are we hard done by speeding in wiltshire

[wheelers]

out in the van the other day we got caught in a speed trap. ok , our own fault but I asked a question which gave me a answer I didn't expect.
2managers I work with got caught in road works near Gloucester and in Bristol, our old landlord got caught with 2 others in Ottery St Mary. All of these got the opportunity of going on a speed awareness course. no points, no fine, no need to inform insurance.
we got caught in Wiltshire, 3 points and £100 fine, now have to inform insurance companies.

I don't agree with speeding or am trying to get out of it, BUT why , if I speed in another county would I come off better off?
the answer I got from the officer was that as Wiltshire had done away with fixed speed cameras so this is the reason for speed awareness courses , why a course for doing 60 on a motorway in roadworks when all travelling in one direction yet 40 coming out of a 40 into a 30 with no one about , whats the difference??

rant over, have to wait 3 years of insurance declarations now!! just a postcode lottery again I suppose

[DC]

I was flashed in Bristol a few years ago 38 in a 30 zone. The area wasn't residential,it appeared to be a double carriageway but there were sreetlamps and pavements,cinema and retail park.I got the opportunity of a speed awareness course and £60 fine and took it,but about a month ago my brother got a ticket near Cheddar somewhere also Avon and Somerset but he didn't get the choice,it was £100 and 3 points

[wiltshire builders]

It's because we live in a low crime area. Statistics rule. If people aren't committing crime this isn't see as a victory for society it's seen as the police not hitting their arrest targets.

[Burbler]

qui custodiet ipsos custodes ?

[WhyNot]

If you think your hard done by in Wiltshire then try getting caught in Reading, I don't know anyone that's ever been offered a speed awareness course....

Cameras everywhere, unmarked cars, lots of panda cars about, its like a second level of paranoia!

[Julie_S]

Think the answer to this is simple - funding was withdrawn in this area for the speed awareness courses, pretty certain I heard that somewhere

I know you have to inform your insurers, but don't they still generally disregard the first 3 points you have?

[Throttle_junkie]

I've been done 3 times and never had the chance to do a speed awareness course, each time £60 and 3 points. Have I learned my lesson........no I'm just a lot more careful where and when I let rip, and bearing in mind all 3 times where like 37 in a 30 hardly flipping ghost rider hey. But I suppose if your willing to do more than what the sign says you know the consequence........ But next time I'd like to have the choice, but glad there are no speed cameras in Swindon.

[WR6133]

I prefer Wiltshire with the lack of fixed Cameras but no awareness course to places with crazy amounts of Cameras.

I was riding around Cardiff at Christmas and the sCameras everywhere made it hell, constant stop start in traffic as people braked for the things (even when not speeding) and out of traffic constantly scanning for the dam things while checking the speedo (removing attention from the road). That was just unpleasant and unenjoyable riding,if the price of not having that stress here in Wiltshire is not being offered a course then I'm happy with that.

[Throttle_junkie]

But I know people who have been offered the course, that's my point.... I don't know why one would be offered and not another ???? Just seems strange, but your right about it being a hazard and a distraction

[napalm]

Strangely, I was talking about tthis with my other half this morning when going through the 50s on the m5 in Glos.
She got stung in Cardiff for 34 in a 30. She was told on the course that they were more likely to offer a course to non-locals as they aim for people to be able to judge the limit based on road furniture, not just signs. 10 minutes later she predicted a 30 on an unknown road near stroud. As we rounded the corner, there were the signs. Fair play, maybe it works.
So I guess logically if you're local you are more likely to know the roads so speeding is less likely to be a mistake and more a conscious decision.