Speeding

[stulogue7]

What is a socially accepted speed on the motorway. I had it on good authority that motorists could get away with doing 85-87mph without getting pulled over. I drove past 2 police cars 4 weeks ago doing the 85 and they did not even double take. I have subsequently been givena speeding fine for doing 82mph on the M6 by a vehicle watching from the bridge. It seems scandalous, and money for old rope??

[deggers316]

obviously 70 is the limit as you know, i think if it 's if the patrol cars or other have nothing better to do, or if they've rowed earlier with the wife whether they book you for over 70 or not.
i agree todays 70mph speed is low i drive approx 80 if road is clear,just have to keep your eyes peeled for the boys in blue

[stulogue7]

Withe regards to speeding in a 30 or 40mph zone i totally understand being pulled over for doing 5-8mph over the limit- due to the potential hazards, schools, young children etc. On a motorway most motorist do over 80mph and I agree that anything over 87/88 should be stopped. 82mph smacks off the police have nothjng better to do with the time and trying to reach targets. I even asked a policeman when a mate of mine got stopped in an urban street and he implied 87mph would not be a problem. Furious at getting a ticket for 82mph!!

[littleoldme]

So a driver doing 85mph (a speed you just happen to feel comfortable doing) should be let off, but one doing 88mph (a little too fast for you) should be stopped. Any other laws you'd like personalised while we're at it? Perhaps people shouldn't be done for shoplifting if they only nick stuff you like.

OK, sarcasm aside - we can debate until we're blue in the face about what constitutes a safe or unsafe speed on the motorway, but the thing is...it's not up to us! There is no "socially accepted speed". The law decrees Thou Shalt Not Drive At Over 70 mph, so if you do, you're liable to get a ticket. Yes, some county police forces may be stricter than others, but you really have no-one to blame but yourself for getting caught. I speak as someone with 6 points on my licence, so I'm not being holier than thou - but those 6 points were nobody's fault but mine. They are due to come off later this year, and I'm looking forward to having a nice clean licence again...I've learned my lesson.

[stulogue7]

I think you may have mis-read my email. I have to relatives in the police force and I tok the liberty of asking a policmena in teh South East what is a socially accepted seed you can get away with - and he said you would be hard done by if you were stopped for doing anything below 87mph. I ahve driven past polic cars and seen other people passing the police @ 85 without so much as a second glance. Quite simply there is no consistency and there should be a black and white ruling. I have only accrued one speeding fine in 8 years and that was 3 years ago. According to ACPO guidlines the average motorist does between 79-86mph. I certainly believe there should be a cut off point at what is deemed acceptable.

[andy-hughes]

I'm not sure about the notion of a 'socially acceptbale' speed limit, which, as has been pointed out - is governed by law.

The fact is, the volume of traffic on motorways is now so large that everyone driving within the limit would mean a national jam-up, so it may be that the police will let a certain amount of speeding slide.

[Psychick]

Ok I hold my hands up to speeding myself, not ridiculous speeds, but a little speeding none the less......but right under the noses of not one, but two, police cars? Sorry mate but did you really think you would get away with that?
At the end of the day, the law is the law whether we like it or not, and if we get caught breaking these laws, we have to expect to pay the consequences!
You think that was petty? I know of someone who got a fine and three points on their license just for reversing 20 feet round a corner to park outside his own house! He got the fine because he was reversing down a (very quiet) one way street!

[stulogue7]

Thanks for your email mate. I did not get stopped for doing 85 mph past 2 police cars they were not interested, and thought i was driving safely. I got caught on the M6 doing 82 mph on a quieter afternoon by an unmarked van on the bridge.

[kempie]

For the past 7 years the ACPO Guidelines for Speeding Enforcement have recommended, other than in the most exceptional circumstances, the issue of fixed penalty notices as the minimum appropriate enforcement action for speeds based on the formula Speed Limit + 10% + 2 mph. Thus 79 mph is the expected trigger point for motorway driving.

http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/sp eed_enforcement_guidelines_web_v7_foi.doc

[Psychick]

Ah, my mistake on that one! Sounds like you was on the wrong road at the wrong time. No doubt they were sat up there catching every ******! The ones you past previously were probably too near the end of their shift to be bothered with the paper work ;)

[Psychick]

That is not a swear word they censored there!! lol

[missrandom]

wonder how you would feel if your loved one died in a crash, by someone driving over the speed limit? some people always think they are the exception, the ones that can drive over the speed limits and still be safe. the limits are there for a reason, to save lives.

[hedgehog661]

Who sets these speed limits? bakers, roadworkers, police, some knowit all motorist? No road safety experts who continually assess and moniter the KILLED AND SERIOUSLY INJURED rate.

Actually figures for people who actually do speed are reducing every year so more and more people are finding it SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE to speed. Who can go back and remember when if you got caught drinking and driving it was felt 'you were unlucky mate'? nowadays I hope nobody has that attitude and one day we will all feel that about speeding.

And what nonsense about the faster cars go the less hold ups there will be. What traffic meassure do the police take when there is a high volume of traffic on the M25? yes they slow it down. In doing this less stopping distance is required so it is possible to allow more cars to proceed.

Great post by Kempie and very accurate too.

[cazz218]

the socially accepted speed is 'the speed limit' . its certainly not 'socially acceptable' to drive everywhere above the limit - what do you think the limit is there for u plank!!! if you are in that much of a hurry to get somewhere try leaving a bit earlier!!

how can you moan about getting a fine - you were 12mph over the speed limit.

[pagey]

Many good drivers drive over the speed limit as they ARE capable, remaining safer than most other drivers on the road. The true dangerous drivers on the road are not those who drive fast, but those who are not paying attention and not considering other road users and road conditions. There are situations where the difference in risk between driving at 70 and 95 is negligable - in the right situation (quiet motorway/dual carraigeway /good vis/ dry).

I wouldn't have sour grapes over an 82 though. 75 or less I would feel peeved. If you drive fast all the time you WILL get caught at some point.

[stulogue7]

My original comment has seemed to stir up some mixed views. I can understand both sides of some arguments. On spoken with Cumbria constabulary I was informed that in that particular area they are really cracking down on speed due to a family tradgedy. Anyone seen doing 79mph and over will be stopped. So i would like to take homage against ac ouple of people who said below that speeding is speeding. Are those drivers below saying that they do 70mph on the dot and not a little over. As if the speed limit is 70mph why is there still a tolerance linit ie in this case 78mph. Quite clearly there is a higher tolerance in other areas as in the East of England the tolerance is 85mph rightly or wrongly. I really do not think anyone can be labelled a bad driver for doing 80mph. The drivers who are hesitant indecisive and who drive at below the speed limits on urban roads are as much as a menance. Drivers need to be vigilant, decisive and confident when behind the wheel and that does not mean speeding. On a motorway there is a toleranceand the average driver according to the constabulary does doe between 78-86mph.