10 unraveled Speeding Myths Busted

Gunjan thakurMay 5, 2022

Speeding is both a popular and controversial topic in the motoring world today. Speeding can prompt many myths surrounding its enforcement, which thus leads some drivers to make unsafe driving decisions when they feel that they’re not aware of what the police can do to them if they are caught speeding. It couldn’t be further from being accurate, as an infraction will result in much more significant penalties than the cost of a ticket! To help you stay safe and within boundaries while on the road, we compiled ten common myths about speeding and what can debunk each.

1. Speed cameras possibly work while you’re going in a specific bearing

When you’re on a single-carriageway road, you have an equal chance of receiving a speeding ticket whether or not the camera is on your left or right. There is no specific direction that the cameras are pointing – it doesn’t matter. However, if you find yourself on a dual carriageway road in London, pay attention to which side of the road you commit a traffic violation on because, in this case, only one of the two cameras directly across from each other will take your picture as soon as you drive past. If you are caught speeding in London when driving along either traveling north or south on a one-way street or dual carriageway, there’s an 80% chance both driving lanes will be monitored by speed cameras.

2. Speed cameras must be painted yellow to be legal

The government has announced its plans to make all the speed cameras painted yellow. However, your offense will still be valid if you’re caught at the grey speed camera before that happens. The other myth is that some companies say that only yellow speed cameras from the government could bring financial penalties. It does not make sense, and we cannot find proof for that either. As you can see, you will get caught by a yellow car-styled speed camera most of the time, but these types of cameras can belong to several different private companies who are using them to catch drivers who drive too fast.

3. You have to be speeding at least 10% over the limit plus 2mph to get caught”

The law says that a driver can receive a speeding ticket as soon as they exceed the speed limit on a road, even if that is only by 1mph. However, guidance provided by the NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council, formally ACPO, Association of Chief Police Officers) suggests that officers do not seek prosecution of a driver until they have exceeded the speed limit by 10%, plus 2mph. Tom Clowes of Brake said: “It is important to note this guidance is not legally entrenched. While it gives officers some discretion over how to enforce traffic laws, drivers should still be aware that it also does not mean that they can break the speed limit with impunity.”

4. Police speed camera traps must be apparent

Although you may believe that there’s a law stating that speed cameras and police speed traps have to be visible, there’s no such law. We are not sure why so many drivers believe this misconception, but it’s worth remembering the next time you think about speeding on a quiet country road. The good news is that although speed cameras are usually well-marked (because the police want them to act as a deterrent and not simply a means of catching people out), what can sometimes hide them in highly unexpected locations these days! Because the goal is to ensure that you slow down before entering a speed camera zone rather than get caught speeding after doing so.

5. The left-hand lane used for truck drivers

You may be under the impression that the left-hand lane is just a slow lane designed for use by 20 inch rims trucks. In truth, it is the lane that all drivers should be using other than to overtake or move over and let traffic join the motorway from the slip road. However, there are times when you might need to switch lanes to avoid potential hazards in your path.

6. The UK has more speed cameras than else in the world

It’s no exaggeration that the UK is heavily policed regarding speed. But while some drivers may feel like there are way too many speed traps, we aren’t the most speed-restricted country in the world. There are around 7,000-speed cameras in the UK, which is a lot compared to countries like France, which has 3,340 cameras. There are about 80-speed cameras per square mile in Britain – this figure sounds like a lot, but it is not so much compared to countries like Italy, Malta, and Belgium!

7. ANPR cameras will detect you while speeding

One of the biggest myths about ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras is that they can only detect cars driving in a straight line. In reality, they can capture vehicles in motion or stationary. What’s more, ANPR technology has improved so much recently that it’s tough to hide from them because it’s become almost impossible to deceive them, and this is pretty much the reason why the public is so scared of them.

8. The motorway has no set public speed limit

Generally speaking, most car drivers in the UK are aware of a 70mph national speed limit on single-carriageway roads but could be forgiven for thinking that it does not apply to motorways. However, this is the case, and drivers breaking this rule can face heavy fines and points from their licenses. The same goes for any driver towing another vehicle, such as a caravan or trailer.

9. You should give a method for dealing with joining from a slip street

Some people think that to be a responsible driver, one must give way to traffic entering a motorway from a slip road when joining it. But this is not the case. Under the Highway Code rule 212 (9), drivers who wish to enter a motorway need to set their vehicle’s indicators before commencing their maneuver. Drivers already on the motorway are required to make sure they are indicating left too.

10. No speed camera warning sign; you can’t be fined

There’s no law saying that fixed or mobile speed cameras only have to be marked in specific ways. It means that you probably have just as much chance of encountering a speed trap in areas free from signs as in speed camera zones. Just keep this knowledge in mind and remind yourself of it the next time you want to go over the speed limit.