Speeding

[Whatdidido123]

I expect to be bashed massively for this, and I welcome it, I'm an idiot.
I was driving 70mph in a 50mph zone. It had just changed to 50mph, and I failed to slow down before I passed a vehicle hiding on the side of the motorway. It was a black and yellow checkered vehicle. Was that a police car? Highway patrol? I'm not entirely sure what vehicle it was, but he was facing oncoming traffic and hiding. I'm also a fairly new driver. It will be 2 years at the end of this month. Whats going to happen to me? Banned? Oh, I'm such an idiot 😭

Try not to panic, you can't change the outcome now. It sound like highways agency so you shouldn't have to worry but use it as a reminder in future to stick to speed limits. Slow down before the 50 sign from now on. Everyone has had one of those moment though were they are preoccupied or just a bit slow in slowing down.

I'm not sure you can get done by a vehicle on the motorway because it's not safe for them to sit on the hard shoulder. Laybys are generally used by police and highway if they are waiting for a specific vehicle to go past or being able to get on quickly if needed. You are going to get caught by overhead cameras on most motorways now or tailgated by a car with ANPR. I was caught on the M5 doing 76mph by an average speed camera on the overhead gantry. Absolutely my fault, I got in the outside lane to get out of the way of twats in front who were cutting each other up switching lanes dangerously as the motorway split into multiple lanes with several slip roads on and off. I should have eased off and let them do what death sentences they wanted to give each other and then go past when safe to do so. Not do what I did and accelerate out of it.

May I suggest to see if your car has a speed limiter (not cruise control). Mine has and everywhere I apply it. To be fair the speed awareness scared the life out of me. Just a friendly pointer from a driver who has been driving for nearly 20 years now.

He was parked under a gantry on the side just before the motorway, I was coming up on a dual carriageway. I've driven that road many times and never seen anyone parked there until today. It's my fault, I am an idiot. I definitely won't be doing it again

Very unlikely that it was a speed trap but if it was then it’ll be a standard £100/3points fixed penalty. You will not be getting banned, don’t stress about it. If it was an indicated 70 then you might just scrape a speed awareness course, the cutoff is normally 64.

I wasn't on the motorway. I was on the dual carriageway. And I don't routinely speed. The dual carriageway is 70mph, I was doing 70mph, and I failed to slow down when I reached the 50mph sign, I then reduced my speed to 50mph before I entered the motorway. The road was also empty. I know that doesn't make it right, and I definitely won't be doing it again. I'm completely in the wrong here. Whatever is coming is my own fault

Whatever is coming is my own fault

If something’s coming your way (which is highly unlikely) then worst case it’s a very, very minor punishment. By all means learn from it but I wouldn’t give the ticket side of things another thought. Deal with it if arrives.

@Catza they both sound like you hesitated

This wasn't addressed to you. I am sure it was an honest mistake on your part and you will be more careful in the future.
My post was for another user who proudly stated that she always speeds on a motorway and gets away with it.

You are incorrect - There is no legal requirement for a mobile speed van to be visible.

Unlikely to be police looking for speeders as it was facing you. Camera vans usually park on verge facing same way as traffic. Blacked out window at the back. Some police forces put details of which roads will be monitored on a web side.

OP listen to me and the other people that are telling you you won't get a ticket from that officer and to stop worrying. It's fine to debate the wrongs of speeding and potential consequences in a general sense, but you're not getting in trouble for passing that specific car at speed.

Worst case, you'll receive a notice of intended prosecution (or some such wording) in the post. They come quite quickly, within a week anyway.

Fill it in and decide if you want to accept points on your license and a fine or do a speed awareness course (same cost but no points).

I've been driving 36yrs and had my first ticket last year. I chose the course and it was actually very informative and a good reminder of driving safely.

Try not to worry. I know that's easier said, but it's just a hiccup and a reminder why we have driving laws and speed limits.

Will I definitely have the option of a speed awareness course?

No, as I said previously the threshold is normally 64 in a 50 limit.

edit - that’s likely academic as it was almost certainly not a speed trap.

70 in a 50 zone - if it was police they would have put lights and sirens on and pulled you over.

You've escaped this time.

Indeed. There's a miniscule chance there will be any outcome from this non-incident at all but if there is a speed awareness course won't be offered at those margins.

Thanks for all the reassurance.
There's no point worrying as that is not going to achieve anything right now. I'll just patiently wait and see. I've learnt my lesson, that's for sure!

Here's the chart for what punishment gou will receive.

Speed awareness or 3 points plus a £100 fine. You only go to category offences/% of income when you are summoned to court and the speed required for that is also on this table. You'll notice it's extreme speeding that gets summons.

At 70, you'll get 3 points and a fine unless you're in wales where it's straight to the gallows BUT as a new driver you'll then need to drive very carefully going forward.

Also only large vans are speed cameras. Anything else is just police watching the road/waiting for someone.

Police cars usually pull speeding drivers over on duel carriageways with blue lights, speed vans often sit at the top of gantry's as they get a good long camera view. Sounds like it wasn't looking for speeding motorists.

If your car said 70, it was likely a bit less anyway, probably about 67

Black and yellow are highways England. Sounds like they were just parked up

Well, there is no speeding ticket yet. It's been 14 days. Am I safe to assume I wasn't caught speeding?

I'd say so

Yep, as expected!