To be terrified I'll lose my license

[PepsiMaxx0]

I have a clean driving license. Driving for over 40 years with no incidents. Like many others I sometimes go over the limit on motorways if I consider it safe to do so....
I was travelling back from Manchester airport on the m62 during the early hours of this morning. Almost empty motorway. Doing about 80mph average I would say. Occasionally crept to 85. I noticed a camera flash on the gantry. No limits were lit up. I assumed it was from the other side and carried on. Several miles later it did it again and yes for a 3rd time which is when I thought this is too much of a coincidence it must be me! I've just woken and have that sick feeling. The only defence I can offer is motorway was empty, it was between 4 - 5 am this happened and I do not think I was driving dangerously. I just wanted to get home to bed after a late night flight. What will be the penalty for this?

Like many others I sometimes go over the limit on motorways if I consider it safe to do so....

I believe the phrase is "fuck around and find out"

You took the risk to speed. You'll just have to see what comes in the post. I hope it's a lesson to you. Slow down.

'we'd had bad news on holiday '

So it wasn't just you in the car?

Sorry you had bad news, but again no excuse.

If any of it was set to the 50mph then you will definitely lose your licence

Adding to my original post

They will take weather into account, IE if it was pissing down with rain and you was doing those speeds, then I'm sure they will take a harder view

"Speeding" to get somewhere as you need to get there may result inn you not getting there at all and worse still potentially cause accident where others injured or worse.

what was the weather like?
You had previous points and if so what?
was your car road legal, ie taxed, mot, insurance, etc

what time of night

If there is a ban, it may just be for a few months but I'm guess 9 or 12 points and if 12, you will get an exception ie no ban this time if you prove you need your car and unable to work, look after someone IMO

If you were flashed three times, and assuming that you haven't done a speed awareness course in the last three years, you would be looking at the following.

If it's a variable speed limit camera, you may (depending on the force) be offered a Motorway Awarness Course instead of points for one of the offences.

If another of the offences were a regular overhead gantry, you would also qualify for a regular Speed Awarness Course instead of points. This offer is separate to, and not affected by, your attendance at a Motorway Awarness Course.

Any subsequent offences would incur three points and £100 fine.

So you may be lucky and "only" looking at three points, two courses, and around £300 in fines and costs.

If no Motorway Course is offered, then it will be six points, a Speed Awarness Course and around £300 in fines and costs. Obviously there will be a significant increase in your insurance premium for the next few years. If you drive for work then there may be issues with that employment as most organisations have a "clean licence" policy.

No it isn't a defence. You shouldn't have decided it was OK to exceed the speed limit so "I should have slowed down at the first 1" doesn't really cut it.

One of my kids has lifelong issues due to someone who decided it was safe to do just what they wanted so I don't have any sympathy. I hope you've learned your lesson regardless of what happens now.

If you were caught 3 times, at the limit and speeds you've mentioned, and haven't done a motorway awareness course in recent years, you'll get 1 offer of a course and 2 x 3pts fixed penalties.

Forget about fine bandings and calculators - they only apply if you choose to go to court.

This is how it works:

Be contrite in court, be smartly dressed, apologise, note you have no previous offences (or have never been caught) in 40 years of driving. I doubt you will be banned, though I think you should be, the law and magistrates in my view are far too soft.

Exactly @Hereyoume

(Cross posted with you while looking for the table.)

She won't be going to court.

I think a speed awareness course would be helpful in making you aware of the consequences of ‘driving over the speed limit when I feel it is safe to do so’

To be fair I am not sure whether anyone really knows whether the cameras are in operation when a temporary limit is not displayed.

Except of course the police and I suspect the ambiguity is willful. Otherwise why not just simply display the speed limit sign or 70 mph rather than nothing at all ?

However, they have given you the necessary warnings (camera signs) and they clearly have the equipment to measure your speed and record an offence. So I guess it is just a question of whether you are willing to take the risk.

first of all a flash is not an automatic prosecution because often there’s no film in camera/space on memory etc. So wait and see. You should have a letter within 2 weeks. That’s their legal notice period. If no letter you are ok. Otherwise it will be points and fine. I doubt you’ll be able to negotiate driving awareness for those speeds. You should be ok and just hit maximum points. You won’t lose your licence. Try not to panic. I hate that feeling though. I know how you feel.

Hopefully you get banned. You knew what you were doing. You purposely did it.

I know you've had bad news, but innocent driver's families get bad news when people speed.

Conversely I've never assumed they are in use just because there is a temporary speed limit.

They have warning signs and the cameras themselves are yellow. Sometimes they are in use, sometimes not, sometimes appear to be but not actually recording. None of that is affected by the actual speed limit in force at that location.

I doubt you’ll be able to negotiate driving awareness for those speeds.

Not how it works, @Calamitousness

Film may be an issue on older cameras.

Memory on newer ones you are having a laugh. In fact the entire thing is probably sent over the net within a few seconds of the pictures being taken.

Like many others I sometimes go over the limit on motorways if I consider it safe to do so....

I see this often on here on speeding threads. Like it's people's given right to go faster than the law if they think it's safe. It's weird.

"We had bad news on holiday"

That doesn't give you the right to speed like a maniac. What happened if you crashed and killed someone? Do you think that excuse would stand in court?

You deserve to be banned, drivers like you are what makes the roads unsafe for everyone else.

@GasPanic you are entirely correct no doubt. I’m so unaware. However it remains true that a lot of cameras are unreliable in flash=prosecution. So my sentiment remains the same.

I have a rule never to go through those motorway gantry cameras more than 10 mph over the limit (either the full limit or what is displayed). So far I have never been fined

How many people are just making up their own rules? And apparently to satisfy their own need to avoid punishment rather than giving even a tiny shit about other people on the road, the law or the potential ramifications of their nonsense risk assessment.

I have a very nearly 17yr old and have told her repeatedly that the biggest challenge on the roads is the number of twats doing what the fuck they like.

How does it work @CagneyAndLazy that’s what my husband was told and he just had a letter from police re. Speeding.

OP, just wait and see. No amount of worrying will change the outcome. Best to relax and wait to hear, it won’t be long for them to reach out if you have been caught speeding. Then you’ll know your options and can go from there.