Evil Trick Or Applying The Law

Blog Date - 03 April 2012

I heard the other day of two bikers who’ve both been done for speeding in the same speed trap.  Now this is what I am told and I am unaware of the place, the surrounding hazards such as schools or any further information. The speed trap was in the back of a plain van only a few yards from where a 30 zone becomes a national speed limit (60mph) zone. 

So bearing in mind that I do not know the actual circumstances let us make some assumptions in the name of philosophical discussion.  Let’s assume there are no major hazards such as a local school or a pedestrian crossing in the area in question.  Let’s also assume the speed trap is taking speeds in an area maybe 30 yards from the national speed limit sign.  My question is, is this fair?

There are two ways to think of this.  The law is the law or the law is an ass.  In the strictest sense of the law a rider cannot exceed the posted speed limit, in this case 30mph, until he or she has passed the national speed limit sign.  You are not allowed to pass through a town at 30mph, spot the speed limit at the edge of town and gather speed in anticipation of the upcoming limit.  You can only start to accelerate once you have passed the speed limit sign.

Yet we are also told the speed limits are for safety.  As such speed limits should be applied in the name of safety and not just because the law says so or because someone placed the speed limit sign 30 yards further down the road than it could safely be.  To monitor and charge bikers passing through a village where there is an increased risk of danger to both rider and other road users, it can reasonably be argued the law is being used to improve safety.  At the edge of town this argument breaks down.

In my opinion the act of deliberately placing speed traps in places where the enforcers are most likely to catch speeders is wrong.  The act of placing speed traps where enforcers are most likely to improve safety is right.  There is an argument that deliberately ensnaring speeders improves road safety.  The idea is that the speeders now have points on their licence and as such are more likely to keep their speeds down in the future.  Could you argue that those who gain a few mph before the signs yet otherwise drive carefully and within the limits are dangerous?

I’m not so sure exactly how I feel about this.  One thing I will be doing though, I’ll try (try try try…) to keep the speed down until I’ve passed the signs. 

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