| Stopped for speeding, advice please.
I had always wondered how I'd react to being stopped for speeding and today I found out but, I didn’t think it would be in my car.
Circumstances:
Urban dual carriageway, sign posted at 40 mph. I know this stretch of road very well as I use it to get to work most days. After stopping at a set of traffic lights, I checked my speed before cresting the top of a railway bridge that has a fairly steep incline on the other side - I was travelling at just over 40mph.
Interestingly enough a youngish driver in an A4 2.5L Audi had overtaken me (I was in the nearside at all times) and was pulling away from me until we came to the next stop - in two roundabouts time.
After both slowing down for the next roundabout - we continued along the next section of dual carriageway, again with the Audi driver accelerating away from me.
I'll have to be honest and say that I was accelerating but didn’t look to check my speed as the road was not very busy at that time, 11:00 in the morning.
Sat on the on side of the next roundabout was a traffic patrol car, backed into a disused section of road with the side of car facing into main direction of traffic - I thought it was so usual that I started to look for signs of an accident.
At the entrance to the roundabout the road splits in three lanes - I chose the middle lane, to drive onto a slip road, while the Audi driver turned right and into a minor road.
The Police officer followed me and quickly turned his flashing lights on, after the shock and thinking 'does he want ME' type thoughts I pulled over to be asked if I knew what the speed limit was on the road.
I replied that it was 40mph. At which point the officer stated he had just recorded me at 55mph and wanted to talk to me in his car.
I was quite stunned by this...I only drive a knackered old Peugeot 2valve 405, OK its a 2.0L SRI but its still dog slow.
The officer was very fair - he showed me the gun he used which I think is a Radar type but didn’t have any video recorder on it. I said again that I didn’t think I was going that fast possibly between 45 and 50 but no faster. Sadly, I didn’t have the presence of mind to mention the Audi driver. The officer did to his credit mention that the camera ‘might’ be affected by the very high winds today but, that he personally felt it unlikely.
I accepted the fixed penalty points at the time but am starting to feel that I should dispute this for the following reason, in priority:
1) I think the officer has in some way recorded the Audi that was in front of me in the outside lane.
2) The high winds have affected the accuracy of the equipment / operation.
(He apparently recorded my speed at 375 meters away from his car)
3) Even though the dual carriage way was not busy, there was a reasonable volume of traffic at the roundabout that might have an effect.
I had kind of talked myself into contesting anyway BUT, after reading some of the threads on here (thanks everyone for the details and info) now, I’m not so sure.
I can’t afford any legal representation and certainly can’t afford legal costs in the event of losing a case. I guess this is the position many people find themselves in so they just pay the £60 and accept the penalty points.
How do insurance companies view 3 points on a licence by the way?
As an aside this is the first time in 21 years of driving and riding that I’ve been given a fine. I’ve only been stopped twice, for a blown tail bulb and spot check!
Finally, I have no axe to grind with the poor copper – he sounded genuinely sorry but did explain a little of how the gun worked to me. Its obvious to me now that if you are speeding and see a police car at virtually any distance and they have a gun or unit of almost any kind then its too late….they have already ‘done’ you……something I certainly was not aware of…….it could just be worth it as a £60 lesson of life.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Comments welcomed please – Regards – Frank.  |