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.

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.

My new car displays the speed limit on the display and changes as soon as I pass a new sign. But it is not always accurate, I drive on a road which is 50 miles an hour but my display says it is 30. I guess it was before being upgraded to two lanes about 10 years ago! The computer also fails to indicate that the speed limit is 40 miles an hour on a long, windy slip road off the M60, it tells me that it is still 70 like the motorway.

So it’s fine for guidance I guess but not really to be relied on. If I’m not sure of the speed limit and have not seen a road sign ( not always very frequent on country roads) I tend to stick to 30 and hope that I see a sign soon!

We have several dual carriageways nr us which go between a 70 and 50.speed limit, and we have a motorway which has a very long stretch of 50.

It's 4 points on your license at that speed but as a dual carriageway is 70, no idea where the 50 MPH limit comes from.

Yeah first offence I think they won't throw the book at you. It sounds an honest mistake. These things happen.

I'm confused how anyone would contest a speeding ticket in court. Those people don't have a leg to stand on in such situation with the hard evidence there. Also it goes in the local newspaper court appearances like that [oh the shame].

You seem remorseful so that's a good thing. If they offer the speed awareness course I'd do it.

You're owning your crime and know it was wronf so I don't think you need to beat yourself up too much more.

I can’t work out where people’s perceptions of dual carriageways have come from 😖

the North Circular is a dual carriageway with 6 lanes - speed limit is either 30mph or 50mph. Number of lanes is not an indication of speed limit?!

Yeah it's bloody worrying

No it isn't 4 points.

And no, a dual carriageway is not 70 just because 'dual carriageway'.

FFS!

RAC classify it as. Band B offence, which could include 7 to 28 days disqualification or 4-6 points on your license, plus a fine. The problem is that you were a LOT over the limit.

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

It's not to do with 'luck'. There are guidelines which dictate what will happen.

Assuming OP has fewer than 9 points at the moment, they are going to get a fixed penalty of 3pts and £100 fine. P

No ifs, no buts. That is what will happen unless OP refuses to accept the fixed penalty and choose court instead.

In a 50mph:

57 to 64 = course (if you haven't done a course in past 3 yrs)

Otherwise:

57 to 75 = 3pts and £100

76+ = SJPN

I hope you don't drive!

You sound intensely patronising.

@Dibble135 I was 75 in a 50 on the M25 at about 2am last January. 3 points & £100 fine. Didn't have to tell insurance until renewal & then it went up slightly. My first points in 25 years or so of driving.

If you didn't notice that the road 'changed' from motorway to dual carriageway, then you need to be off the road. You missed signage, you didn't notice the change iin environment.
You are a nightmare roaduser

I’ve done a speed awareness course and this is why they are so good. You were only looking at dual lanes and a central reservation to determine the limit. Suggest you passed your test a long time ago.

Loads of dual carriageways, and some sections of motorways (like the M8 and M74 near me) are 50mph permanently

Many reasons why it can be contested. I am sure if you use the internet it will enlighten you!

That page also refers to speed awareness courses being police force specific

We have loads of dual carriageways around here that go from a national speed limit to a 50 and some down to a 40. They're all over the place. When the speed limit lowers they are still dual carriageways too, not merging into one lane or anything.

Why can’t it have been a dual carriageway?
There’s three within a 10 mile radius of where I live with a 50 limit, it’s very common.

Remember you'll need to tell your insurers.

Yep band B fine or points and disqualification as well

4 to 6 points OR 7 to 28 days disqualification

Fine of between 75 -125% of your weekly wage

People need to stop blindly reposting stuff they've Googled without understanding the context. I don't care if you got it from the RAC, the AA or anywhere else.

It depends on the force as to whether a speed awareness course is offered, it isn't always. Reality is, no poster on here can advise you what your penalty is going to be. You have to wait until they advise you. They will write back to you to confirm.
It's always worrying that many blindly believe all dual carriageways are 70, if you think that, please retake a test or don't drive on dual carriageways.

You don’t need to inform insurers if you are offered a speed awareness course with no points on your licence.

It’s such a lot of nonsense isn’t it OP. Getting punished for doing something that’s not even morally wrong, no other traffic, no danger. “Well it could be dangerous”. But it wasn’t, was it.