Phew - lucky 'escape'

[Duncan]

I was convinced I was zapped by a camera van today.

Was driving along the A21 (major dual-carriageway through Kent), just before it joins the M25 - which I've driven many times before. Was driving a little bit quickly and had the car on Cruise Control at 80 actual speed (i.e. GPS speed as speedo reads higher). Although I have driven faster on that bit in he past! Came round a sweeping left hander to then see a camera van parked in a parking lay-by!!

"Pooh" I thought, "there goes the clean license". I reckoned I was very close to any trigger point (10%+2 = 79mph) so I was very borderline as to whether I was at that or not. I had a couple of things in my favour. I was in the inside lane so I think he'd have been targeting the outside lane for excessive speeders. Also, he would have needed to have been 'targeting' at that point as well.

Decided that I needed to know!!, so I pulled off the dual carriageway at the first chance, drove back up the other side and down again and pulled in front of the camera van. Walked over to it and the guy slid the side door open as I approached. Conversation....

Him: Hi, how can I help you?
Me: Hi, erm, wonder if you can put me out of my misery. I passed you a short time ago going a little quickly.
Him: How fast were you going?
Me: Around 80mph as per my GPS
Him: Well, you don't have anything to worry about.
Me: (thinking "Thank **** for that!!) Oh, was your trigger point much higher?
Him: Not much higher, but a bit higher (I reckoned 85mph in that case)
Me: Right. So my reg number doesn't ring a bell (my car was visible from where I parked)
Him: No, when you pulled up I thought "Here comes a question" and I didn't recognise your number when you pulled up.
Me: Okay, thanks very much. I'll watch my speed in future (thinking: especially on this stretch as this is the first time I've seen a camera van!!)
Him: Yes, best way to avoid anything is stick to 70mph.
Me: Yep. Point taken - thanks again.

Me: (driving off with a big sigh of relief)

It was good that the guy was happy to talk to me - he could have just said "Sorry, I'm busy - you'll just have to wait and see". I was civil and polite to him so he was prepared to engage.

It was also refreshing to see that the trigger point was set so that it was only catching excessive speeders, rather than as many people as possible.

D

[GARY3306]

Phew too close for comfort eh Duncan? Was handy you speaking to him, at least now you know the sort of speeds you could get away with on that stretch. I'm travelling down to Colchester on Wednesday and I ain't looking forward to the prospect of cameras all over the place.

[Duncan]

...at least now you know the sort of speeds you could get away with on that stretch.

Well, next time I'll be taking it easier for sure. LOL For all I know the trigger speed may be lower next time!

D

[big phil]

mate .... your one lucky fella , and aren't you glad you had the balls to talk to him ???very very impressed !!!!

[payney]

well i never! what a top copper to even talk to you, nice one duncan you lucky son of a b**ch.

[Girl Racer]

Thanks for the warning Duncan.... that route does lead to one of next weeks destinations, and I have had a rather heavy right foot of recent..... time to calm it down a bit!

[R-man]

When I went past a scamera van, I also went back and asked him. Your guy was nice but mine was even nicer. He asked me how fast I was going, I knew I was going just short of a ton but bottled it and said "Er, I think 85 ish but I am not sure". Anyway, he said he didnt remember, but... get this.... he would call me in the evening when he had looked at the tape to tell me!

About 8pm that evening he called me, and said "85, are you sure". I said "go on...", he said "sorry mate Ive got you at 99mph and before you ask the answer is NO". He was nice about it even though I was doing silly speed.

And to end the story, went to court, 4 week ban no points and 260 quid fine.

Ho hum.

[AJA]

Holy ****. At least you knew the NIP was coming then!

[Graeme]

duncan fair play for havin the cohones to ask the guy. but you lucky barsteward

[R-man]

Holy ****. At least you knew the NIP was coming then!

And a means assesment form so they could see how much to sting me for. Obviously I didn't lie.