To be worried…speeding

[Dibble135]

Received letter today for last weekend. 73 in a 50. I thought I was still on motorway but it seems the relevant bit was a dual carriageway. It was early morning and quiet so did not have other cars to compare to.

No cameras either. Caught by a mobile van but didn’t see it.

Sent my details off but feel awfully guilty and worried for what happens next.

So come on vipers. Give me both barrels. I deserve it.

There's a stretch of dual carriageway between the M23 and Gatwick airport, the first stretch from the slip roundabout to the entrance to the first terminal is 70, after the roundabout up to the next terminal is 50 despite being pretty much identical to the bit before, no idea why but could easily see somewhere like that catching someone out!

Stretch of our dual carriage way is 40

Lots of dual carriageway here which is 40.

I was recently caught in almost identical circumstances (71mph in 50, mobile camera)

I was expecting 4-6 points and knew that there was potential for a ban and fine of up to £1000

i got an offer through - wasn’t able to do spore awareness but was offered 3points plus £100. I took that.

it was a massive lesson for me.

www.gov.uk/speeding-penalties

Btw I think there is often misunderstanding of what a dual carriageway is. There can still
only be one lane in each direction but if the two roads are physically separate and have a barrier between them, then it is still a dual carriage way.

I didn’t travel at 73 for the whole stretch. I went down to 50 when I first saw a sign. But it obviously changed earlier than I’d realised hence the letter.

Its been more than 20 years since I passed my test so maybe some refresher lessons would do me good.

Thanks. I appreciate that. It’s no excuse and I’m going to be so careful from now on!

Yes, there are lots of stretches like this. I was on the M20 today and it changes to a dual carriageway which then suddenly drops to a 50 and there are fixed cameras there. There's a similar stretch on the M11 as it comes into London. Nice little earner for the police although locals are usually well aware.

Where I live they have recently lowered the max speed on quite a few roads so it's even more important than usual to watch out for speed signs or you can easily get caught out.

Thanks and for me to!

If you end up in court just don't even THINK of coming out with this as an excuse. Its insulting.

I find it really worry that you say this was your job!

Even in your own link the info states, the points and fine is a Minimum sentence.

When the notice is returned, a FPN can be issued OR a summons to Court, as you should know this would be a Mags disposal.

The Court then has sentencing options, REGARDLESS of the plea and this is a Band B offence.

Therefore the service has the option to refer this to the Court. It is not a given it’ll just be a fine and points.

It is the minimum option open.

It depends on how the service decides to proceed.

I won’t be making any excuses, there isn’t one.

I mean, you just missed the 50 sign. Makes no difference that you went from motorway to a dual carriage way, both have national speed limits of 70mph.

So I'm not sure what it is you think a refresher could do- help you to remember to look out for speed limits?

It sounds like you weren't paying attention to your driving. You missed the 50 sign and you didn't see the van. But I think most people have been there if they are really honest. We shouldn't, but plenty of people have that sudden thought of 'how did I get here?' when they've zoned out. And like you said, if it had been busy, other cars would have slowed and you'd have noticed.

Lots of cars now have the speed limit on the display or on the satnav. Or if you use google maps, it usually tells you (although not alway up to date). I know my dad's car literally reads the road signs as you pass them and displays the limit on the dash display.

I was doing 60 in a 40 (caught by a mobile van) and just got the standard 3 points and fine, because of the speed I wasn't offered a speed awareness course (this was my first speeding fine).

It's annoying (insurance premiums) but don't stress about it.

Don't try giving advice when you have no idea what you're talking about.

First you tried telling OP it can't have been a dual carriageway - completely wrong.

Then you try telling them they're going to be getting a banded fine and more than 3 points. Wrong again.

They are 100% going to be offered a fixed penalty of 3 points and £100 fine.

The only way to get more than 3 points for that speed in a 50mph is by refusing to accept the fixed penalty and demanding it be heard in court. Sentencing guidelines are utterly irrelevant when a fixed penalty is accepted.

Using maps is a good idea. I will try that!

Have you received a court summons?

No just a notice requiring me to provide driver information so far, which I’ve posted off with my details

I can tell you that a dual carriage way has a barrier between the opposite travelling traffic….. I know this because I learnt it today in a speed awareness course. I was so upset when I had my letter for speeding…. I’ve forgiven myself now…. It happens to most people at some point…. Any one who’s honest will admit they have gone over at times…. See it as an opportunity to remind yourself what you’re in charge of…. I realised this when my letter came through not after the course!

It can't have been a dual-carriageway? Really?

There are plenty of dual-carriageways with speed limits down to 30 mph. Try driving into Liverpool and it goes from a motorway to 30mph DC in less than a mile. The route into Manchester from the south is about the same. The M1 into London goes onto a 40mph DC immediately after leaving it.

@Dibble135 in a nutshell they have the option to send you a FPN which you can accept or dispute. If you accept it’s likely to be 3 points and a fine.

But be aware they don’t have to offer you this option and can refer it to the Court. The outcome could be the same or harsher.

You won’t know until they respond to the driver declaration notice. Just be aware those are the two potential outcomes.

The Courts are pretty snarled up just now though so if you’ve got a clean licence, insured etc a FPN is the likely scenario, it’s just not the only one as some people are wrongly stating.

It sounds as though it was a shock so hopefully it’ll just be the FPN.

A dual carriageway near me has a 40mph limit stretch on it.

In fact my local motorway junction has 3 routes away from it - a 50mph SC, a 40mph SC and and a 30mph DC.

If it was a dual carriageway, the speed limit would have been 70 unless there were signs. If it was just two lanes in the same direction the limit is 60. So if they are saying it’s fifty, there should have been signs that you seem not to have noticed. 23 mph over 50mph is nearly half as fast again as you should have been going.

I think you will be extremely lucky to get a speed awareness course offer, tbh.