So I passed my test a few days ago, and decided to drive to brighton today which is a fairly long drive for me. On the way I had to go through a pretty long tunnel, with a speed limit of 30. As I've just passed, I drive like a bit of a granny, but on this occasion the cars infront of me pulled away quite a bit and I had quite a few cars behind me, so without really realising I was going 40. On the way out of the tunnel there was a policeman hiding in a lay-bye on the left, with a speed gun. Basically, am I screwed? 99% of people must've been going faster than me through the tunnel, but at the end of the day I was still over the limit. What do people think?
In that situation? I don't think you'll be screwed. Yeah, you were over the speed limit, but so where other drivers. Provided you weren't driving eraticaly or posing a potential hazard, you should be fine. I heavily doubt the cop would pick you out from other speeding motorists.
Worst case scenario 3 points and a small fine and the lesson to not do it again. All the other cars were doing it isn't really a valid excuse. /end preachy claptrap...
I know it's no excuse, but that was probably the first time I've ever been over the speed limit and I feel a bit cheated considering some people a absolute idiots on the road and never get caught... I had my brother and sister in the car telling me to hurry up most of the way there as I was going so slow!
This scenario is made slightly worse as you only have 6 points on your license as a newly qualified driver (within 2 years). Normally with a hand held you have to be stopped there and then as there is no record of you speeding, so they would not be able to send a fine by post.
It wasnt a hand-held laser type gun though, it was on a tripod which is why Im slightly concerned.. ah well, Ill have to hold my breath for 2 weeks
Tripod or not I think you are pretty safe, they usual have a great big van with big black windows that have the cameras in them.
Just carry an RPG with you in your back seat, so if the cop ever decides to pick you out of the group...
if you do have to argue it just say that you were keeping up with the flow of the traffic so as not to cause an accident with in the tunnel.
My sister-in-law got caught a few months back. Instead of points she was sent on a driving course. Now she drives like an old lady (40mph in a 60mph zone).
The big vans with black windows on the back are usually ANPR vans, checking for insurance, tax etc rather than speed. If it was a camera on a tripod, then I reckon you can expect a fine within 14 days.
These are the two points of interest. Firstly - if you do get ticketed, you're in trouble - do it again and you'll have to start the license acquisition from scratch, including a new theory and practical test. Secondly, I have been radar-gunned fairly recently, and was pulled over immediately (though I talked my way out of it). I reckon if they didn't pull you over immediately, you got away with it. Thirdly, I'm not entirely sure that you were radar-gunned. Generally such things are handheld, not tripod-mounted, because the gun needs to be manoeuvrable in order to target moving vehicles for the send/receive signal. I think you were probably ANPR'd (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), a fixed camera which will run your 'plate through the police and DVLA databases looking for uninsured, untaxed and unroadworthy cars. Again, if you had failed those checks, you would've been pulled over further down the road. tl:dr; stop worrying. And stop speeding.