Think I've been caught doing 60mph in a 30... what will happen

[Shouldhavenotdonethat]

So I'm likely to get flamed for this I know

I've been driving for 15 years. No convictions, no crashes. I'm generally very careful and a considerate road user

Today i was driving down a country lane that leads to the edge of a town. They are in the process of building a housing estate on the edge of the town and have now made it an immediate 30mph from a 60 as you come towards the edge of this new estate. I went through the 30 sign at 60, slowing down as I was going along. Then spotted a police van with a camera pointing out of the back of it just up the road

How much trouble am I in?

I was slowing down before I hit the urban bit, but I Definately was still doing 60 as I went through the 30 limit sign.

I'm so stressed i feel sick with worry.

If i lose my license i lose my job

[ContinuityError]

PosiePerkinandPootle

Buffer zones are only considered in certain circumstances:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/63975/circular-01-2013.pdf

[IncrediblySadToo]

[dual carriage way, that drops down to 40, abruptly. I seem to be the only one who drops my speed to 40, and boy do other drivers get pissed off]

There's one of those near me. It's sensible because there's a bend in the road and then a big junction that you can't see before you get to the bend

It’s not the same one. ‘My’ one is a straight road for miles, it’s still straight when it changes to 40. I honestly cannot see a single reason for it to drop from 70 to 40.

I drive at 40 and everyone else is whizzing past or getting right up my backside. I always feel like one of those idiot slow drivers on motorways who are a total menace to everyone

Me too. I actually feel really vulnerable.

[Shouldhavenotdonethat]

@janicebattersby

Thank you for that. I've always found honesty is the best policy. To be honest I would probably cry too. Would that go against me

[Lifecraft]

I'm in Scotland, not sure if rest of UK is the same, but according to my dad (retired road engineer) that wouldn't be enforceable as there is too much variation in the speeds. So there should be either a 40 or 50 "buffer zone" before the 30. Tbh I take a lot of what he says with a pinch of salt

I think taking what you dad says with a pinch of salt is great advice.

There are thousands of places in the UK (inc Scotland) where you leave a motorway or a NSL dual carriageway, both 70mph, and go straight into a 30mph limit. .

[Mumofaprinny]

😂 I don’t think you would ever make a good criminal!😂 I will be thinking of you and I hope you don’t get any letters.👌

[Lotsofsausage]

ifs nobody knows what speed they clocked you at, and even then they look at each case individually and there could be different outcome. Don't know why people are telling you what's going to happen. Just wait and see. But if it was 40 in a 30 it's not that bad!

[jasjas1973]

The national speed limit was introduced in 1965. And at that time there were very few limits other than 30. So it was the norm to slow from possibly 70 or 80 down to 30 as you entered a town

Fuckin hell! the cars i had in the 80s that were made in the 70s did not do 70 or 80 mph.... in the 60s the 40 in Austin A40 meant it did 40mph max !!! maybe you had a e-type or similar? lol!

The idea is you see the sign and slow down or better still use a bit of anticipation and don't go blatting along at 60 plus with no idea what you are doing.

If you do get a ban etc, it will serve you right and teach you not to drive like the sort of idiot who ran over a friend of mine whilst speeding - he spent 6 weeks in a coma and will never be the same again, so i've zero sympathy for you.

[Shouldhavenotdonethat]

@jas that's okay because I didn't ask for sympathy

Sorry to hear about your friend

[ContinuityError]

PosiePerkinandPootle

Do hope your dad wasnt anything to do with the Muchalls bends on the A90 - I’m pretty sure they don’t conform to dual carriageway design.

[littlemissblue2000]

Depends what speed you were doing when you spotted the van and if you were going round a bend at the time..their speed cameras don't work if you are on a bend so they will get you as you come off the bend.
If you were doing 40 you may get sent on a speed awareness course

[Lifecraft]

The speed awareness course is only available if you are slightly over the limit

Nope, it's available to anyone not exceeding 10% plus 9 over the limit. So up to 42 in a 30, or up to 86 in a 70. But they do not have to offer you a course, even if you're within criteria. They can just give you points and a fine.

[Shouldhavenotdonethat]

I will Definately update in 2 weeks with what ( if anything ) happens.

[ContinuityError]

jasjas1973 AC tested a Cobra on the M1 in 1964 and hit 185mph. Totally legally. And they weren’t the only ones doing it.

[2010Aussie]

I wish you well OP - you seem genuinely concerned and caring.

Unfortunately, many fixed and mobile speed cameras seem just to be there to catch people out and make money. We have a major dual carriageway where the speed limit goes from 70 to 40 but the 40 sign is over the brow of a hill and you don't see it until you are about 50 metres in front of it. A 100m further on is a fixed speed camera. It catches loads of drivers every day. The locals know it's coming and slow right down but strangers don't stand a chance.

[Lifecraft]

in the 60s the 40 in Austin A40 meant it did 40mph max !!!

Who told you that, Pinocchio?

[ContinuityError]

And the Austin 40 was 40bhp - top speed (probably downhill and with a fair wind) was 70mph.

[JustanotherJP]

I am magistrate and agree with Janicebattersby that there is a load of shite advice on here.

In fact Janicebatterby’s post is the most sensible one on here.

Wait and see what you actually got clocked at before worrying too much.

[Backwoodsgirl]

Best case, they clocked you at 40, so points and fine

Worst case your ass will be handed to you.

[NotaSpringChicken]

Your car insurance will also go up considerably if you get a conviction for speeding. We have mobile speed vans everywhere in the area I live in, many many people have been caught out, myself included. The only thing to do is drive very carefully indeed.

One young man we know got caught twice by two separate vans on the same journey. He was on a stretch of 70 mph dual carriageway trunk road, which bypasses two towns. He didn't lose his license but had to sell his 4x4 vehicle and buy a small hatchback because his car insurance went up massively.

[Justaboy]

Van was on my side of the road, camera pointing out of the back of the van at the cars coming towards them. So the front of my car would have been clocked

Right but how far away was this other Van that slammed it's breaks on was it just in front of you, ten car lenghts away, did you only see the police camera van after it went past?, it all seems a bit vague..

[Smileymoon]

We live shortly after a 60mph turns into a 30. We often get people zooming past at 80mph no doubt intending on slowing down a bit further up the road. I keep my young children tucked into the far side of the pavement in single file.

[BreakfastAtSquiffanys]

My, even by mumsnet "legal advice" standards, there's some right hooey on this thread

[OccasionallyIncomplet]

First you will get a NIP - Notice if Intended Prosecution within 14 days. You have to declare the driver. Don't lie - see the recent MP who tried that old chestnut.

A little later you will receive further letter. If you were below 45mpg or there abouts, you would be sent a offer of an Endorsable Fixed Penalty Notice that will be 3 points and fine. Dependent on your force area, you may also be offered a Drivers Awareness Course which will be circa £100 and 3 hours long (but no points or fine).

If you were above 45moh, then you will probably receive a summons for court. You will likely receive 6 points and a large fine. If you were a new driver (I know you are not) then this would mean disqualification.

If you were double the speed limit, you are going to receive a summons and they may seek to have you disqualified. If you can justify why you shouldn't be (I.e. you livelihood is driving occupation such as Taxi, HGV - essential commuting is not generally considered to an mitigating factor) then you may end up with just 9 or even 12 points on your licence, a fairly hefty fine but you will still be able to drive (however your insurance is going to double/triple).

Just for reference because I see it all the time - there is no such thing as the '10% + 3 ' exception or all the other BS you normally read about speeding. Speeding is an 'absolute offence' - you are either over the speed limit and automatically guilty, or not. 1 mph over is an offence.

Also remember - just because the van is there, doesn't necessarily mean you have been caught (although there is a good chance). You'll know within 14 days.

Source: Rozzer

[Guavaf1sh]

That diagram is so beautiful they should let you off for sure

[Shouldhavenotdonethat]

@justaboy I really can't remember but I would say the van was probably 4 or 5 cars spaces in front? I remember thinking "why's he breaking" immediately followed by "shitttt". I quickly slammed mine on too and as I looked at speedo it said 40. At that point I wasn't far off level with the back of the van
I had seen the police van before as I was approaching as I remember thinking it was an odd place to park and assuming it was for building site but it was tucked far over, almost in hedgerows. I didn't realise it was police van till last few seconds