37 in a 30...

[MrBump]

Managed to get to the ripe old age of 41, no accidents, no points, and a letter dropped through my door this morning.

Ar$e.

Very surprised, really - I know the camera that got me, and it's never worked.  I think that Essex Police have just revamped them all.

Not complaining, really, it's a fair cop, but I've always considered myself a pretty good, safe driver.  Mid thirties has always been the general flow of traffic speed by that camera, I've never known an accident or incident there in the 10 years or so I've lived here. 

Do you reckon I'll get points, or that safety course thingy?  Essex offers that as an alternative.

[Stevepage]

You'll most likely get a safety course thing. A couple of people I know (one of them now a police woman) were both given the course option so I wouldn't worry too much.

[Frank]

District Attorney's gonna bust your ass over this, they'll throw the book at you. No plea bargain, you're looking at 25 to life as long as the prosecution don't push for the death penalty.

[Nadz1lla]

Most services these days can't afford to keep every camera in operation at all times, so they tend to turn some off and keep a certain percentage running in an area. Traffic black-spots are usually always active, but they swap the others around from time-to-time to keep drivers guessing and on their toes, so that they never get used to "this one's always turned off". Might be in a few months they'll turn the one you were caught by off and re-activate the next one in the rota.

But seeing as this is your "first offence" kind of thing, they'll go pretty easy on you, like the others said you might have to go on a course but that'll be it, hopefully. Not sure how many points you might get on your license, though.

[MrBump]

District Attorney's gonna bust your ass over this, they'll throw the book at you. No plea bargain, you're looking at 25 to life as long as the prosecution don't push for the death penalty.

 :D

Thank god for the death penalty. I'm too young and pretty to be cornered by Mr Big in the prison showers...

[Ian Price]

I think if you go on a course you don't get the points. I'm sure that's what happened for me anyway.

[_tom_]

Yeah if you do the course you don't do the points, had a few mates do that! I'm waiting for a letter as I wasn't paying attention on the way to work the other day and was doing a similar speed past a police van before I realised I was in a 30.. so annoying!

[Elliot]

Do the crime - spend the time!

[BlankPlank]

I once got nailed doing 38 in a 30 zone, that was previously a 40 zone in Manchester. Was only the 3rd time I'd ever been down there too. I done the speed awareness course. I was the youngest there by about 10 years (I was 19 or 20 then). Was quite amusing seeing that actually.

[MrBump]

So - I did the course a few weeks back.

It was actually really interesting.  Good mix of people there, old gits, middle ages idiots like me that think they know everything, and youngsters.

I have to say, I did actually learn some stuff.  How to tell if you're in a built up area, tips for not drifting over the speed limit.

I've been practising sticking to speed limits since the course.  Haven 't drifted over any, have left decent space between me and the car in front, not got stressed or angry with queue jumpers etc.  I'm now (or currently) a Zen driver.

I feel a lot better for it too - less stressed.  Wife is happier as a passenger too. 

All in all, it's improved me as a driver, I think.

[BlankPlank]

So - I did the course a few weeks back.

It was actually really interesting.  Good mix of people there, old gits, middle ages idiots like me that think they know everything, and youngsters.

I have to say, I did actually learn some stuff.  How to tell if you're in a built up area, tips for not drifting over the speed limit.

I've been practising sticking to speed limits since the course.  Haven 't drifted over any, have left decent space between me and the car in front, not got stressed or angry with queue jumpers etc.  I'm now (or currently) a Zen driver.

I feel a lot better for it too - less stressed.  Wife is happier as a passenger too. 

All in all, it's improved me as a driver, I think.

This calmness thing won't last long, or it certainly didn't with me :lol: It generally depends on my mood, I find that if I'm in a good mood, I am actually a lot more relaxed about idiots on the road, if I'm angry, it all goes out of the window, lmao!
The parts out telling you're in built up areas or how to know when you're approaching certain things like schools and city centres is great. I'm also became a lot more conscious of repeater signs too.

[_tom_]

Had my course recently as well and it was alright, better than i thought it would be, though the guy doing it was painfully cheesy and smug! I also find the online tests you have to do really patronising and a bit pointless considering how easy they are! Better than points on the license though i guess..

[juansolo]

I dislike speed cameras and the whole 'speed kills' propaganda. Speed doesn't kill, I regularly go double the speed limit (on a race track) and am not dead nor has anyone died as a result of my speed. Inappropriate speed kills, driving without due care and attention kills, driving like a w**ker with no regard for the conditions or other road users kills. Speed in itself does not kill. Sadly speed cameras cannot police driving standards...

[nfe]

Speed doesn't kill, I regularly go double the speed limit (on a race track) and am not dead nor has anyone died as a result of my speed. Inappropriate speed kills

...and that's the inference. Nobody claims that the speed is inherently dangerous, only that the speed on roads is. Speed cameras clearly aren't the most efficient or effective answer, but anything that has even the slightest impact on people driving like cretins is a positive.

[Roobubba]

I dislike speed cameras and the whole 'speed kills' propaganda. Speed doesn't kill, I regularly go double the speed limit (on a race track) and am not dead nor has anyone died as a result of my speed. Inappropriate speed kills, driving without due care and attention kills, driving like a w**ker with no regard for the conditions or other road users kills. Speed in itself does not kill. Sadly speed cameras cannot police driving standards...

I know what you're saying, but the sad truth is that driving like a w**ker at 15mph isn't going to get many people killed, whereas driving like a w**ker at twice the speed that everyone else on the road is doing carries a higher risk.

I stick to the speed limits on the whole, especially 30s and 40s. I've even started driving less than 70 on the motorway, not for safety (because that wouldn't make it safer!!), but because now I've switched from a 1.4L petrol Renault Clio to a 1.6L diesel bluemotion Passat estate, I can get over 70 miles to the gallon on my 150mile-a-day commute!
I hope I'm a courteous driver... Nothing winds me up more than cretins who don't pull over to the left when they're not overtaking. Had some muppet the other day on a 4 lane stretch of the M25 who entered the motorway in front of me, then pull out across the two empty left hand lanes into the 3rd lane of 4. At 55mph. :/ Those are the people who should be being sent on courses!!!