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?

@goldenretrievermum5 gosh, just re-read that back to yourself and think about whether you'd say that with such vitriol in person in real life.

Take a break and go outside to have a sniff of some fresh air and calm down!

I have had a speeding ticket from a smart motorway (M25). I was doing 68 in a 60 (my defense if you'll accept it, is that the speed limit was becoming 60 on the gantry ahead of me, and rather than braking when I spotted it, I just took my foot off the accelerator and was therefore still over the limit as I went under the gantry, which had a camera on). I was able to take a speed awareness course for that.

If your speedo was showing 85, you were probably doing a real world ~ 77/78 so wouldn't be in the realms of a ban on one offense (just my guess). I suspect triggering three in a row, you'd however also not be offered the speed awareness (as you are only offered that if you have no other offenses - you will have two other offenses on the system), and would have just three "offenses" - so 9 points total.

TBH all you can do now is wait 2-3 weeks and see what comes through. I would be working bloody hard now to not trigger ANY other speed camera or similar though. Whatever points you get will be on your license for 3 years. Plus you will have an insurance hike too most likely.

I've said the same thing to family members who have been caught speeding. There's no excuse.

@1offnamechange

Zzzzzzzzz

@bord

Well in England at 77/78 in a 70 she won't event get an S172/NIP to start things rolling, let alone a ban.

The results of accidents on an empty motorway can be catastrophic. I live very close to one. During lockdown a driver was speeding with his daughter and clipped a crash cushion that he was going too fast to see. They both died in horrific circumstances. The young man sat in that rig will be affected for life by what he witnessed. Please don't think because the motorway is empty its safer. Animals can still run in front of you. The faster you are going the easier it is to lose control. Barriers are to protect other drivers. Ploughing into one at speed is fatal.

I would happily do so. If OP was too distracted to drive then she shouldn’t have been driving full stop. There is no excuse to putting other people’s lives in danger, especially when she actively knew she was speeding.

They have to submit the penalty notice within 14 days, by post. I got caught doing 66 on the motorway, under a variable 60mph gantry sign. Not proud of myself, should have noticed and slowed down. Opted to do the “motorway speed awareness” course. 3.5 hours of my life I won’t get back but it’s a reality check, it’s crazy what a few extra mph can do if in an accident.

80-85mph is way too fast, so if you get away with it, suggest you start using cruise control on motorways, set to the max speed limit.

You’ll get the option to take a speed awareness course. And instead of a Fine pay for the cost of the course.

https://www.emcins.com/losscontrol/insights-d/2020/08/speed-increases-risk/

"In practical terms, increasing driving speed from 60 mph to 80 mph increases the risk of a fatal crash by 4 times"

"Driving at 80 miles per hour on a road where traffic is moving at 70 increases your chances of a crash by 31%, a crash with an injury by 49 percent, and a fatality by 71%"

I appreciate all the answers, wasn't expecting so many. I know I deserve the nasty posts too. The car is leased so it will probably take longer to come through the post. It's less than a year old and fully maintained and very easy to go too fast (yes I know I should have set cruise control)
There were definitely no speed restrictions (like 50mph that I ignored). No yellow cameras. The motorway just had the odd convoy of lorries and the odd car. It didn't feel dangerous at all the speed I was going. Obviously I know that doesn't make it ok. I have learnt my lesson.

I highly doubt you will get a ban - even if you got 3 tickets if you paid them they would likely be 3 points however I also doubt you will get 3 lots of 3 points

Someone else might have shared this link already - sorry - too many replies to read!

https://www.richardsilver.co.uk/news/caught-speeding-twice-or-more-on-the-same-journey-how-many-penalty-points-will-you-get/

I'd often wondered about this because if you're caught be consecutive cameras then technically you're only really speeding once, so it would seem unfair to be punished for the number of cameras.

This article suggests there might be some sense behind that theory, but, if it happens, you might need to take it to court to argue that case.

Of course, as PP's have said, don't speed, don't get caught and as you've acknowledged, there is no reasonable excuse in your case.

You may, however, be able to convince them that it's one speeding offense not two (or three). If so, then it's likely to be £100 and 3 penalty points.

If you have to take it to court for them to combine multiple offenses, then I doubt you'd be offered a speed awareness course (which is a shame, as I think you could really benefit from one!!)

To anyone suggesting the rule is 10% of the speed limit plus 3 -that is not true. You can get penalised doing 1 mile over the speed limit.(3 points and a band A fine.) The offer of a speed awareness course is a bit of a gamble, not every area offers it, so you could be unlucky and be given points.

Some posters need to seriously take a chill pill and get off their high horses.

You sound just like my stepfather from hell, who was a terrible driver but thought he was the bees knees. He was on a similar boasty rant like that when my 12 year old nephew piped up saying “Just as well most of the other road users do know how to drive then isn’t it?” It’s the same herd immunity argument anti vaxxers use ( but different! ) it’s largely the good drivers who are keeping the bad drivers safe.

I noticed during lockdown there were so many people driving like they thought they were the only ones on the road.
pulling out and moving lanes without looking
Getting REALLY annoyed at getting caught behind someone doing the speed limit like speeding was their little bit of daily fun.

The number of times I’ve been stuck on the M62 because of a crash where some dickhead thought it was ok to speed. You don’t get to decide whether it’s safe to speed. The speed limits are there for a reason. Hopefully you get a bunch of points and learn your lesson. If you get a ban then great, roads are safer for the rest of us. If not, hopefully the threat of being fined/banned etc has got through to you and you stop driving dangerously. I doubt you will though. People like you, who regularly ignore speed limits, tend to continue to do so until they kill someone.

I think some posters need to take a chill pill too. The ones compelled to get from A to B at breakneck speed.

No one is getting anything for 1mph over a 70mph limit, in fact ANY limit. If anyone can prove that has ever happened to them I'll refund them the fine, because it definitely hasn't happened.

And "3 points and and A fine" for it isn't even worthy of explaining just how wrong that is.

There is no other subject that draws out as much misguided nonsense as a speeding thread seems to.

The person that caused my extensive facial scars was speeding when he crashed into the car I was a passenger in. I was a child at the time. Had he not been speeding I most likely wouldn't have spent 2 weeks in ITU and not have a brain injury. As far as I am concerned anyone caught speeding deserves to have the book thrown at them.

The number of times I’ve been stuck on the M62 because of a crash where some dickhead thought it was ok to speed.

And you know speed was a factor in all of these? Nearly 90% of all accidents have nothing to do with speed.

Everyone does something wrong at least a few times when they drive. Sometimes wilfully, sometimes by accident.
Looking at phones, being generally distracted, driving in the middle/outside lane when not necessary, tailgating, manoeuvring without checking all mirrors/signalling, passing too close to someone, not having 100% clear vision...
Shit happens. You'll learn from this how scary it can be when taking that chance doesn't go to plan. You won't forget how worried you are right now. Clearly you're a good person as it's bothering you.

Who or what is this source for your allegedly truthful and reliable information? The law is the law and limits are limits - they can legally prosecute for 1mph over.

I assume you have never lost a loved one to a driver who thought the speed limit didn't apply to them because the road was dry / safe / quiet / straight and they knew better, otherwise you would never be so flippant.