If the speed limit is 70mph, what speed are speed cameras set at? i.e do they allow 10%.?

Question

I think I've just been caught out by a speed camera; a police van on a bridge. It was a dual carriage way, so the speed limit was 70Mph.

Ive heard they allow 10% and another 5mph. Is this true? If so that would mean I could do 82mph. I think i was doing less than 82mph.

Do you think i will have a speeding ticket?

What speed are they normally set at?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Most speed camera especially the newer ones or mobile ones in Police vans are set to the actual speed limit... some gatso cameras (road side ones) are said to be set 10 an extra 1% plus 7 which would be an extra 7.3 mph which I don't fancy testing out myself

... I would suggest not speeding... problem solved!

Answer 2

It is a myth that there is a fixed MPH over the speed limit that you are ok to run. The law limits the speed, period. There are an enormous number of drivers (I would wager nearly all) who have gotten away with driving a little over the speed limit.



The reasons people can get away with driving a little over are that (1) no speedometer is completely accurate (ergo the ticket can be beaten by having it checked) and (2) there is not enough revenue in issuing tickets for the lower numbers. Most localities bracket fines to a speed range, i.e.: 1-9 miles over = x in fines, 9-18 miles over = y in fines, etc. With so many violators to choose from, it is more cost effective to hit the higher numbers, and (3) law enforcement officers would rather get the person creating the greatest hazard to the public.



Take it for what it is worth, I have heard officers give each of these reasons. The truth is the officer makes the choice, and no two are the same. In the case of the camera, there is no officer, therefore no leeway.



LUCK!

Answer 3

Depends on the force area. Some forces prosecute at the speed limit, others have variations to allow for temporary lapses or errors with your speedo.



A NIP will normally tell you how fast you were going. The 10% plus 5 thing isn't set in stone, at that sort of speed it's more likely to be just the 10%.

Answer 4

Speed cameras are correct exactly however speedos on cars are exagerated around 4%.On a good day the Police will allow say around 75 MPH.Over that you will get a ticket and 3 points on your licence.Its usually a good idea though to follow the traffic infront in the middle say and keep plenty of distance from them but keep up with their speed.

Answer 5

The 'golden' rule that I was told was 10%. This is to account for the error of car's speedometers, i.e. the police accept that your speedometer might be a bit inaccurate and give you some leeway.

Therefore, if you were doing 77mph or less, then you should be fine. Have no idea if this is true or not though.

If you are clocked doing more than 100mph and are seen in court over it, guidelines state that there is a fine of up to £800 and you can face a ban.



There are some websites that are useful. Hope the links are useful.

Answer 6

No there is no leeway on speeding cameras. I got a speeding ticket for being just 2 over the limit. So I assume that they are set at the speed for which the limit is set i.e. 30 in a 30 mph zone

Answer 7

They are only there to make money.You can't tell me that travelling along an empty dual carriageway on a dry day in good visibility at 80 mph is dangerous. The speed limits are archaic and date back to the 60s when it took a Ford Anglia a long time to stop at 70mph..today's cars stop in half the distance but the limit is still 70...strange.As the cameras are there to make money I doubt they will give you much leeway.It's easier to prosecute motorists than thugs and antisocial louts.We tend to pay up quietly whereas the louts swear at police and don't turn up for court etc..

Answer 8

It all depends on how greedy the Police / Local Authority are. The ones near me in the 40 zone are set dead at 40, and I once got busted by ten cops (three cars, and four motorbikes in a speed trap) for doing 32 in a 30.



Good use of about half a million pounds of manpower, training and and equipment, eh??



You should assume that anything over 70 has got you busted I'm afraid as you are much more of a threat to society than a burglar, mugger, or rapist and you need punishing.



(there is of course also the fact that you are an easy target and unlikley to fight back)

Answer 9

Some police forces use the ACPO guidelines of 10%+ 2 mph, but not all. Take it from me, in North Wales there is NO tolerance! Don't rely on any leeway.

Hopefully, you weren't going as fast as your speedo said, they can over read (but never under read) by up to 10%.



Keep fingers crossed.

Answer 10

Quite simply it varies.



+10% is a common threshold but I've known GATSO cameras in 30mph zones to be set as high as 45mph before they wil activate.



The speed limit is the speed limit, it's the only way to be totally sure... unless you feel lucky!

Answer 11

It depends. There's no universal allowance. I think it depends more on if traffic does usually go 3-5 over, then they'll set it for that allowance. It's just whatever is determined safest by the area you're in...

Answer 12

If the speed limit is 70mph, then you can be prosecuted for doing 71mph.



However as a guide they tend not to prosecute unless you are exceeding the limit by 10% + 3mph. (i.e. 36mph on a 30mph road, or 80mph on a 70mph road).

Answer 13

Wouldn't it be wonderful. Everybody keeping to the speed limit on every road in the Country, no need for Speed Cameras, Traffic Officers pulling drivers up for excessive speed. No deaths from speeding motorists, no drunk drivers, no stolen cars...............

Utopia. If we all kept the rules as sacrosanct, there would be more Police Officers to catch the rapists, the robbers, the murderers .........

QED?

Answer 14

The tolerance varies by County due to the way our UK police system works.



You can get away with the 10 % rule in some counties, but not in all.

Answer 15

I use 9 mph over as the threshold for my cruise control and I have never been pulled over or issued a photo ticket.

Answer 16

Oh please! They try to catch you out whatever, I was on the motorway, doing 75mph, we came to roadworks and had to do 50mph. I got a letter through my door just one week later for a fine of £60 and 3 points on my licence for doing 53mph!!!!!!! Yet there were cars zooming past me. Its a bloody joke and makes me so cross!!!

Answer 17

depends on the police officer at the time you could be charged for 71 mph if he wishes

Answer 18

No, if it is set to 70mph, then it should be 70mph.

There are plenty of people that i know that have been caught at 73mph, and got fined

If it is 70 stick to 70

Answer 19

70 mph is not the national speed limit it only apply to curtain roads

Answer 20

In a 70mph you wont normallly get done unless doing over a 100mph.

Answer 21

It varies depending on which county you are in. It's safest to assume the worst.

Answer 22

if you get ticket ask what type of camera-test calibration cert and you want copies sent to you before you pay

Answer 23

You maybe alright at about 75 and no more i'd think??

Answer 24

76mph + 5mph (descression)