Yes, you can slow down before a speed camera, but it's effective only for point-speed cameras (measuring at one spot) and not for average speed cameras, which calculate your average speed over a distance (like between two cameras). For point cameras, slowing down within a safe distance (e.g., 100-200m) often works, but average speed cameras track your overall journey speed, making sudden braking pointless and potentially unsafe, as they measure time between points.
Myth: You won't get caught speeding if you slow down just before the camera. Fact: Average speed cameras measure your speed over a distance, not just at a single point. They calculate your speed by measuring the time it takes to travel between two points using automatic number plate recognition.
The best defense to a ticket for speeding is that you were driving the safest rate of speed based on the traffics around you, weather, road conditions, and your own experience along with your personal knowledge of the motor vehicle you were driving.
Speed cameras trigger based on a set limit plus a tolerance, often around 10% + 2 mph (or ~3 km/h) over the posted limit, though this varies by region and camera type (fixed vs. average). While you can be caught at 1 mph over, authorities typically enforce at higher thresholds, like 4-10 mph over in a 30-40 mph zone, with some systems subtracting minor equipment error, effectively giving you a buffer.
No, driving 10 km/h under the speed limit isn't inherently illegal, but it can become an offense if it unreasonably obstructs traffic, meaning you're causing congestion or disrupting the flow, especially if you're in the wrong lane or on a fast road without good reason. There's no set minimum speed, but police can fine you under laws like Australia's Rule 125 for impeding other drivers, making the legality dependent on road conditions and your actions.
No, legally you cannot go 5 km/h over the speed limit, as any amount over the posted limit is a speeding offense, but enforcement often has a small tolerance, so you might get away with it, though it's a risk because some areas (like Victoria) are strict, and cameras can catch even slight infringements, with increasing penalties for higher speeds.
The "best" excuse for a speeding ticket appeal is usually a legally recognized defense, like a medical emergency, an unavoidable situation (e.g., vehicle breakdown), or proving the speed detection equipment was faulty, as these address the circumstances of the offense, not just an excuse. Common, though less reliable, excuses involve "I didn't see the sign" or "keeping up with traffic," but these often fail in court; being respectful and challenging the evidence (like radar calibration) offers a better chance.
Fixed speed cameras are usually aimed at a specific patch of road within about 100 metres, indicated by dashed white evenly-spaced road markings. Mobile cameras, including vans, can typically detect from a mile away.
Speed camera tolerance refers to the margin of error or buffer added to a vehicle's detected speed before a fine is issued, typically around 10% plus a small fixed number (e.g., 2-3 mph/km/h) for guidance, though this varies by region and police force, with some locations having specific rules (like 2 km/h for fixed cameras in Victoria) or no official tolerance at all (like WA). This buffer accounts for speed camera inaccuracies and vehicle speedometer variations, but it's only guidance, and police can choose stricter enforcement.
A Band A speeding fine would be appropriate if you were caught speeding between 31-40 mph in a 30-mph zone. Providing you accept responsibility for speeding, you will be required to pay a minimum £100 fine and receive three points on your licence.
You can:
Speed camera margins of error (or "tolerances") vary by location and camera type, often allowing a few km/h or a small percentage (e.g., 3 km/h for mobile, 2 km/h for fixed in some Australian states) off the recorded speed to account for device inaccuracy, but this isn't guaranteed and can change, so the safest bet is always to drive the posted limit to avoid fines.
When disputing a speeding ticket in court, you have the right to:
The 7am to 7pm rule: It is already in place in multiple cities in the UK. The 7am to 7pm was created to reduce congestion, prevent drivers from stopping in areas that are not prohibited, but still harm traffic flow in some areas, and improve air quality in some regions.
They don't capture your speed in a single flash. Instead, they'll monitor your speed over a length of road. This is so people don't slow down just before they see a camera and then speed up again afterwards.
Mobile speed cameras typically work out of parked vans, however, they can still catch motorists from a moving vehicle. Can a mobile camera detect your speed on the opposite side of the road? Yes, a laser gun is able to take accurate reading of a vehicle's exact speed as long as it is aimed at the target.
A speeding fine typically arrives within days to a few weeks (around 14 days is common), but can take longer (up to a month or more) due to processing backlogs or if the car isn't registered to your address, as notices are sent to the registered keeper. Hand-issued fines happen instantly, while camera fines usually appear in the mail or digitally.
No, you don't get 10 km/h (or mph) over the limit on speed cameras as an official rule; it's a common myth, though some cameras might have slight operational tolerances (like 2-3 km/h or a small percentage) for calibration, meaning you could be caught just 1 km/h over, but it's less likely for minor infringements. The "10%" idea comes from old standards or general police discretion, but laws vary, and some systems catch very small excesses, making it risky to rely on any tolerance.
Tolerances allow for minor discrepancies without penalising drivers who are trying to comply with the law. In the UK, the most commonly quoted tolerance is 10% + 2mph over the speed limit. For example, a speed camera on a 30mph stretch of road might not activate until you exceed 35mph.
The mobile speed cameras using radar can detect your speed from several hundred metres away. However, for an accurate, prosecutable reading, the operator typically needs to be within a few hundred metres. The key point is they will have your speed locked in well before you get close enough to spot them.
Speed camera tolerances
Even though you must adhere to all speed limits at all times, many Police forces have some tolerance for their speed cameras. For those that do, the tolerance is sometimes 10% over plus 2 mph. Please note – this does vary from Police force to Police force across the UK.
The most believable excuses are short, specific, and tied to legitimate responsibilities or unavoidable situations. Examples include sudden illness, a medical appointment that couldn't be scheduled outside work hours, urgent family needs, or car/transportation issues.
Your options are to contest the speed itself (whilst conceding that you are travelling too quickly) or to deny the allegation in its entirety. Either tactic will require Court proceedings and in all probability a full hearing at which you will have to attend or be represented.
Save Lives
Slowing down increases the likelihood of surviving a crash. Researcher Rune Elvik found that a 1% decrease in travel speed reduces injury crashes by about 2%, serious injury crashes by about 3% and fatal crashes by about 4%. Over 12,000 people died in speed-related crashes in 2008.
You can get a speeding ticket for going any amount over the limit, but most places have a small tolerance (like 10% + 2 mph or a few km/h) before enforcement cameras consistently catch you; however, a police officer can ticket you for even 1 km/h over, especially in school zones or for higher speeds, leading to fines, demerit points, or license suspension.