Readers may have seen an item in the news in the past week about the plans in Bedfordshire to introduce a zero tolerance approach to speeding on that county’s motorway (the M1).
For a long time motorists have been used to knowing that, so long as they are sensible, no one is going to prosecute if they exceed the 70 limit by just a few miles an hour. However this looks all set to change if the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, Mr Olly Martins, has his way. Mr Martins has announced his intention to introduce a zero tolerance policy towards motorway speeders from next April.
The consequence of Mr Martins’ decision is that speed cameras currently used only to enforce variable speed limits would be switched on permanently and motorists travelling through them at 1 mph over the limit would be caught and dealt with. Gone would be the flexibility and reasonableness that has been a feature of speed enforcement in this country for many years and in would come this completely inflexible and – it might be said – harsh new regime.
Take a perfectly possible scenario whereby one is in the middle lane overtaking vehicles in the left hand lane at the legal maximum of 70 and suddenly a vehicle pulls out in front of you and you have to make a split second decision what to do. It may be safest to increase speed slightly and move into the outside lane in order to keep well away from the vehicle that appears to be creating a hazard. It is all about maintaining a protective bubble around oneself and minimising risk. Arguably a reasonable thing to do is to increase speed to over 70 by just a small margin to remove oneself from a position of imminent risk. Yet if this occurs – as it might do – right in front of one of Mr Martins’ cameras you could end up being prosecuted for infringing the national speed limit.
The intention is to use Fixed Penalties of £100 or the offer of a Speed Awareness Course (in appropriate cases) where the infringement is within the margins utilised at present and, no doubt, the issue of summonses in the case of more serious offences – again as is the case at present.
Why is this happening? Purely it seems because the police are strapped for cash and the stark choice lies between reducing Force numbers still further or look for new revenue streams. Speeding is a very simple means to an end.
If this happens in Bedfordshire then it is highly likely to spread across the country since all Police Forces are subject to the same financial constraints.
Click here to see how Mr Martins responded to an interview with sky New.
As always if there is doubt or you need a preliminary word it is wise to speak to a lawyer.
This article is intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. Newnham & Jordan Solicitors cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article or any external articles it may refer or link to.
