Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > General Motorcycles only > Speed limit tolerances

[Athelstan]

Originally Posted by Paul James

Used to be that for speed cameras a tolerance of 10% posted limit plus 2mph was applied. (Actual speed in a 70 zone being 79 before a nick). It was supposedly to allow for speedometer errors.

Here in CH we have the following:
a) general rule is 5kph tolerance margin allowed and the equipement error is set at 5%. Anyone found speeding more than 30kph (inc the 5kph) over the set limit has licence immediately withdrawn at the roadside and is not allowed to continue their journey in their vehicle which is impounded.

b) in some regions the authorities have introduced some new kit where they say the lazer measuring is so accurate that they have lowered the error margin to 3kph!! In other words virtually nothing (it is 1.875 miles per hour) - BUT - you the motorist have no idea where the new kit is installed.

c) the smallest roadside fine you'll face is approx UK£20 and the largest UK£90 plus an administration fee which will vary according to the Kanton where you were speeding, but expect a Tenner. If you are really thrashing it and above the max speed limit plus 30kph the you'll face a very heavy administration fee +UK£150, plus a court fine upwards of UK£120 to UK£2,000, plus a court fee - minimum UK£60. And if you were really naughty or caused an accident you may face gail as well which may be anything from the weekend to years.

Compared to us the uk is bliss - you lucky people.

[Paul James]

Just seems that as the driver/rider has his/her licence endorsed with penalty points which can lead to a driving ban there should be some national tolerance law ? There must be something to cover the potential inaccuracy of the speedometer and of course the speed measuring equipment ?

Question came up as a guy who does regular van deliveries to us recently got a ticket for doing 76 in a 70 zone, if the 10% plus 2mph was applied he shouldn't have been nicked.

[jgriff]

Here in Oz in NSW, a decition has just been handed down in the supreme court, stateing that all the radar trap aquired fines were null and void for the last ten years. This was because the radar guns were required to be calibrated daily by the manufacturer, but the NSW cops did it yearly. This sounds like a bonus, but no. Due to the revenue raised being in the billions of dollars, the case has now moved up to the federal court.
Our cops give no quarter, for speedo error, which frankly sucks. They use to. And the worst part is that they say they are doing it to reduce road toll, but there has been no change since introducing all of the speeding detection equipment.

Griff

[andyb]

Most speedos, particularly the japanese ones error on the side of bravado.......so when your whinging about being caught at only 6 mile an hour over the limit, that will be the correct speed as apposed to you speedo reading which was probably over 80............

So if you used the speedo reading at for example 70 in a 70 i doubt if you would get a ticket.....Still you think they would put a big needle on it and get it to point at the speed your going...

[Paul James]

Originally Posted by andyb

Most speedos, particularly the japanese ones error on the side of bravado.......so when your whinging about being caught at only 6 mile an hour over the limit, that will be the correct speed as apposed to you speedo reading which was probably over 80............

So if you used the speedo reading at for example 70 in a 70 i doubt if you would get a ticket.....Still you think they would put a big needle on it and get it to point at the speed your going...

Think you've missed the point here mate: If there is a tolerance it should be applied nationally. If there is no tolerance it is unworkable law. It isn't about a telling off its about potentially banning people from driving over irrelevant enforcement of misinterpreted, abused law.

In engineering I work to a tolerance, it is on the drawing and in effect part of the contract with my customer. If they decide to accept anything that I produce out of tolerance that is up to them, not me. If I make anything that doesn't conform to drawing it is scrap and they have no obligation to buy it.

Ergo the system of policing speeding should be based on a national tolerance which different regions can't change at a whim. If it is 10% + 2mph of the posted speed limit that is clear and workable fpr all concerned, it is reasonable. Getting nicked for doing 32mph in a 30 or 76 in a 70 isn't reasonable or likely to prevent any accidents IMHO it just alienates the generally law abiding driver yet again.

[Ains.]

Isn't the tolerance on a speed limit zero, with discretion given for practicality where appropriate?

Ains.

[Ray]

The guidelines are just that, Guidelines. Some areas are "zero tolerance" so in theory you'd get done for 71.

There is no national hard and fast rule other than the actual speed limit itself, what speed you get done at over that is up to the policy set by the areas chief constable or the officer who pulls you that day...........if his/her moning bacon butty was not to his/her liking or their hair didn't look good on last nights police, camera action prog. you can be in trouble at just 1mph over.

Follow Andy B's advice and don't go over the limit at all or try not to get caught.......tough choice

Ray.

[Paul James]

Originally Posted by Ains.

Isn't the tolerance on a speed limit zero, with discretion given for practicality where appropriate?

Ains.

How can there be no tolerance on a measurement ?

That was the point I was trying to make really. Who determines what 70mph is for instance ? What is the manufacturers tolerance on the speed cameras ? NOTHING is manufactured without a tolerance whether it be 0.0005% or 10% or expressed as something other than a percentage.

What is the manufacturers tolerance on a speedometer ? What effect does using tyres made by different manufacturers have opn speedometer readings?

Does anyone think that applying a strict 70mph limit has any true effect on road deaths and casualties when it usually goes hand in hand with a serious reduction in the police presence on our roads ? Would you rather have someone drive past your kids school gate at 34mph concentrating on the road or someone driving at 29mph writing a text on their mobile phone ?. The former will trigger the speed camera, the latter will run into your kid without even realising they are there !!!

Where the influence of speed on motorcycling road deaths is concerned I think some of you will be utterly amazed at how this myth has been forever smashed when the latest statistics are released locally ;-)))