Court summons for speeding - anyone got some experience

[klauster]

PetrolDave

Ito have been holding my tongue too.

I am not angle i was done doing 106mph in a 70 zone at midnight on a notoriously bad bit of road for speeding 4 years ago. I employed the powers of a solicitor, whom is a friend and fellow rs owner.The outcome was a SP30 28 day ban and £400 fine plus £450+vat solicitor bill, so all in all about £1/mile!!

We all speed yes, sometimesilly speds at times but whilst doing these speeds our observation and reactions should be hightened and more alert to road signs, markings, junctions etc are these are the vital bits of information thatlet us judge what may happen.

I am sorry you have been done for speeding and yes in my opinion ,as a civil engineer that spends a lot of time both on roads and constructing them, the sign according to your pictures does appear to be obscured (but surely there were standard 3,2,1 cout downs) but the fact there was a pedestrian crossing there should have been a give away!

My best advice is get a solicitior local to the court you have been salled to, as they will no doubt know the judges that stand in the court and maybe able to pull some strings to reduce the speed you were doing by say 2mph which willmake a diffrence.

Following my ban i chose to undertake the IAM advance driving, have already held an RAC motorsprts licence( so not a do gooder), to "test" my self tomy perception and observation skills andit amazed me how much you take for granted and by looking at the road markings, signage, and surroundings etc the information that you actually have before pressing the loud pedal.

Any way good lucky with your case but the best i think you are looking at is 28day ban . Advice on that,, go on holiday for 2-3 weeks, also your ban only counts in this country so you can drive overseas.

best of luck!

is this directed at me? regarding the 3-2-1 countdown, nope, none of those, regarding the pedestrian crossing, this was not finished or functioning, and the 'new road layout' signage was covered up with bin bags

[15ajh]

klauster

not directed at you just my observation on things

If the road layout had been changed (with in 6 months) then you will probably have a case as is a requirement to display "new road layout ahead" signage as per the relavent chapter of the road signs manual. And also to have posted a "public notice" regarding the change.

If it is of any use to you here is a link to the DoT website with the traffic signs and markings manuals in pdf format. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tss/tsmanual/

Chapter 1,3 and 4 may be of some help to you

[PetrolDave]

is a requirement to display "new road layout ahead" signage as per the relavent chapter of the road signs manual. And also to have posted a "public notice" regarding the change.

Someone should tell the people responsible for the roads in Hampshire that!

The speed limits have been changed in many Hampshire villages recently (IIRC 85 speed limits are changing) and in NONE of those that I've driven through recently are there ANY signs warning of changes to the limits. Some of these have also involved adding roundabouts and/or "traffic calming" and I've not seen any signs warning of them either.

Hampshire Police recently lost an appeal by 2 drivers against speeding convictions on the A35 due to illegal signing, IIRC over 50 other drivers have been wrongly convicted but they will have to appeal individually - which I reckon is disgraceful.

A "Public Notice" usually amounts to a tiny piece of text in a local paper that nobody reads and a water soaked an unreadable piece of paper facing the pavement on a nearby street lamp - so something that nobody will see!

[15ajh]

is a requirement to display "new road layout ahead" signage as per the relavent chapter of the road signs manual. And also to have posted a "public notice" regarding the change.

Someone should tell the people responsible for the roads in Hampshire that!

The speed limits have been changed in many Hampshire villages recently (IIRC 85 speed limits are changing) and in NONE of those that I've driven through recently are there ANY signs warning of changes to the limits. Some of these have also involved adding roundabouts and/or "traffic calming" and I've not seen any signs warning of them either.

Hampshire Police recently lost an appeal by 2 drivers against speeding convictions on the A35 due to illegal signing, IIRC over 50 other drivers have been wrongly convicted but they will have to appeal individually - which I reckon is disgraceful.

A "Public Notice" usually amounts to a tiny piece of text in a local paper that nobody reads and a water soaked an unreadable piece of paper facing the pavement on a nearby street lamp - so something that nobody will see!

Dave totally agree with the "public notice" bit but by law the highways agency/local authority have dine there bit but when a road lay out is changed,ie new round about, traffic lights,crossing etc, they should have a sign displayed warnign drivers of new lay out to the road.

Check the scrolls of pages and cack in the Traffic sign manuals pdf's if you like ! LOL

It bugs me as a contractor if we dont put the signs up that we have failed part of our contract by local gov can do what they please, thus resulting in the situation on here.

[15ajh]

sad i know but just found this

http://www.dft.gov.uk/trafficsignsimage ... hp?CATID=6


[/img]

[15ajh]

again

[PetrolDave]

I've seen those signs in some places where they should be displayed, but definitely not all (e.g. A35 through Ashurst).

Since those signs are not always displayed when there has been a change in either the limit or the layout, the cynic in me believes that they are only displayed:
- when someone remembers.
- when there isn't much chance of catching people exceeding the new speed limit, i.e. there's no revenue making opportunity!

Sadly drivers can be (and are) prosecuted for not obeying the new limits, but I've never heard of a council official or contractor being prosecuted (or sued) for not displaying the required signs.

[15ajh]

dave spot on !

[no_RS]

There was big rumpus recently about signage in some roadworks on the A303 that resulted in a lot of speeding tickets being classed as illegal and cancelled with refunds, etc.

I think the comments from 15ajh show the red herring comment on page 1 is wrong....

[sumdy]

Hope you feel bettter p-dave after your rant your opinion is duly noted.
I too expected him to loose everything,but for whatever reason the judge
decided against it.and as a family we were pleased with result.

[15ajh]

There was big rumpus recently about signage in some roadworks on the A303 that resulted in a lot of speeding tickets being classed as illegal and cancelled with refunds, etc.

I think the comments from 15ajh show the red herring comment on page 1 is wrong....

thanks no_rs it comes from a career working in civil engineering and particularly roads and i hate to say road works!!!

But that aside i am a firm believer that if you get caught for speeds like that in built up areas ie 30,40,50 mph zones where there are ped crossing etc is out of order. Just imagine if a member of your family was crossing the road and you were doing that speed. It is bad enough working on the highways standing behind cones at 40mph never mind 50 -80 mph! And i am a manager saying that as opposed to the guys that are actually there each day on the tools.

on the other hand i got banned for 104mph in a 70 zone so like i said befor no angel either

[no_RS]

People are more important than cars, repairing a car is easy compared to people. Having been in the unfortunate postion of connecting with a pedestrian (at slow speed) it affects your driving decisions everyday and it was a long time ago, still remember the whole thing in slow motion...

That said, out on the motorway when everyone going in the same direction (without roadworks) I would support increasing the speed limit.

[15ajh]

yip when road conditions permit yes by all means

the germans have the right idea when it comes tot hat, a self imposed speed limt

[PetrolDave]

That said, out on the motorway when everyone going in the same direction (without roadworks) I would support increasing the speed limit.

And the much lower accident rate on motorways would support an increase in the speed limit - in dry weather and good visibility, etc. IMHO the French have the right idea of a lower speed limit when it's raining.