Ho hum. Well, I always said if I lost my licence it'd be "in one fell swoop", getting caught from hundreds of metres away on a clear road doing a ton. As opposed to "accumulating" speed camera points (I previously had a clean licence) with stupid blindly driving through cameras in 30s at 40 or whatever.
Got a letter in the post today, I was caught doing 102 in a 70. Naughty, naughty, fair enough. What made me chuckle is that it wasn't on my bike. This was in a hire car (Corsa SXI+ 1.4) I had for work and I was driving back from work. Middle of the afternoon, nothing on the road, great conditions. I vaugely remember seeing a camera van just round a sweeping bend, but I also remember slowing as soon as I saw it. I don't normally "cruise" at a ton, let alone higher, so I can't believe I was going quicker and they caught me (at 102) slowing from a higher speed. I know those things have a ridiculous range (even if it's extremely debatable whether they're accurate at those distances, or at all, it seems it's not open for discussion in court). I accept they may have caught me at the exact instant I came into view before I had a chance to slow down, but it still sounds a bit quick to me. I thought speedos read quite proud at those sort of speeds, what would it have been showing; 110, 115?! Naturally I'll ask to see the footage/pictures, I would have said I was doing nearer 90 (still bad, but no ban).
The section of road A449 and time/date ties in with my work, so I don't think this is cloning or someone at the hire car company trying to palm off the blame, etc.
I know the general rule is 100+ (or rather > posted limit + 30) = instant ban. However, I do have a (previously) completely clean bike and car licence and I sort of need my car for work.
Now, the position with work is tricky; For my current role I don't absolutely categorically need a car. However, the role I am in training for does definately need a licence. I do also sometimes require a car for work (it was on business after all that I got busted) so whilst I could still do useful work, it would affect the business. There is also the issue of getting into the office. Whilst I work at home a lot (don't think I'll mention that in court
), I am contractually office based and need to go in. The journey I have to make to the office simply
cannot be done on public transport (as in not possible; not "I'm a primadona and don't like the public"), so I cannot get in without the licence. I've heard of (and some of the guys in work have had this) people not actually getting banned, but just getting a licence with loads of points.
I've also just (today) started biking IAM and if I get 7 or more points on my licence, I can't do that. Is it worth mentioning in court that I have just started that and a ban/loads of points will stop me from persuing this (which theoritically, could cure me of my addiction to speed
). Or could it possibly work against me? Don't really see how as I'm only in training; I know if you have a full advanced licence and bring it up they can throw the book at you, the thinking being, "you should know better" and also that it's likely egotism on the part of the person concerned (I'm an advanced driver, so speed limits don't apply to me). Would they, through some twisted logic, see it as irrelevant? "Well Mr. Charlton, the speed on your
motorcycle doesn't appear to be the problem..."
I had actually been planning to start car IAM as soon as I bought a car (been planning on taking a car allowance one I was trained in my new role in work and spending it on a car- may well take a company car now and let them insure me) and had finished the bike one. I've attended one of the local IAM car group meetings, but other than that, have no "proof" as such. Worth mentioning this?
Something else and this might sound like wriggling, but it's the truth. 99% of my driving was in a ratty old 106. It was really noisy (engine and wind) as soon as you hit 75, so consequently I went slower. Something I've found every time I've driven another car is that on the motorway I glance at my speedo and find I'm going faster than I thought, simply because the sense of speed is so much less. Sort of the opposite of ripping the fairing off a bike. Is it worth mentioning this in my defense (it is sincere/true), or will it look like I'm trying to just get out of it. Would it even count against me; "So Mr. Charlton, not only were you speeding, but in an unfamiliar car?!"
What can I expect, 28 days ban? How many points when I get my licence back? How much will it affect my insurance premiums (age 24)?
One last thing, am I right in thinking at this stage of the game there is no need to mention this to my insurer? Only once I actually have the points or ban/whatever?
Sorry for a long post, lots to cover/check. Thanks in advance for any advice/criticism. Ta. Right, I'm off out in my new hire car to enjoy freedom while it lasts...