Not what I wanted to see this afternoon....

[Ducklakeview]

So, was driving to my Mum's in Wales, along the M56 this afternoon, having had "words" with Mrs DLV on the way, so not my usual attentive self..

Trundling along at 84mph, cruise on, good lane discipline etc as per.. Being good and not "taking advantage" when the road ahead opened up.

As I pulled out into lane 3 to pass slower moving stuff, I noticed a black 5 series do the same, 1 car behind me which was a bit weird as he was then cut up by the car behind me doing the same.. Moved back to lane 2 and he followed me... Yup, I had missed the unmarked car



After inviting me to come join them.. He asked why I thought he'd stopped me, I told him "my speed" and he asked how fast I was going, so I told him 84mph. He thanked me for being honest, and confirmed that VASCAR had me over 1.6 miles at 84mph dead.

He said he continued to follow me after they got a reading, to see if I opened it up as the road cleared, which I didn't, and commented that he had no issues with my driving etc, and was pleased to see I was observing correct lane usage..

He told me that if I'd been doing 86mph, I would be getting points, and asked me if I knew that, to which I replied honestly, "yes" he then commented to his colleague "told you he was deliberately doing 84mph!"

So, that's me expecting a "speed awareness" course form in the post then..

I think I'll "decrease" my motorway cruising speed from 84 to 80 now..

Could have been worse I suppose..

Mike

 

[Mr Tidy]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune OP.

If there is a bright side it is that there won't be any points!

I go to Cheshire 3 or 4 times a year - will have to remember your experience! I often get tempted go make up a bit of time when I join the M56 after miles of misery on the M6! :lol:

 

[Zed Five]

Unless you got the 'anything you say can be used' etc, i doubt that you'll hear anything whatsoever. Sounds like sensible guys doing their job sensibly.

 

[Ducklakeview]

Unless you got the 'anything you say can be used' etc, i doubt that you'll hear anything whatsoever. Sounds like sensible guys doing their job sensibly.

No, I was cautioned

Mike

 

[Chris_D]

it's at this point mike, that I will refer you to my 55mpg thread, and the benefits of doing a steady 60mph on motorways......
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=93633
yw

 

[Ducklakeview]

it's at this point mike, that I will refer you to my 55mpg thread, and the benefits of doing a steady 60mph on motorways......
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=93633
yw

Lol, was about to comment that I achieved a record 32.1mpg for the 90 mile round trip, ave speed, erm 74mph..

Mike

 

[NickDE]

along the M56 this afternoon, 84mph.

I'm impressed you managed to get 84 on the M56. Whenever I drive along there it is full of stop start traffic for no reason.

I usually set my cruise to 77. My theory is that you are allowed 10% error due to speedo differences etc. Is this true ?

 

[patriot66]

A close family relative works at Lancashire Constabulary HQ and reliably informs me that on the motorway they currently allow 10 % of the 70mph limit + 3mph before they stop you i.e 80mph. I always set my cruise control to 75mph if conditions allow. I've had Police patrol cars cruise past me at this speed and never get a second glance.

 

[PerryGunn]

I usually set my cruise to 77. My theory is that you are allowed 10% error due to speedo differences etc. Is this true ?

Not really... speedometers are allowed a manufacturing tolerance but this is only permissible in one direction, while they are allowed to over-read (e.g. read 73 at a true 70mph), they must never under-read the actual speed (e.g. read 70 at a true 73mph)

 

[Ducklakeview]

A close family relative works at Lancashire Constabulary HQ and reliably informs me that on the motorway they currently allow 10 % of the 70mph limit + 3mph before they stop you i.e 80mph. I always set my cruise control to 75mph if conditions allow. I've had Police patrol cars cruise past me at this speed and never get a second glance.

ACPO guidelines are 10% +2.5mph (to allow for speedo error at low speeds) on motorways, the guidance apparently is 86mph and above = a fixed penalty, and 100mph+ = a ban..



From: http://www.ukmotorists.com/speed%20enforcement%20policy%20guidelines%20for%20uk%20police%20forces.asp

Note it says "fixed penalty when education not appropriate" which to me means, when you are an @rse with them - Hence my truthfulness..

Looks like I was spot on knowing 86mph would have gotten me that ticket and not a course.

Mike

 

[buzyg]

Thanks for the education. Not driving on motorways much I had little idea about those guidelines.

 

[defrinz4]

Isn't nice to know that your speedometer is accurate.

 

[Ducklakeview]

Isn't nice to know that your speedometer is accurate.

I set my speed using GPS on Waze, at 84mph the speedo reads a tad over 85, but the RPM is bang on 3,000

Mike

 

[MACK]

I don't get it, if he said you would be getting points if you were going a bit faster isn't the conversation you had just him giving you a ticking off with no further action. Speed awareness courses are offered as an alternative to points, but if there not on the cards?!

 

[Ducklakeview]

I don't get it, if he said you would be getting points if you were going a bit faster isn't the conversation you had just him giving you a ticking off with no further action. Speed awareness courses are offered as an alternative to points, but if there not on the cards?!

I read the chart to be, a ticking off upto 79, and from 79 upto 86 an SAC course? 86 to 96 would be points.

Mike

 

[MACK]

I don't get it, if he said you would be getting points if you were going a bit faster isn't the conversation you had just him giving you a ticking off with no further action. Speed awareness courses are offered as an alternative to points, but if there not on the cards?!

I read the chart to be, a ticking off upto 79, and from 79 upto 86 an SAC course? 86 to 96 would be points.

Mike

Did he give you the verbal "i'm reporting you to be considered for the offence........"

 

[chapeau]

The chart above may well be accurate. I was clocked at 36 in a 40 (missed the speed drop signs on a dual lane single carriageway) and ended up with a SAC. If i had been doing 35 there would have been no action taken. It certainly makes me take a lot more notice of the speedo these days :headbang:
Funny thing was it was enroute to buying the Z and was caught in a 1.5dci renault megane that probably could'nt reach 70 if it tried. :driving:

 

[Ducklakeview]

I don't get it, if he said you would be getting points if you were going a bit faster isn't the conversation you had just him giving you a ticking off with no further action. Speed awareness courses are offered as an alternative to points, but if there not on the cards?!

I read the chart to be, a ticking off upto 79, and from 79 upto 86 an SAC course? 86 to 96 would be points.

Mike

Did he give you the verbal "i'm reporting you to be considered for the offence........"

Yup

Mike

 

[Sky-drive]

Mike, I read your post with a great degree of interest and sympathise especially as I drive 40-50k work miles annually across the length and breadth of the UK motorway network and have done so for the last 26 years.

Despite being stopped by the boys in blue on a number of occasions for "making progress" (I never use the word "speeding" when sat in the back of a police car) I have managed to maintain a clean driving licence since I was 28. I think being IAM advanced qualified and working as a technician in the NHS emergency services for 9 years proved to be a very useful get out of jail free card however here are a few self imposed 'rules' I apply to myself when travelling on UK motorways:

1. Don't speed on your own - you become an identifiable miscreant very quickly!
2. If you must speed on your own on the motorway try to maintain an indicated 80-82mph on your speedo - anything above that then you gotta accept your D/L is at risk from points
3. Despite what your ego :evil: is telling you, never ever lead - allow other car drivers to lead the pack and let them set the pace but only if you consider traffic and weather conditions are safe to do so
4. If at all possible place yourself within the centre of a convoy moving at speed and be sure to maintain a safe distance from the car in front - generally the lead car or the tail gun Charlie will tend to get picked off first
5. Don't speed over or under motorway junctions: slip roads joining the motorway from above make for great vantage points and the ones joining from below are perfect for sneaky pulls
6. Don't ever drive on emotional response ... red mist and frustration can cause a loss of judgement very quickly
7. Be hyper vigilant: assume every 2+ litre looking car less than 6 years old in a motorway lane is an unmarked car - if you cant clock and make a judgement call on each car you are closing with then lower your speed
8. Unmarked cars are just not cricket in my book (its so un-British) however be fully aware of the vehicles employed by local constabularies: BMW, Audi, Volvo, Skoda, Ford, Vauxhall, Jaguar, etc ... Ive even seen a very hard to spot Honda Civic on the M23 pulling a motorist over

I suspect your saving grace today was being honest and straight up with the police officers. I have friends who are serving police officers on Road Policing Units and all of them advise when they pull someone over for a motoring misdemeanour they are looking for three things: pass the attitude check (avoid the use of humour, sarcasm and back-chat), honesty and to show respect.

From my own experience of being tugged its paramount to get the officers on side quite quickly - to achieve this I always:

1. be truthful about my actions (9 times out of 10 we all know why we are being pulled over!) and be able to justify my actions
2. ask the police officer did they consider the overall level of driving demonstrated to be safe
3. find a sincere apology doesn't go amiss - research shows apologising increases your chances by 20% of being let off
4. plus a "thankyou" always goes a long way for acknowledging them taking the time to stop you and point out your mistake

From my experience in the ambulance service I take the view that the majority of coppers are geared up to expect bull$hit and dishonesty from the public so when someone is decent and honest with them most - but not all! - are human and really much prefer to educate rather than punish.

If you do end up unlucky enough to be issued a speeding ticket then accept it with good grace: by having shown them that you really are a decent law abiding individual, trust me when I say it definitely messes with their head for the rest of the day ... :wink:

Keep safe on the road

 

[TitanTim]

Great post and advice

Tim.