Speed limits were put in place forever ago when we were driving Austin Healeys. Modern vehicles, even crap ones, have massively shorter stopping distances. Result, almost everyone speeds.

True, but also there were far less cars on the road at the time. Less cars means more space. More space means stopping distances aren't such an issue before you hit the one in front. Less space also means junctions, etc. are more 'contested' now than they used to be, meaning people are more likely to pull out in front of us then in the old days when a car would pass your junction less frequently

OK, granted we're better off now for a kid running into the road in front of us, we have a better chance to stop then. But I still can't see that as being a justification for speeding in a built up area, because I've got good brakes.

Re speed: I've said this about motorbikers. The bollocks about 'make good progress' as though this is seen as a way to keep out of the evil clutches of car drivers who otherwise might climb allover them and hump them…

Make good progress also means you arrive quicker at developing hazzards….

That lad in his car pulling out of the Tjunction was can't best gauge speeds of a thin motorcycle with its headlight glaring ….you approach him at 40+ on your motorbike ….boy your going to REALLY T-bone his car hard aren't you?

On my 3rd driving lesson, the driving instructor explained how to use gears correctly, and listen to the engine, in order to not have to watch the speedometer all the time. It doesn't seem particularly hard.

In a modern, well insulated car, probably with a high power diesel with a gearbox with six or seven ratios? I'll bet you can't. At an indicated 90, (81mph), my Octavia makes more noise with the tyres and wind, I can't hear the engine. I used to own a Puma, and I got used to using the tacho, at 3000rpm in top I would be doing 60. Then I borrowed a new Audi A3 1.9TDi with a six speed 'box. I was happily cruising at 3000 in top, delighting at how quiet the engine was, I could barely hear it. I happened to look at the speedo and saw I was doing 95…
The engine was barely audible, diesels are more heavily soundproofed, so your little 'trick' is useless.

junkyard, molgrips, joe, your driving prowess amazes me! when the cameras are in a 30 all i care about is not going over 30, thats it, its so easily done without being reckless, i dont want 3 points and a sixty pounder!! ive been driving 15 years in everything from a mk3 diesel escort, to transit vans, to my current new van and fully chavved 300 brake impreza! in all that time ive had one fixed penalty 10 yrs ago for speeding in a 30!

Good riddence to stupid drivers -they should keep the cameras so repeat offenders are banned. The odd mistake people do but not that many times!

31 in a 30, flash flash, forty quid and three points TVM. If you can tell the difference between 30 and 31 by ear you're a better man than me, and I've been driving for twenty years.

See, this is the problem; without the human intervention there's no provision for common sense. Were you doing 25 in a 20 zone past a school at 3:30am or 3:30pm? Did you accelerate briefly to avoid a hazard, or do you spend your entire life habitually hooning around at twice the posted limit? There's no distinction when you're dealing a machine.

Not that I'm saying it's right to speed per sé; just that perhaps different circumstances should carry different penalties. But no, they even force you to accept the machine's 'word' rather than get people involved with a proscution, by threatening you with increased penalties should you dare to want to discuss a ticket in court rather than sucking up a fixed penalty.

Meanwhile, little barstewards like the one I saw today on a trials bike with no helmet or numberplate get off scott free, can't catch those buggers on an automatic camera.

Here here cougar!!