Using income from box junctions to support public transport?

[whole diary]

[chrisr_75]

I understood that police won't 'ping' motorists doing speeds below 90mph unless it's perceived to be dangerous too. And the automatic ban for a ton or more I support fully.

P.S. Most constabularies use the NPCC guidelines of the speed limit + 10% + 2mph as the threshold for prosecution, so on a NSL motorway, you could be ticketed at 79mph or above.

[chrisr_75]

I think magistrates guidelines from the MoJ require a ban in most cases over 100mph

Perhaps, but a disqualification can be dealt out in 2 different ways, either a straight disqualification (no points added to license) or adding points (essentially causing a totting up ban). Depends a lot on previous driving history and whether the magistrate wants to retain some points on your license as a deterrent (these stay for 3 years). I suspect a first offence over 100mph is likely to get a short ban of a couple of weeks or so plus a hefty fine; someone who has, say, 9 points already is likely to end up with a load more points, effecting a longer ban, plus a hefty fine and the continued risk of further disquals until the original points have cleared.

[Chris from Nailsea]

An interesting discussion - but all rather academic for me. 

My van is physically limited to a maximum of 62 mph (although I have managed to get it up to 65 mph, going downhill on the southbound stretch of the M5 between Portishead and Clevedon. 

[chrisr_75]

I understood that police won't 'ping' motorists doing speeds below 90mph unless it's perceived to be dangerous too. And the automatic ban for a ton or more I support fully.

P.S. Most constabularies use the NPCC guidelines of the speed limit + 10% + 2mph as the threshold for prosecution, so on a NSL motorway, you could be ticketed at 79mph or above.

I should also add that the above refers to cars - HGV's, vans and vehicles towing trailers or caravans have a lower limit of 60mph on the motorway, so would be liable to prosecution from 68mph on that type of road.

[chrisr_75]

An interesting discussion - but all rather academic for me. 

My van is physically limited to a maximum of 62 mph (although I have managed to get it up to 65 mph, going downhill on the southbound stretch of the M5 between Portishead and Clevedon. 

Tut, tut! 

Out of curiosity, would that be 62mph as per the factory fitted speedometer, or is limited by some other accurately calibrated device, like an LGV^▸ (Large Goods Vehicle) tachometer?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Simply to clarify: the speed limit for my van (a Mercedes Sprinter) on a motorway is 70 mph.  Oh, if only ...  

The problem I often find is that I am stuck behind a lorry limited to 58 mph, but with my van limited to 62 mph, I generally don't have the necessary acceleration to overtake - so I'm then effectively limited to staying behind it at 58 mph myself.  

[JayMac]

So it's more of a Mercedes Dawdler than Sprinter? 

[TeaStew]

Are lorries really limited in their speed? I thought the little signs on the back were just for show, they often seem to be going much more than 60!

On a slightly different vein (already way off topic anyway, so no regrets!) I have often wondered why cars that can go 100+ are sold. If that is such a deal-breaking threshold then why is there no requirement for manufacturers to add limiters? 

[chrisr_75]

Are lorries really limited in their speed? I thought the little signs on the back were just for show, they often seem to be going much more than 60!

Yes, absolutely. With pretty heavy penalties for drivers and/or operators found to have tampered with the speed limiting devices. Maximum limit of 60mph on motorways, but generally limited for fuel economy reasons to between 52-56mph.

On a slightly different vein (already way off topic anyway, so no regrets!) I have often wondered why cars that can go 100+ are sold. If that is such a deal-breaking threshold then why is there no requirement for manufacturers to add limiters? 

I think the 100mph thing has become important as it is really starting to result in quite high closing speeds with other 'normal' traffic. For whatever reasons of myth/psychology, it has been a bit of a number I have noticed not many people are willing to exceed, so it is self regulating. We don't all have an individual security guard to escort us around shops to ensure we don't steal anything, so why limit cars to 100mph when it is largely self governing. I suspect you'd also notice a lot more cars being driven like lorries - foot flat to the floor with max speed bumping off the limiter.

HGV's on the other hand are speed limited because of the devastating effects of collisions involving them - owners and operators have demonstrated in the past that they will overload, drive for huge periods of time without rest and do hugely inappropriate speeds without heavy regulation, so they became regulated.

[TeaStew]

Are lorries really limited in their speed? I thought the little signs on the back were just for show, they often seem to be going much more than 60!

Yes, absolutely. With pretty heavy penalties for drivers and/or operators found to have tampered with the speed limiting devices. Maximum limit of 60mph on motorways, but generally limited for fuel economy reasons to between 52-56mph.

Is this only UK^▸ (United Kingdom) registered/based vehicles? I have (alas) been motorway driving daily for the last month and lorries happily go along in the 65-70 range. Or is it a limited when laden type of thing giving a higher speed when not so full?

Alternatively the car I use has a very inaccurate speedo!

On a slightly different vein (already way off topic anyway, so no regrets!) I have often wondered why cars that can go 100+ are sold. If that is such a deal-breaking threshold then why is there no requirement for manufacturers to add limiters? 

I think the 100mph thing has become important as it is really starting to result in quite high closing speeds with other 'normal' traffic. For whatever reasons of myth/psychology, it has been a bit of a number I have noticed not many people are willing to exceed, so it is self regulating. We don't all have an individual security guard to escort us around shops to ensure we don't steal anything, so why limit cars to 100mph when it is largely self governing. I suspect you'd also notice a lot more cars being driven like lorries - foot flat to the floor with max speed bumping off the limiter.

HGV's on the other hand are speed limited because of the devastating effects of collisions involving them - owners and operators have demonstrated in the past that they will overload, drive for huge periods of time without rest and do hugely inappropriate speeds without heavy regulation, so they became regulated.

I do not quite buy the security guard analogy - I think when it comes to driving a large number of people break the rules but I suspect most of them would not think of shoplifting. Although the 100 mark may well be the limit as you say.

For me I think any frustration comes down to what you said earlier about driving standards in general. I do not mind if somebody goes past me at 80+ too much. It is when they indicate after they have starting pulling in in a too small gap in front of me, simultaneously braking (or similar, etc) that gets my goat.

I was back on the train this morning, quite nice to be able to daydream while looking out the window!

[Tim]

Alternatively the car I use has a very inaccurate speedo!

That may well be part of it.  Car speedos do tend to err on the side of over-estimating speed for obvious manufacturer liability reasons.  But one would imagine that the speed limiters on lorries were similar. 

[chrisr_75]

Alternatively the car I use has a very inaccurate speedo!

That may well be part of it.  Car speedos do tend to err on the side of over-estimating speed for obvious manufacturer liability reasons.  But one would imagine that the speed limiters on lorries were similar. 

HGVs have to have their speed measuring devices calibrated regularly (for tachometer accuracy), but it is common for this to be done with a very worn set of tyres, giving a slightly higher speed when normal tyres are refitted. I've not seen an HGV dong more than about 56/57 mph for as long as I can remember, and that's with doing up to 320 ish motorway miles every week for the last 15 years or so. Due to the calibration, their speedometers tend to be more accurate than cars.

Car speedometers legally cannot under read (under vehicle construction & use laws) and must be within 10% of the actual speed, so typically they over read by a few mph i.e. a displayed 75mph is probably closer to an actual 68-70, which explains the discrepancy between car & lorry speeds. In areas such as average speed zones, I tend to speed match the lorries as their speed readings are more accurate and they cannot be accruing 3 points here and there for infringements as they'd soon end up with a totting up ban.

[Western Pathfinder]

The best way to check how much difference is to use a sat nav with a speed reading display they are Allways more accurate than the speedo in your car.

[bobm]

I'm currently in correspondence with my council over a supposed 20mph speed limit near me.  There's an end sign raising the limit back up to 30mph - but no start sign!