Speed Cameras

[Potatoman]

Hi all. Just wondering - If car got flashed by a camera, then got flashed by another further down the road, would they get 2 fines? Technically, they have only committed one offence... I know its a silly question, just one of those things that have been bugging me! lol

[NORMANTHEDOG]

how have they committed only one offence if you get flashed twice,its two fines and two lots of points,i should know, i,like a idiot had it happen to me,there is a stretch of road near me with 2 cameras,about a mile apart,and yes i sped past both and got done twice,no mercy

[ugly_bob]

but, it is only one offence if you continue at above the speed limit. You've only broken the speed limit once, albeit for an extended period. Getting puinished twice for the same crime is a bit off.
However, saying that, I don't think going to court and saying 'Honest M'Lord, I was speeding all the way' will get you off any lighter.

[Toureman]

I agree with Bob.

The same thing happened to me, I robbed 2 banks a few yards apart on the same road and I got sentenced to 2 prison terms, after all I only commited one offence :-)

[jake-the-peg]

I'm afraid under current rules it is two offences.

It's more than "a bit off" actually I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet over this one.

The whole concept of the points system and totting up is to give motorists the chance to ammend their behaviour before getting a ban but as the rules now stand you can leave home with a clean license and arrive at your destination having set off 4 cameras and get a ban.

Personally I think we need a change to say that in such cases you can be fined for numerous offenses but only incur points for the most serious one until a notice of intended prosecution has been received

[Ollie_P]

Instead of trying to change the whole points system I can think of an easier fix. Erm, stop speeding.

[Ethel]

I can see your point, potatoman.

If you were caught speeding by traffic police in a car, they would monitor you over a distance and you would be summonsed for one charge - travelling at x mph over y distance.

You would be penalised for one offence of speeding, plus any additional charges such as careless or dangerous driving.

[jake-the-peg]

Well done Ollie!!

I'm awfully surprised nobody else thought of that you must be ever so clever!

The point is that people do sometimes drive faster than they think they do not because they're being stupid 'boy racers' but maybe they've missed the speed limit or they're just going a bit faster than they think.

Yes, 33 in a 30 is breaking the limit and they deserve the fine and 3 points - that's the reason for the points to give them the warning!

Of course it's not a problem for you as I doubt your white stallion of truth can't get over 28!

[Rev Sermon]

There was a case reported in the media where this exact scenario occured and the driver appealed on the grounds that it was a single offence. I believe they were only convicted of one offence as a result. Mind you, if you got to court, you could be found guilty of one offence but given 6 points anyway at the Judge's discretion.

[Ollie_P]

Well Jake
Firstly - My white stallion of truth has had a speedometer fitted - this means I don't have to "feel how fast I'm going"

Secondly - "maybe they've missed the speed limit". Oh good, you're not a speeder just incompetent at reading traffic signs.

[samuel23]

The idea of the camera flashing you is to alert you to the fact you are speeding and make you aware that you have broken the law. There is no actual technical requirement for the camera to flash ~ think of the radar speed traps used in mobile / hand held speed traps, or the 'average speed' cameras used on long stretches of road works, they don't alert you to your offence do they?
I agree with the need for speed restrictions in urban areas, as drivers often go far faster than is safe, but I am against the points system. I am all for fines, but only if they are used as a way of generating income for future road safety projects. One of the things that is never quoted by the enforcment agencies is the amount of accidents caused by drivers slamming their brakes on 20 feet short of the camera sites, or when they start speeding up once they have passed them. One point I'd like to raise is that I have noticed that people's road awareness suffers when there are several cameras close together on the same stretch of road. I drive in London a lot and the worst two areas for this are the 20 mph zone through the Rotherhithe tunnel and the two cameras within 500 yards along Upper Thames Street. The problem seems to be people are concentrating more on their speedo than they are on the road and the surrounding environment.