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

[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.

[ariel]

Or become a copper!

[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 ;-)))

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Paul James

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 ;-)))

The "tolerances" for the equipment used are probably available from the mannufacturer or maybe the operators manual, you could maybe try and get hold of the latter under FOI but don't expect them to give in easily!

The ACPO guidelines probabaly allow for the tolerance i.e the reading has to be well over the legal limit so even allowing for the tolerance of the equipment you are definately over the limit when nicked.

The no tolerance stasi have conveniently forgotten about this so there is a possibility that you can get done while still being under the limit and thats not taking operator error into acount. There are various individuals questioning the accuracy of various speed measuring devices used by talivan/scamera partnerships. A quick look round pepipoo has more info.

MCN had been digging about asking if equipment had been specifically tested on bikes, that seem to produce a mixed response form the various bodies questioned and a yes-no interlude.

Bike are difficult to "acquire" using some equipment............so never ride in a straight line

Ray.