A police van pulled out in front of me last week
He/she was only doing 60 mph and it wasn't marked from behind so I just thought it was a white van.
I started overtaking on the dual carriageway when I was forced to slam the anchors on. Cue blaring horn and flashing lights (from me).

I only realised it was the rozzers after they pulled back in and I went past.

I've not got a summons yet so I think that's a victory.
( thistle, Thu 10 Feb 2011, 21:43, 10 replies)

national speed limit on dual carriageway 70mph up to 3.5t unless otherwise stated.
most drivers think it's 60mph...
and you've probably got 10% leeway so that makes 77mph.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Thu 10 Feb 2011, 21:46, closed)

Further
The 10% leeway is an ACPO guideline, not law, so it depends on whether or not that force follows it in that area.
One's speedo can also read up to 10% over, so if one really want to play "legally nawty" one could zip along at an indicated 85 and probably get away with it.
Although one would still be committing a criminal act and from there it's a slippery slope to raping puppies.
Or something.
(SpangleDangle >->)))'>, Thu 10 Feb 2011, 23:43, closed)

indeed! i used the word "probably" for that there reason!
if raping puppies is yo thang then git on in dar and break that there loh...
etc
last year i used my gps satnav to calibrate my tacho over a 1700mile journey and was appalled by the results.
DO NOT TRUST THE DIAL ON YOUR DASHBOARD.
unless you think it will stand up in court...
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Fri 11 Feb 2011, 0:05, closed)

I think...
That all car speedos over read the speed to some small extent. So, when doing 70 you're really only doing about 65.

I think there are laws in place to stop car manufacturers creating speedos that under read your speed because it would be very unfair on the motorist to get done for speeding when his only available information is wrong. Hence the manufacturers err on the side of caution, making the speedos over read.

Or something or nothing. You wot?
(Woodlouse say it with flowers. Send her a Triffid, Fri 11 Feb 2011, 1:09, closed)

Ha ha!
Your closing line reminded me of the exceptionally cultured "lower class" character played by Paul Whitehouse in "Harry and Paul"... he tries to cover this in a similar manner... or summat. *snort*
(Stiltzkin, Fri 11 Feb 2011, 11:02, closed)

It is 70mph for cars
but 60mph for commercial vehicles.

Just on case you are ever driving a hire van and attempt to get smug with a policeman who has just pulled you over.
( Mystery_Bob, Fri 11 Feb 2011, 4:09, closed)

when is a commercial vehicle not a commercial vehicle?
when it's not being driven for the purposes of commerce amongst other occasions.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Fri 11 Feb 2011, 8:15, closed)

Not always
Only if the dual carriageway has a metal or other barrier between the two cariageways, if it's only a grass verge or kerbstone type thing then it's 60. Also, there are sections of 'dual carriageway' that are signed down to 60 or lower despite meeting the requirements to be 70.
(ceeej, Fri 11 Feb 2011, 8:36, closed)

like i said...
"unless otherwise stated".
and that can be by a number of means, such as signage etc.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Fri 11 Feb 2011, 9:01, closed)

it doesn't have to be stated explicitly
One of the things that makes a difference (and often the only thing) is the distance between the lampposts. If it's over a certain distance the limit is 70, if it's under the limit is 60. I can't remember the distance now (not much point as I live round the other side of the world now) but it's another one of those peculiar road regulations that few people are aware of.
( SteamedCleaner, Fri 11 Feb 2011, 11:31, closed)