I’ve read quite a few of the posts on this topic, but I want to expand it a bit.
When I drive down the A43, A34, A14 etc, I stick to 50 mph. It’s the law and being paid hourly it’s rarely of any benefit to me to drive faster. However, I seem to be the only one driving at that speed.
My questions are: Has anyone been prosecuted for driving over 50 mph on an otherwise unrestricted dual carriageway? Do the police or VOSA ever stop or book anyone for driving over the 50 mph limit?
its rare but i have heard of the occasional driver being done for it. in most cases, driving on the limiter would be ok anyway based on the 10% + 2MPH window. that gives you up to 57MPH. most units that i get are limited to 55 anyway
Some years ago I was shipping out from Portsmouth. Down the A3 and past Petersfield you go over the South Downs. My speed increased to between 55 and 60 on the downhill section but otherwise I kept to a little over 50.
Checking my mirrors, there he is! Pulled me over just before the A3M and gives me a lecture about speeding. He asks somewhat cockily “in a rush to get the ferry?” to which I replied that it wasn’t sailing for another 4 hours and explained that the increase of speed was only because of the downhill section. He then goes on about putting a stop to drivers like me speeding (or something like that). So I politely ask if I am to be prosecuted and he replies that I am to be reported.
Well, I brooded about that for weeks (clean licence) and awaited a letter. Never heard anything more.
As for the copper. I had always found them to be fair, but this one must have had a grudge against lorry drivers.
was he young by any chance? some of the ones fresh from the factory are on a power trip. they are still learning how to deal with authority. the older experienced coppers seem to be the more friendly type. they learned the job when it was about policing and not politics
I think you are unlikely to be pulled for doing 55 on a dual carriageway, unless other bits of your driving are falling below standard. Such as if you are tailgatting or something similar.
As for letting it roll on downhill it’s still speeding, but if the road empty maybe it’s not such a problem, but what about those who scream downhill and get alongside you at the flat bit only to sit there because they are back on the limiter.
Friday morning going down the A34 at about 2am doing about 55mph a lorry pulls out to overtake another infront of me & they are both I would guess on the limiter WHEN a Police car comes by me & sits behind these lorry in the outside lane. After a couple of mins on goes his Blue light for about 10sec I thought here we go, both lorries see him. The nearside lane lorry backs off the other one pulls in & the Police car passes the both not to be seen again.
scanny77:
was he young by any chance?
Can see your thinking Scanny - but no, just the opposite with grey hair to boot! In fact, I was very surprised at his whole attitude. It was not what I expected from a man who was meant to be a professional in his own particular field.
This incident took place on a Sunday afternoon, in winter, and on a very empty road.
Back in the 80s I was going down the M1 about midnight in a Cortina and doing about 90ish when away down in the distance the blue lights flashed on and off quickly, I slowed down to a more sedate 70 and cruised past the nice policeman. Probably didn’t want to have to get out in the cold and give me a ticket. 
Willy Gofar:
Back in the 80s I was going down the M1 about midnight in a Cortina and doing about 90ish when away down in the distance the blue lights flashed on and off quickly, I slowed down to a more sedate 70 and cruised past the nice policeman. Probably didn’t want to have to get out in the cold and give me a ticket.
Nowadays you’d be flashed by a faceless camera and even though you were probably the only thing on the road and you’d lose 3points…mind you I reckon you deserve a medal for going 90mph in a Cortina!
A little while ago, I was doing about 90 (in my car) in the outside lane of a dual carriageway. It was sunday afternoon, not very much traffic. Anyway, I saw a police car in my mirror about 1/4 mile back, so I slowed it down to 80ish, finished my overtaking manoever, and pulled into the left hand lane (by which time he had nearly caught me up). He just carried on straight past me at about 85.
If you’re not a loony, then there really isn’t too much to worry about. Just because the latest mantra is “Speed Kills !” doesn’t mean it’s true* - after all, underpants kill too !
( * It’s the stopping that kills !)
smoker:
A little while ago, I was doing about 90 (in my car) in the outside lane of a dual carriageway. It was sunday afternoon, not very much traffic. Anyway, I saw a police car in my mirror about 1/4 mile back, so I slowed it down to 80ish, finished my overtaking manoever, and pulled into the left hand lane (by which time he had nearly caught me up). He just carried on straight past me at about 85.
If you’re not a loony, then there really isn’t too much to worry about. Just because the latest mantra is “Speed Kills !” doesn’t mean it’s true* - after all, underpants kill too !
( * It’s the stopping that kills !)
Its not speed but innapropriate speed for the current conditions, taking into account what may happen, that is often judged, within reason, by the police.
The problem is that unless ALL drivers become responsible, there will always be speed limits posted to take in the busiest or most vulnerable times for that particular section of road.
Maybe in the future the high tec guys will come up with a way of using variable speed limits for all roads - but dont hold your breath!