We've all done it. Perhaps you're in a rush to get to that 9am meeting, or cruising in the convertible down a quite country lane with the stereo pumping and the girl of your dreams on your arm. Then, from nowhere, you spot the flash of a speed camera or, worse still, the long arm of the law with a speedgun attached to it. Getting caught speeding costs you time, money and perhaps even your licence. So buckle up and drive into the sunset safe, not sorry. Here's how:

Purchase some protection
There's a number of products on the market which can reduce the risks of getting entangled with the law. Purchase some 'reflective' number plates, which are not only great in the dark but are also known to blur an image taken by a speed camera. Better still there's a reflector which 'bounces back' the radar from a nearby speedgun, making it impossible to read your speed. Be warned though, the legality of some of these items is dubious, despite the fact that they are readily available over the counter.

Surf the Net
The Internet continues to be potential goldmine of information for just about anything. Motorists used to be able to log onto www.speedtrap.com/england.html before setting off and search the list for speed cameras and traps along your route. But sadly it's down at the moment :-( Wonder why....

Don't Panic!
If you know you're speeding and you spot someone on traffic control, then don't re-enact the emergency stop procedure you last practised in your driving test. As a rule, the police exercise their discretion and allow you a leeway of 20% at slower speeds, or 10 - 15% at faster speeds, over the actual speed limit.

Margin for error
This factors in a small error in the accuracy of your speedometer and an equally small degree of human error. Note the key word here is 'discretion'. If they want to nick you for doing 31mph in a 30-mile an hour limit, then they can and there's nothing you can do about it. If you really must slow down, then try to avoid applying the brakes, the red lights are a dead give-away. Instead, gently dip the handbrake: this slows you down, but won’t light up those all-revealing back lights.

Stick to the speed limit
Well, it's only a suggestion….

Posted by damian at July 17, 2003 08:30 AM