Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Old-Nail]

So there I was today, bimbling along a local B road in the 2cv, the sun is shining and all's right with the world.

I approach a primary school from which mothers are walking hand in hand with their children - it's 3:15pm...home time. I slow to sub 30mph just as a precaution and I listen to the exited squeals of the pointing kids as a result of seeing the 'funny old car'.

Having passed the school the road turns slightly, then opens out into a long straight clear country road. I'm still smiling at the kiddies reaction when I spot a 'Camera van directly ahead...and my speed has crept to 35mph!

Now I don't know if the operator timed me at that speed long enough to convict, but what I do know is that I already have two speeding convictions on my licence, a 36 in a 30 zone, and a 44 in a 40 zone.

You may consider that careless of me, but I live in 'the sticks' now where country roads are long and clear.
My question is are the seemingly ever stringent speeding laws as a result of an increased safety awareness or simply to reduce the number of licence holders on Britain's roads?

If it was the former then surely the camera would have been positioned BEFORE the school, and if the latter then I may be one of the first to sell a Citroen 2cv having lost my license for speeding!

[Rick]

Don't most speedos over-read a little anyway? whereas from memory it is illegal for a car's speedo to under-read when new. Could be wrong tho

R
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[47p2]

Sorry to hear your bad news old nail, and double sorry to be the bearer of bad news but as soon as you went round the corner the camera (lazer most likely) will have caught you. No timing is required for lazer. They take 1 picture as soon as they see you, usually at your fastest speed then as you get closer they take a second closer picture for identification purposes

Something worth considering that may be in your favour, your speedo was reading 35 which will most likely be reading fast so you were most likely doing 32ish.
From what I am told they will not charge you within 10% of the limit so you might, just might be lucky and get away with it.

You should hear within 2 weeks if they are going to fine you.

The stringent speeding laws have very little to do with safety, they are all to do with collecting revenue from fines.

You need to accumulate 12 points before loosing your license, from what you say you have two convictions and therefore 6 points, if you do get charged that will make 9 points so should be able to hang on to the 2CV for another while yet. (if you can keep the beast below 30mph) (not easy in a 2CV)

Let us know the outcome.....
_________________
ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

[47p2]

[Old-Nail]

It's at times like these that I wish I was living in France or Italy.

Both have national characteristics which wouldn't allow this type of sneaky underhand practice without public outrage!

If any politician or Policeman would like to explain to me the advantage to road safety in siting a camera AFTER the approach to the school and around a blind bend then I'd be happy to laugh in their face.

Unfortunately, I am my own worst enemy when faced with the automatons that earn their living in this way, so the second photo alluded to above will clearly show an irate Old-Nail giving the Agincourt salute!

He he...wonder if they'll let me off now? And if not I wonder if I can have a copy of the photo!

[Uncle Joe]

Theres a particular stretch of road near me. A few years ago, it had a 90kmh limit, and never a radar control to be seen. Then it was widened and straightened, which meant that there were then no house driveways on the stretch. What then happened was that the speed was reduced to 70kmh and suddenly the police had regular controls.

So, its not only in the UK that speed limits are enforced to take in money! Sure as **** isnt for safety reasons.

I dont want to get political on this, but there is only one reason that the authorities want more money, to waste it on stupid things....

[47p2]

[Old-Nail]

I'll ask for one then

Given the obvious predatory nature of these speed camera operators how long will it be before a greater number of ordinary road users worried for their jobs adopt a false number plate?

How long (also in the name of 'safety') will it be before diabetics, the over 70's, paraplegics, etc. also have their licences revoked?

Each action has an equal and opposite re-action as they say.

[47p2]

A mate of mine was caught on laser 4 years ago on the M74 and when the summons came in he asked for a copy of the picture as to establish who the driver was

A few days later the copy arrived through his door.......Yep it was him driving...No denying it
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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

[Rick]

[Old-Nail]

I can see the reasoning behind it.

How sad it is when fair judgement and discretion are taken out of the equation when considering if a crime has actually been committed.
Today a machine decides your fate, well, that and the sneaky Ba***d using it that is.

"FOR SALE - Citroen 2cv. Two cylinders and 602cc's of unbridled power, too fast for UK roads. Reason for sale: owner moving to Albania."

[Brian M]

O-N

If you are unlucky enough to receive the "Notice of Intended Prosecution"
keep the envelope and before you do anything have a good read through the speeding section of this website.

http://pepipoo.com/

I have recommended this to three friends who followed the instructions in Pepipoo and received a letter saying that no action would be taken against them. One of them was clocked at 95mph in a 70 limit.

It all revolves around the fact that you do not have to do anything that will incriminate yourself, but you do have to respond to the NIP.

Obviously there are no guarantees, but it has to be worth a few letters, but they have to be carefully worded and sent within certain time periods.

Please let us all know how you get on.
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

[erindoors]

I heard once that you could ask for proof that the machine had been serviced within so many hours (something 24 hours?), if they can't prove it has been serviced recently, then you can get away with it on the basis that it may have been malfunctioning. Not sure if this is 100% true though.

Myself and Mr Erindoors, we were just commenting the other day with regards to the last couple of times we went to Portugal on holiday - for the entire time we were there (a combined time of 3-4 weeks) and we drove up and down the country (on motorways and our equivalent of B and A roads) and we didn't see one single speed camera!!!! How refreshing!!!!


Erindoors

[Old-Nail]

Isn't it just!

Brian thanks for the info I will be following that up should I receive a notification. I think the practice of entrapment displayed by these cameras is an insult to any and all who are by all reasonable standards law abiding motorists.

Erindoors, I took my first 2cv back to France in 2001 where I toured happily for two weeks. The weather was wonderful which meant that the roof was left open day and night yet nothing was stolen from the car.

I could drive through each pretty village and stop right outside the post office without being clamped/chastised/fined, and for the whole fortnight I saw no speed cameras.

When a screw is tightened incrementally it's easier to accept the extra added pressure, the contrast of a trip abroad now reveals just how high that pressure has been ramped in the UK.

The most laughable thing of all is that most of the unpopular, and downright silly laws that are now enforced in the UK are we are told, a result of EU directives, yet anyone travelling in EU countries will plainly see that they just aren't implemented!