View Full Version : Legality of driving slowly?
I've a query regarding one of my driving habits, that someone might be able to clarify I hope :)
When passing a speed camera, we all know it's illegal to speed, or to make any signals to other road users. But, is it illegal to travel v e r y slowly, approx 5mph or less?
It is my opinion that a well organised passive resistance campaign utilising a go-slow past camera's and camera vans would be the most effective way of bringing about an end to speed cameras. Ideally slowing to 3-4mph for about 50-100 yards through the camera. Think about it:
Serious accidents are reduced to zero
Minor accidents increase (as do the total number at the site), due to minor rear end shunts by unaware drivers.
Speed camera revenues vanish.
Local residents compalin about traffic.
I often slow to a crawl past camera's. As it is a 'safety' camera, there must be a safety risk about, so what is the harm in slowing down to avoid the danger??? ;)
Discuss :)
Going "too slowly" might constitute "obstruction", max fine £2500 :rant:
However try googling on the Euro courts decision on the RIGHT to protest BY BLOCKADING THE STREETS, democracy? Not here ! :censored:
Oh and while I'm on, I've so far fought 3 alleged speeding fines, 1 my own, 1 for a collegue at work and 1 for a friend.
The results so far :-
Storm 3 - Law 0 :nod:
FullMetalGasket
16-07-2004, 18:35
I strongly suspect they could do you for something along the lines of causing an obstuction/hazard.
And if not, as there is revenue involved, a charge would undoutably be introduced :whip:
How could you pose an obstruction if you are still moving? Surely they WANT us to drive slowly - hence the camera's?
How could you pose an obstruction if you are still moving? Surely they WANT us to drive slowly - hence the camera's?
An obstruction does not have to be a stationary object. :rant:
As for the camera's :smash: well I must be misinformed I thought they where for revenue collection so the power's that be don't want us to slow down at all otherwise where would all those poor scameraship employees get work ! :wack:
I don't know whether they can do you for it or not, but it's for certain that you'll piss off everyone behind you. If someone did that in front of me I'd assume they were having a go at me and 'words' would be had.
This was already posted on here I think :-
http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/sundaysun/news/page.cfm?objectid=14392372&method=full&siteid=50081
I don't know whether they can do you for it or not, but it's for certain that you'll piss off everyone behind you. If someone did that in front of me I'd assume they were having a go at me and 'words' would be had.
And if someone behind me was in charge of cameras.... ;)
Just to clear this up jackal cos I may have phrased it badly, I was simply trying to point out that your actions might be misinterpreted, not actually intending to have a pop at you mate
:o
:)
Weird. Was thinking something similar while pootling at 40mph through the roadworks near Mascrat.
I have been interested in programmes/articles on how traffic jams develop. One car slowing to 20mph for 200yards on the approach to a motorway camera zone can create a jam. Cars behind slow down more and more until someone has to stop. Then the jam moves backwards along the road as more cars join the back of the jam, and cars at the front of it speed up.
The problem with the anti-camera idea.
2minutes later, the jam has moved backwards enough for the cars at the front to be speeding up, exactly at the camera position. And as we all know (well, I do, and that's what matters) speeding up after a traffic jam rarely stops at 40mph.
Going 5mph past cameras in suburbia would have no effect in quiet times with little other traffic around (the times when cameras make most £) , and can only be considered a beating offence in rush hour when everyone's only doing nose-to-tail 20mph anyway.
In my humble, crudely generalised, opinion.
While we are on the subject I thought I would add a little story I heard recently...
A couple of guys in Australia got increasingly annoyed with the outbreak of Mobile 'Safety' Camera's hidden out the back of vans on the side of their local roads. They decided to exact their revenge... While the 'Safety Team' where busy in the back of the van watching Joe Public getting fleeced, the guys sneaked up to the front of the van, removed it's numberplate, attatched to thir OWN car and then continued to drive past aforementioned van, speeding, 17 TIMES!!! :D :D :D
:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
While we are on the subject I thought I would add a little story I heard recently...
A couple of guys in Australia got increasingly annoyed with the outbreak of Mobile 'Safety' Camera's hidden out the back of vans on the side of their local roads. They decided to exact their revenge... While the 'Safety Team' where busy in the back of the van watching Joe Public getting fleeced, the guys sneaked up to the front of the van, removed it's numberplate, attatched to thir OWN car and then continued to drive past aforementioned van, speeding, 17 TIMES!!! :D :D :D
:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Ah. you read Autocar then :wack:
Weird. Was thinking something similar while pootling at 40mph through the roadworks near Mascrat.
It's worth pootling through those roadworks because there is a proliferation of SPECS cameras on that section of motorway. :nod:
That said, if someone was only doing about 5mph it would seriously piss everyone off and it is doubtful that other road-users would realise it was a protest or call to arms, as it were.
There was a self-professed road protester around the Macclesfield area who used to drive in the national speed limit areas at about 25mph. All it resulted in was other drivers getting frustrated and overtaking in ever increasingly dangerous places and taking greater risks, actually defeating the point of the protester by making the roads even more hazardous. :annoyed:
Ah. you read Autocar then :wack:
Never miss an Issue, Tuesdays would be very dull without it! :nod:
Can't beat it in my humble opinion, articles did get a bit duller when Sutcliffe stopped writing and started editing, shame he has gone, but Chris Harris is slowly filling his shoes! :thumbs:
Just to clear this up jackal cos I may have phrased it badly, I was simply trying to point out that your actions might be misinterpreted, not actually intending to have a pop at you mate
:o
:)
Didn't for one minute think you were :)
Surely nobody could really fail to realise you've slowed down for the camera :) There might be one or two, but then it's more negative statistics for the camera's... How many murders do you think would have to happen under their un-flashing lenses before they are scrapped? :indiff:
i recently got done by a forward facing video camera :s
apparently they have a video (from the forward camera) of me doing up to 38 mph round the bend then slowing to 15-20mph for the whole length of the road up to the camera.
the traffic cop signalled me to slow down (as i got to him) i wound the window down and he said i was pushing my luck by going too slow.... wtf.
but back to your question
its technically illegal to drive past a camera slowly under typical british bueracracy (sp)
according to the law your preventing the camera from catching offending speeders.
therefore obstructing the cause of justice or whatever it is.
there was an article in the echo the other week about an old boy that got a 1500 fine and 3months ban for holding up a cardboard sign warning of a camera ahead.
he wasnt even driving!
so if a copper did see you doing it i daresay he could nick you.
and considering most traffic police are retards then i they most probably will.
if they did nick you though go to the papers. they love it at the moment.
the more bad press for misplaced cameras the better me thinks :)
its technically illegal to drive past a camera slowly under typical british bureaucracy according to the law your preventing the camera from catching offending speeders. :confused: So how bloody fast are we meant to go past it then? :rant:
It is my opinion that a well organised passive resistance campaign... I much prefer the idea of a well-organised active resistance campaign, targetting only the active Gatsos, as identified by radar detectors :D
When passing a speed camera, we all know it's illegal to speed, or to make any signals to other road users. But, is it illegal to travel v e r y slowly, approx 5mph or less?
You may wish to ensure you dont do this in any redlight districts as you could get done for curb crawling too ;)
Paul
You know this how, exactly, Pugwash? :wack: :D
mattpayne
17-07-2004, 13:10
:confused: So how bloody fast are we meant to go past it then? :rant:
:D
I belive its speed limit +20%... enough to enter the 'maximum revinue potenal' zone without incurring enough points to warrant a ban... :)
I have a feeling that the police prosecuted an old man a few years back for driving at 20mph even in national zones...
There was a driver, on coventry ringroad, banned for driving at 25 mph in a 40 zone as he was (according to the police following) "driving dangerously" and not keeping up with the flow of traffic.
s13silvia
17-07-2004, 16:12
bear in mind not all cars can go over 20mph
theres a lady in inverness who made it onto scottish prime time news, she has a 3 wheeler car (I seen it, what a machine) and it cant go over 20mph, and she drives on the dual carriageways etc. with it, and they tried to ban her from going on the road (pretty sick i reckon) because it was too slow, but she was prepared to fight it....
You know this how, exactly, Pugwash? :wack: :D
You know exactly how.... Dont try to deny it :mad:
s13silvia
17-07-2004, 18:07
acctually it can be just as rebellious and boyracerish driving slow as driving like a loony in traffic..... I remember in cyprus there was these guys doing about 25-30 mph in there suped up fastback thing with wide tyres etc. there was miles of traffic behind em!! and needless to say some of the other drivers were having to overtake over 10 cars in a line (taxis and such) leading to some very VERY close calls, but they were relentless, when we got past all we seen was 2 very smug guys in shades who stuck their fingers up at us when we got past..... i gotta say, just as oddly cool as zappin around towns way over the limit..... got em noticed :| and their ride, it was slow enough for peeps to see unlike those who go fast ..... but no excusin they were still a pair of t*ssers :wack:
I can imagine thet the plod would try to prosecute me/anyone for driving at 5/10mph past a camera, charged with whatever they felt like.
However, the negative publicity that it would cause, and the money from the tabloids, would easily pay any fine! It would also undermine the use of 'safety' camera's, as what can be more safe than driving slowly??? Nothing, that's what. It doesn't make any money though, hence the probable prosecution because camera's are working too well! :rolleyes:
s13silvia
17-07-2004, 19:30
u know wot i think we should have..... a national 20 mph day
really f*k off the plod..... everyone on this forum and all others (do a big forum hunt) to have a 20mph day where everyone must try to stay at that, aslong as it wasnt an emergency HA even on motorways and dual carriageways. tht would be awesome
tim rome
17-07-2004, 19:55
i slow down to about 10 mph for mobile speed traps (in a 30 mph zone) when i am in my lorry, i have also parked right in front of one before, much to their annoyance. there is not much that they can do i was just being cautious by slowing down and when i parked it was safe for me to park and i needed to go to the shop down the road.
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