NIP - The Usual Then

Well, as per my previous post aboiut a week and a half ago,
a NIP landed on my door step thismorning...

Yep i was doing 82 in a 70 at 7.42 in the morning on the A1 , u know the really dangerous stretch that is straight with no slip roads...yeah that dealy bit

Any way, as u can see, i feel slightly miffed about all this for a couple of reasons,

One: after the two pages of forms making u feel like ur the most criminal person on the plannet . i recieved a "safety advice leaflet" basically saying..u were caught cause we were having a crack down last week..any other week u would have been fine...... lovely..thanks for that..

Secondly... 82 in a 70, ok ok so yes i was breaking the speed limit, but at 7.45 on a friday morning...u point out the other traffic to me.....

and thirdly.... i feel slightly discriminated against as if i had been on my bike i would have got away with it as it was a forward facing camera. ...

so thats my grivence with the whole crappy system...

the £60 is a pain as im trying to move house...the 3 points at 20 makes my car insurance that is already a joke , funnier than lenny henry on red noes day... and the fact i dont even get a shinny photo of my car as proof that it goes fast ( 1.8 fiest diesel M reg 146500 miles on the clock) is icing on the bitter cake..

Sadly the worst thing is i beat myself up about my mistakes..therfore i drove to work thismorning more concearned over my insurance hike than if i was driving on the path

So i have made this a poll to try and make myself feel better.... please answer honestly...

Ans i suppose at the end of the day it will slow me down..simply cause i could not afford the hike in insurance again..... and i iwas proud of my shiny licence..now its blemished..... bugger....

I know it's bad but i honestly don't think i ever stick to the speed limits in my car or on the bike, i'm not saying i do stupid speeds like 60 in a 30 or anything but i have been very lucky to have only been caught once.


Strike me down now, i'm a reckless criminal

Bad luck mate, unfortunately **** happens. Lol, try having 3 points and a group 20 car....

'Spose living in the 'back of beyond' has its benefits, I nearly always go over the speed limit, not by much 35-40ish in a 30, 45-ish in a 40 and so on. So far never been stopped either on a bike or in the car. I know I shouldn't but it is so difficult to drive at 30 or 40 on an empty road

[fizzwheel]

I've been done twice, once on the M5 for 95.3mph that I got 3 points and £60 fine for, traffic was quiet that day and it was dry and sunny, Got pulled and the policeman was very nice and friendly, explained that they were having a crack down that day as there had been lots of accidents over the last few months, He complimented me my lane discipline and said that there was nothing wrong with my driving except for my speed.

2nd time was my a mobile camera van that I didnt see till I was right on top of it as the van was obscured by a hedge. Again straight bit of road, dry no traffic no junctions, 77mph in a 60mph. 3 points and another £60 fine, If anybody knows the Yeovil to Dorchester A37 it was on that road.

Has it slowed me down, not really no, I'm just more observant now and a bit more cautious

Just take it on the chin mate theres nothing you can do, Its just one of those things, no point beating yourself up about it, Could always be worse you could have got a bigger fine / more points

Oh and Kate I know what you mean I have a group 17 car and 6 points for a while

i've been caught and prosecuted twice. once by camera doing 70 on a dual carriageway! oh yes. its on the a303, there's been loads of complaints and the camera has now been removed as its confusing many a motorist. i knew it was a 60 despite it being a dual carriage way (over a 7 mile stretch it goes from single to two lanes 3 or 4 times), and the other time i was caught by a traffic cop doing 88 in a 70, peak speed being 94.

i was also stopped doing 78 in a 50 and was let off with a caution, so in my experience i take the rough with the smooth. it hasnt slowed me down as a driver or rider possibly as the 6 points only over-lapped by about 6 months.

i am also awaiting an NIP as we speak. i think i was doing about 36/37 in a 30 when i was filmed the polisman without the gun looked to his man with said equipment as i passed as if to say "did you get him..." booooooo

You said about a week and a half ago, wasnt that when your Thai cousin borrowed your bike and took the Au Pair out for a ride? :P

Originally Posted by wheelnut

You said about a week and a half ago, wasnt that when your Thai cousin borrowed your bike and took the Au Pair out for a ride? :P

i wish....

It was in the car...cant even laim any one stole it... im sure no one would want it...

I've gone for the 3rd option, but only cos there's no "no - they'll never catch me - ahahahahaaaaa!" option.

I pretty much always drive and ride in excess of the limit, as fast as I feel is safe and convenient at the time. Never been stopped, never been flashed, always see police and cameras in plenty of time, or else hard braking into the trap (rare) does the job.

I'll keep doing the same in the car and on the bike until I get my first near miss or my first NIP, then I'll maybe think about it. Solong as I'm safe, I don't see speed as a factor.

It helps that Kent/London seem reliant on fixed cameras with few patrols and almost no temporary traps/scam vans... only seen one temp one down here (London) which was easy to spot. I always slow down to the limit though, even for forward facing cams and where there are road markings but no visible cams, people looking shifty with cars parked by roadside, etc. I figure if I keep an eye out, they'll have a damn hard time catching me.

I very rarely drive to the speed limit and i accept the fact that one day i wil be caught by a camera and i don't have any problem with that. I am very surprised that in 10 years of driving i haven't been caught. Having said that i think age is slowing me down as when i went away at the weekend i only when over 75/80 when i was overtaking on the motorway (i always used to sit at around 90 on the motorway)