Speeding on Motorway

[Somersetmum100]

Anyone able to help. Think I might have been caught speeding. On the motorway this morning, think I got clocked by a police van on the bridge above. I was definitely not doing 80 but was constantly fluctuating 77/78/79. There is often 3mph between my Speedo and Google maps on my phone. No other speeding fines ever but really worried what might happen. Struggle with anxiety and worry about absolutely everything but I can't think straight and can't eat - please help, how much trouble am I likely to be in

Why are you so anxious? You’ve been told what will happen if you’ve been caught. That won’t change if the letter comes tomorrow or in a week.

It's the uncertainty of points or a course, add to that a personality where is over think everything. It's my fault, I was speeding but it's the bot knowing exactly

It’s likely to be less than a week. I’ve had two and one I hadn’t yet registered the car to me (I’d not long purchased it and there were problems. The garage allowed me to not change it over in case I didn’t keep it) and even finding me through insurance was less than two weeks. The other was a company car via a lease so had a bit of a merry go round and also quick to arrive.

honestly, there is no problem here that should cause you to worry.

is your licence valid? Not expired?
Even if it is you can just get it sent off and replaced in the timeframe required.

absolutely worst case is £100 and 3 points. Your insurance may go up a smidge at 3 points but it’s so common and mine didn’t. Even at 6, I think it was £100 more. Or you’ll have to do a speed awareness course and pay that fine - is it £100? Other option is absolutely nothing will happen as you were going faster than the speed limit but not fast enough to get a ticket.

I spend a lot of time worrying about the what ifs but please be assured that there’s nothing here that is out of the ordinary or will cause this small thing to turn into a catastrophic event.

It doesn’t sound like a normal level of anxiety though. I would be looking for ways to deal with that going forward. Points or a course won’t derail your life.

Really?

The google map app is the correct reading; were you going 78 on there or on your speedo?

No I can’t explain why a speed camera would go off when someone is driving at a legal speed of 70.

My husband has been caught speeding twice (55 in a 50 on a motorway reduction) and 70 on a dual carriageway in a white van (he thought 70 was the limit as it was the same van as our 9 seater but apparently a lack of passengers takes that down to a 60)... both times he got 3 points and a £100 fine and no offers of speed awareness courses.

If they offer it, go in the course. It’s actually pretty interesting.

Ok you need to breathe.

The worst thing to happen is you’re going to be out of pocket. Thats it. Thousands of people get caught speeding on our roads every single day.

You’ll either:

• Pay a fine and get points on your licence.
• Pay and attend a speed awareness course. (When I did a course, I did it in person. But I’ve know people who have recently done it online via Zoom etc.)

It really is nothing to worry or panic about. Please see your GP for help with anxiety.

And to avoid this in future, please ensure you never go over the speed limit. But don’t beat yourself up, it happens.

Likelihood is 3 points and a fine. If you have no points currently you may be offered and awareness course without points.

You don’t need to apologise to anyone. You’re perfectly entitled to post here at any time for any reason and no one gets to police that!

You’ll be fine, you might not even hear anything, my OH constantly thinks he been caught doing that sort of speed and we’ve yet to get anything. If you did a 1st offence is no big deal. I have been pulled over twice for driving too slowly 😂

I thought the rule of thumb on a 70 MPH section of the Motorway was 10% plus 2 so 79 MPH is the 'unofficial' speed limit and Speedometers by law read 'fast'. Thus if the speedometer says 80 in reality you are doing between 77-78 MPH . I think below 85 MPH you are likely if first offence likely to get an offer of a Speed Awareness Course . They can be a bit 'boring' but better than 3 points.

If you have gone though a camera on a Smart Motorway with Variable speed limits different rules may apply, it can be quite easy to be caught as I was on the M6 Coming on out of Birmingham..

Christ almighty.

Why are you worried about getting caught when you are knowingly doing something illegal?

Don't do the thing that's illegal in the first place then you won't get that anxiety.

Are you getting help for this??

They have to send you the speeding notice within 14 days- if you don’t get one in 2 weeks then you won’t have been caugh xx

The ten per cent thing is a myth

Given the accuracy of car speedometers is random but usually less than showing plus there's often a bit of leeway, and you've not had a speeding fine in the past 3 years I would imagine you're going to be within 10% of the speed limit, in which case you'll be offered 3 points and £100 fine OR the opportunity to do a speed awareness course.
Make sure you take the course option, usually online I believe these days, as not only will you gain tips and insight on how and why you should stick to travelling at no more than the speed limit, but also you do not have to declare this to your insurers meaning your insurance cost is not hiked.

"No one is judging you."

They literally are judging you and prosecuting you for doing something unlawful.

My take on it, lots of people get tickets. That doesn't mean it is OK to get one but it is relatively normalised in society (whether it shoudl be or not is another issue).

At the end of the day you can't control whether you get a ticket or not for this incident. It is done and dusted. You will either get one or not and then have to deal with it. So no point worrying about it and deal with it if it happens.

The tickets you might get in the future, that is something you can deal with by driving more carefully and adhering to the limit if you don't want to risk getting a ticket.

@redange that’s not true.

What is the "10%+2" rule and what does it mean? - Road Law Barristers

@redange bad advice.

Google maps will be correct. Car speedos always over read slightly. So if your speedo said 78/79 you were probably really doing 75. Speed cameras also usually have a tolerance of 10% + 2mph. So it sounds like you’re easily within the getting away with it tolerance.