only person who sticks to whatever the speed limit is. Others seem to be doing at least 5 and sometimes 10 mph more than I am.

Actually I also see this a lot on regular roads. If I stick to the limit then I inevitably create a tailback. This morning I ended up doing 35 in a 30, I created a tailback and at one point the bloke behind me actually overtook me. ShockBlushHmm

So. AIBU to think that I am the only person who is worried about speeding any more?

OP posts:
SpeckledyBanana · 27/10/2016 14:30

Not long ago I did a speeding course, instead of a penalty notice/ 3 points. I'd ben caught doing 35 in a 30 zone. The instructor said that calibration error goes boths ways (car and camera), so second-guessing the speed at which the camera will trip is risky. She was an ex-copper who seemed to know her stuff.

TrueBlueYorkshire · 27/10/2016 14:52

This is the problem HGV drivers face in 50 zones, as their speedo is regularly calibrated so when they are doing 50mph they are actually doing that speed, hence why they catch all the cars.

The calibration error for a car by law is always negative. It is illegal for a car to be travelling faster than the speed shown on the spedometer, hence why the manufacturers put a margin of error on the speedo to account for changes in tire thickness, type, and changes to the rims (e.g. my winter tyres are a different tyre and rim than my summer tyres).

So the speedo will always show faster than you are actually travelling, not necessarily by 10%, my speedo is over by about 5% for instance on my summer tyres.

BitOutOfPractice · 27/10/2016 15:06

"This is the problem HGV drivers face in 50 zones, as their speedo is regularly calibrated so when they are doing 50mph they are actually doing that speed,"

That's not the problem that many HGV drivers face in my experience (and I do a LOT of motorway miles a year). They are the very worst offenders for driving fast, aggressively, and tailgating in average speed check / roadworks sections. And when I say speeding I don't mean 4-5mph over, I mean 10-15. I saw it only yesterday on the M1. I'm doing 50 i the inside lane in the roadworks section in Northants / Bucks, I have a lorry virtually in my boot for 2-3 miles (in narrow lanes!) who then overtakes me at at least 60 as soon as he can pull out. And that is a common sight. Very common.

ThereIsNoSuchThingAsRoadTax · 27/10/2016 15:22

Yamadori

If the middle lane "hogger" is doing 70, then whats the problem exactly? 70 is the limit, they are doing the limit, in a lane that they are entitled to drive in.

Spot on Bogeyface

As has been said, lanes 2 and 3 (and 4, if there is one) are for overtaking. It is illegal to hog the middle lane. You can get points and a fine for doing it.
And one reason why it is dangerous is that if someone is driving along in lane 1 a little faster than you, then they need to cross 2 lanes to overtake you, rather than just one. Or else pass you on the inside. Both of these manoeuvres are more dangerous than normal overtaking.
Why would you even want to sit in the middle lane rather than moving over? What is so nice about it?

Bogeyface · 27/10/2016 15:23

But middle lane hoggers are not responsible for the decisions other drivers make! If a person chooses to undercut because they dont want to be stuck in the middle lane then that is up to them and therefore they are the cause of the danger, not any so called hoggers!

ThereIsNoSuchThingAsRoadTax · 27/10/2016 15:26

And if a person has to cross 2 lanes rather than one because someone prefers the view from the middle lane?
Overtaking is allowed, you know.

Mrsmorton · 27/10/2016 15:28

But why would you sit in the middle lane? What's the justification other than being totally unaware or unable to understand how the motorway works?

ThereIsNoSuchThingAsRoadTax · 27/10/2016 15:28

Rule 264
You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past.

Matchingbluesocks · 27/10/2016 15:40

The thing is the Highway Code is one thing (and it is a code) but should an overtaker hit a middle lane hogger they will be responsible legally and insurance wise.

Bogeyface · 27/10/2016 15:57

And if a person has to cross 2 lanes rather than one because someone prefers the view from the middle lane? Then so be it!

I dont know why people do it, I dont do it myself and yes it is annoying but the fact is that people do do it and so as a decent driver you have accept this an allow for it. Over taking is fine, undercutting is not, no matter how much someone is getting on your nerves.

There is really is no justification for undercutting any more than there is for tootling along in the middle lane at 60, as the saying goes "Two wrongs dont make a right"

NicknameUsed · 27/10/2016 16:11

"M25 rush hour?"

M25 slow hour more like Grin

I agree about lorries tailgating in roadworks. Having been caught speeding twice during my driving lifetime I am far more careful about speed limits. I also don't want to be that middle lane hogger.

I drive through the M1 roadworks near Sheffield regularly and am forever having to pull into the middle lane to avoid being bumped by the lorry behind me because I am sticking at 50mph in the inside lane. They won't overtake me, so just drive right up to my bumper. I don't understand the need for such aggression.

ThereIsNoSuchThingAsRoadTax · 27/10/2016 16:17

Bogeyface I have no idea what the point of your post have been. If someone is in lane 2 and another drive in lane 1 is going faster than them, then they have three choices:

  1. pass on the inside
  2. slow down an stay behind the middle lane hogger
  3. overtake by moving into lane 3

Option 1 is dangerous and to be avoided. It is also forbidden in the highway code:
Rule 268
Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake.
Option 2 is safer.
Option 3 is what many people will do, but overtaking always involves some risk, and crossing 2 lanes is more dangerous than crossing 1.

The point is that a middle-lane hogger is dictating the flow of traffic in 2 lanes, rather than just their own. They are, in effect, reducing a 3 lane motorway to just 2 lanes of traffic. This impedes the flow of traffic, increases congestion, ultimately slows everyone down causing more braking and increasing risk for everyone on the road. It is just a bad thing to do. Whether other people make silly decisions to pass on the inside has no impact on the selfishness of staying in the middle lane.

raspberrysuicide · 27/10/2016 16:32

It's not illegal to undertake someone if your Lane is going faster than their Lane.

For example you can't change lanes to undertake someone but if you are in the left Lane and they are going slower than you in the middle Lane then you can go past them.

Roussette · 27/10/2016 16:50

Middle lane hoggers get my goat!

Everyone should always aim to be in the inside lane, if they need to overtake they do so, then move back into the inside lane. That is the law.

Then you have the selfish git in the middle lane and someone in the inside lane with no traffic in front of them. The temptation is to think 'sod it' and just carry on in the inside lane, leaving the twat pootling along in the inside lane. Not right I know but I swear they cause more problems and it is selfish.

It is an offence and someone got fined nearly £1,000 and 6 points for doing this on a motorway at 60mph for miles.

Roussette · 27/10/2016 16:51

leaving the twat pootling along in the middle* lane.

dodobookends · 27/10/2016 18:26

If you are on a fairly busy 3-lane motorway, and the first lane is clogged with lorries etc travelling at about 60mph or less (or it is a feeder lane for the next junction), then there is isn't any reason why you shouldn't drive at 70 in the middle lane. You aren't 'lane hogging' - you are overtaking slower traffic, and you are driving at the maximum legal speed. If anyone wants to break the law, then they are at liberty to overtake on the outside.

Roussette · 27/10/2016 18:32

I agree. Of course you are overtaking slower vehicles in that instance.

It's when you actually aren't overtaking anyone, the inside lane is clear, but sitting there in the middle because you just want to as you feel it's a better way to drive and it saves you changing lanes. Selfish.

dodobookends · 27/10/2016 19:52

Or of course it could be that you are passing a junction and are leaving the lane clear for joining traffic.

PeachBellini123 · 27/10/2016 20:03

Dodobookends. That's fine because you'll most likely move back once the traffic has joined.

It's dangerous to stay in the middle lane for no reason going at a slow speed. I'm astonished some peoplw think it isn't.

Lifeisontheup2 · 27/10/2016 20:07

I was tailgated by a car on the motorway the other day whilst doing 100 in the outside lane. My blue lights didn't seem to put him off at all. Stupid twat.

Yamadori · 27/10/2016 20:23

ontheup Grin

Groovee · 27/10/2016 20:29

Ontheup Grin

YelloDraw · 27/10/2016 20:41

People who sit in the middle lane, when the inside lane is clear are complete fucking idiots who are not clever or aware enough to be allowed to drive.

Wish the police would spend a bit of time on the motor ways nabbing stupid driving in general.

LynetteScavo · 27/10/2016 20:46

You're allowed 10% (on top of the real speed) as a margin of error and many police forces add a fixed 2mph to that - so people who seem to be doing 55mph may in fact be doing less than an actual 50 and in any case are in no danger of being fined.

This is total crap. I have been fined and have points on my licence for going at 32 mph.

I have no idea about people speeding in average speed areas who think they are immune. Maybe they are. Confused

SlipperyLizard · 27/10/2016 20:50

DH got caught by a fixed camera doing 32 in a 30 zone, on the face of it seems a bit harsh but the reality is the speedo would have shown 35, so no excuse.

So in that area at least there is no 10% allowance!