What on earth is happening with the speed cameras lately?!

Some official who deals with the setup/operation of speed cameras in the UK was on the radio and he said that the cameras are calibrated to allow for 10% over the stated speed limit, so up to 33MPH in a 30MPH zone, anything above that and you can be flashed.  They do run out of film sometimes so even getting flashed doesn't guarantee a ticket in the post.

SunKing, you could very well have been in a slower than 70MPH zone on the M4, I know on the M25 around Heathrow where they've been doing the widening they have had 40MPH restrictions between junctions 12 and 15 at one point.  Thankfully they have reined that in to a much shorter stretch now!!!  It's interminable driving around 40 when there's not much traffic and you could be going 70+.

Last thing, I read in the paper last week that they are introducing half day driving courses for people who receive a speeding ticket.  By going on the course you can wipe out the 3 points that would go on your license, I can't recall if you have to pay the fine and pay for the course or just 1 or the other.  The catch, you have to go on the course in the area where you got the ticket.  They talked about a chap from London who had to drive up to Warwickshire because that's where he got the ticket.  You can only go on the course once every 3 years I believe so you can only wipe out the first 3 points, any other offences go straight onto the license.

Matt

You guys are the BEST!!! I am always completely blown away by how friendly and helpful everyone on this forum is.

To comment on a few of the responses:

1. Meggles, I am so relieved you made a typo! I was about to rank the DVLA right up there with the Taliban regime in terms of "total evil quotient"!! 

2. Pebbles (Meggles, Pebbles...Love these names!  ), it's very encouraging that you've been flashed numerous times and never received a ticket. Thanks!

3. Mels1962, you asked why I just don't do the speed limit    That would be close to impossible for me- I've owned nothing but sports cars since the age of 18 (When it comes to cars, I'm somewhat deranged) and each successive car has at least 30 more horsepower than its predecessor! However, perhaps it will assuage you to know that I don't drive like a maniac on public roads and am generally going with the flow of traffic, which seems to usually be at least 10 MPH over the limit.

4. MattJ74, thanks for the tip mate!


Maybe I should have gone for my South Carolina plan from the beginning, seeing as my U.S. license- which is from Georgia- will expire in April next year and I don't want that to happen; I should make a brief trip to the States regardless to renew the license, see a friend or two, and eat some of that good ole barbecue cookin'...shur enuff...Mmmm mmm....

Happily my mad aunt lives in S.C. so I could claim that I've moved in with her for a while. (France does not accept Georgia licenses. Perhaps their diplomats had a few too many close calls on highway 285?!)

 Mels1962, you asked why I just don't do the speed limit    That would be close to impossible for me- I've owned nothing but sports cars since the age of 18 (When it comes to cars, I'm somewhat deranged) and each successive car has at least 30 more horsepower than its predecessor! However, perhaps it will assuage you to know that I don't drive like a maniac on public roads and am generally going with the flow of traffic, which seems to usually be at least 10 MPH over the limit.

Oh that's okay then. I'm sure the extra 10 MPH won't make much difference to a child's cranium.

as far as i'm aware the speed awareness courses are only for nominal excesses (35 in a 30 etc), and for those with no points on their licences.  they're not offered in all areas... still a good option.

Ah Sunking NOW I understand... you are licensed in GA!!!!!

 

Seriously though... driving in GA is insane.  People go 75 in a 55 all the time.


Sorry, but I'm with Mels on this one.  Speed Cameras are put into place in areas where there has been an accident. 

So they are there for a reason.  10 mph over can cause a lot more damage when you hit someone.

You people that like speeding so much, why don't you go to a race track and drive as fast as you want?

I am not saying I don't speed ever, but I try not to.


Also driving without your UK license as a resident after one year is illegal.  If you have a nice stamp in your passport then you need a UK license.  I goofed and thought as a student I could drive longer.... you can't.  I was was lucky not to have had any problems... but I easily could have. 

No amount of creative lying and travelling will save you in the event of a serious accident involving  lawyers. 

Stamp= residence = need for UK license for US citizens.

Ah Sunking NOW I understand... you are licensed in GA!!!!!

 

Seriously though... driving in GA is insane.  People go 75 in a 55 all the time.


Sorry, but I'm with Mels on this one.  Speed Cameras are put into place in areas where there has been an accident. 

So they are there for a reason.  10 mph over can cause a lot more damage when you hit someone.

You people that like speeding so much, why don't you go to a race track and drive as fast as you want?

I am not saying I don't speed ever, but I try not to.


Also driving without your UK license as a resident after one year is illegal.  If you have a nice stamp in your passport then you need a UK license.  I goofed and thought as a student I could drive longer.... you can't.  I was was lucky not to have had any problems... but I easily could have. 

No amount of creative lying and travelling will save you in the event of a serious accident involving  lawyers. 

Stamp= residence = need for UK license for US citizens.

Yeah, Georgia is indeed a bit crazy!

Well, I have gone on a race track a couple times, so I agree with your suggestion (It's bloody expensive though)

I don't actually have the stamp you mentioned, because I entered the UK with my British passport (I have dual citizenship), but I'm still in a tight spot here and need to get an E.U. license as soon as possible.

Along the same lines as the "UK ghost license" that was previously mentioned in this thread.  Here's my situation -- I was driving a rental car whilst up in Scotland.  Got pinched by a speed camera.  Of course, they ran the plates and found out where I rented the car from.  So the car-hire place gave them my details, and lo-and-behold, the notification of my violation arrives 10 days later in the post.  It's addressed to my maiden name at my address in London.  When I rented the car, I needed to show my license (US license, in my maiden name, with my address shown as my parents' house in NY) and my passport with my visa and entry stamp.
I'm wondering now -- when I go to apply for my UK license a few months down the road -- I'll be doing so in my married name, on a new passport (for ID) and visa, but I'll still be living at the same address.  Do you think there's a chance that the DVLA will cross-reference my name and address and realize that Jeannie Maiden is the same person as Jeannie Married, and they'll issue me my UK license with the points already on it?
(Sorry that went on so long, and it's a bit confusing.  I hope someone out there may have had a similar experience or could let me know what they think....)

I have a Tomtom set up with the speed camera database of the UK which warns me with a sound before a camera is near.  Driving down some roads I will get warned constantly of different cameras.  If you are that worried maybe you should try getting the Tomtom - it really helps! 

I have a Tomtom set up with the speed camera database of the UK which warns me with a sound before a camera is near.  Driving down some roads I will get warned constantly of different cameras.  If you are that worried maybe you should try getting the Tomtom - it really helps! 

I have an Inforad speed camera detector. Dirt cheap and very effective! I wouldn't want to set off on a long journey without it!

Hiya!

Just thought I'd add in some bits for this thread..

Yes it is entirely possible you can get flashed by a GATSO unit and not have anything come of it. In the early days I think the figure was that 85% of GATSO locations didn't have a camera or a flash unit! nowadays i think there are more though. saying that, they still move cameras around from location to location, many units now have a flash unit. Another element was the 1 flash or 2 flashes. 2 flashes usually meant that you'd had the picture taken, one at the start of the offence and one at the end and the road markings could indicate the speed of the vehicle.

I'll completely disagree with one poster who said cameras are there for a reason around accident blackspots. Whilst in part that's true, it's a well known fact that GATSO camera's are mainly there for the cash generating reasons. There's plenty of cameras around that are on fast moving dual carriageways and large A roads on staight sections of road that are quite far away from schools, busy intersections and so forth - they're there simply to catch 'speeding' cars and get the money out of them. So the yoyo effect comes into play, slowing down when seeing the road markings/yellow back of the GATSO unit, then speeding back up after passing.

I too, use TomTom for navigating mainly, and am about to upgrade/add on the Camera overlay to help with fixed GATSO locations. I think I'll be adding in a Radar Detector but seeing as there's been some changes in the law as to using them I'm going to research if it's still legal to use them in the UK - pending that, I'll purchase.

There's a whole debate on the 'speeding' thing - Yes of course lives need to be saved and accidents reduced, I think as you get older and more maturity becomes a part of you, 'speeding' isn't such a thrill anymore. However on the flip side, yes, me and my brother own several high performance vehicles, and throughout all my friends there's some seriously exotic and rapid machinery and I/we do speed. The difference lies in 'where' you speed - I ONLY do it when I know it's safe as can be, I have excellent visibility and quite simply, if I'm in the mood to stomp the loud pedal!!

The people who say 'goto a race track' and don't speed on the roads are right and also wrong (if you get my meaning!) does doing 90mph on the motorway, in free flowing traffic, nice and safe mean I 'should go to the race track'? or as i suspect, does doing 35-40mph in a school 20mph zone mean I should go to the race track?!

Going back to OP - over the years i've been flashed lots of times and never had anything come through, I did get done on the M25 variable limit around the busy Heathrow area when they changed the limit in between the large signs showing the limit, I was doing 72 mph in a then supposed '60' but I'm sure they 'changed' the limit whilst i was in between overhead signs. So, I NEVER speed though that section of the M25 no matter what! - Also a recent thing is the traffic school thing which i think is a brilliant idea (again took us years to catch up with this seeing as it's been in the US for quite a while!) although I've never needed to go! my mum of all people has to as she got caught at 36 in a 30 zone not so long back ! (so now I jokingly thow it in her face that shes a speeder !)

The cameras can be set 'harshly' or 'liberally' depending on a. how bad of a traffic blackspot it is and b. how much the local council/police wants to rip off out of drivers at that particular time. the 10% over the limit 'allowance' is a 'general' rule of thumb but cameras have been known to trigger on the limit itself. others will allow like 35 in a 30 and 45 in a 40 without being triggered, so it's bit of a lottery really

There's probably more up to date info on the various motoring websites etc - so in yer spare time you might wanna look stuff up !

Overall, I'm glad to say we in the UK drive much faster than you slow coach americans !!  on my next visit stateside im going to see if I can break my record of 3 tickets, 1 license confiscation, 2 letoffs in the space of 8 days hehe

Cheers! Dennis! West London & Slough UK!!

 The difference lies in 'where' you speed - I ONLY do it when I know it's safe as can be, I have excellent visibility and quite simply, if I'm in the mood to stomp the loud pedal!!

I'm sure that argument will make you feel better when you've killed someone.

Hmm interesting.....

I think the outdated 70mph speed limit on the motorway should be increased...   the 70mph limit was introduced decades ago, motor cars are now much safer and well built to drive safely at higher speeds.

Seems that driving the limit does actually increase danger according to this little experiment!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5366552067462745475&q=

HME - I understand that 'reckless' speeding is extremely dangerous and stupid and liable to cause serious injury and/or death on the roads. I simply stated that I speed when I know it's safe to do so and have excellent visibility and not in areas where pedestrians are (80% of the time it's on a motorway) . I think there's a difference as to where and how and by the amout you speed compared to the probability increase of killing someone. 

Not trying to cause an argument or a disrespect to the unfortunate victims of carelessness by speeding.

Cheers for now! Dennis! West London & Slough UK!

Hmm interesting.....

I think the outdated 70mph speed limit on the motorway should be increased...   the 70mph limit was introduced decades ago, motor cars are now much safer and well built to drive safely at higher speeds.

Seems that driving the limit does actually increase danger according to this little experiment!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5366552067462745475&q=

HME - I understand that 'reckless' speeding is extremely dangerous and stupid and liable to cause serious injury and/or death on the roads. I simply stated that I speed when I know it's safe to do so and have excellent visibility and not in areas where pedestrians are (80% of the time it's on a motorway) . I think there's a difference as to where and how and by the amout you speed compared to the probability increase of killing someone. 

Not trying to cause an argument or a disrespect to the unfortunate victims of carelessness by speeding.

Cheers for now! Dennis! West London & Slough UK!

And I would question your apparently supreme confidence in knowing where it's safe to speed (and where are you speeding for the 20% of the time you're not speeding on the motorway?

There are plenty of other experiments showing that reduced speeds do save lives.

mrs stuz- i have no idea re: your question.  i'm pretty sure the DVLA will make a ghost licence for your old name.  whether they'd twig that your new name + same address = same person is anyone's guess.  but have no fear- you'll have only (3) points on your ghost licence which expire in three years.  when you do finally get your UK full licence it has a two year clause on it.  if you get (6) points during the first two years of having your shiny new UK licence you will lose it.  so when you get your licence just be extra careful and you'll be fine.

I got a UK ticket while driving on my USA license and never got any points when I finally got my UK license. 

So it's touch and go and doesn't *always* happen.