Why do people who are not exceeding the speed limit, slow down for speed cameras?

Question

I was on the M40 yesterday (17/8/06) the speed limit was 50MPH, traffic was flowing at just under 50, but on approaching the speed camera, the traffic slowed to just under 40, then sped up again, if you are within the limit you do not need to slow down

Answer 1

the same morans that slow down to 10 m.p.h. to look at accidents on the side of the road.

Answer 2

A lot of the time its because people don't actually know what the limit is. They drive at whatever speed the flow is moving, then when they see a camera assume the limit is something (e.g 40mph through motorway roadworks), so slow down excessively.

Near where I live there is a camera on a dual-carriageway. The limit is 70mph, but many people see the camera, assume there must be a lower limit or there wouldn't be a camera (actually its a downhill stretch where its easy to allow speed to creep up, with a sight-reducing bend and a short-slip junction at the bottom - I usually slow down after the camera, until I can see the junction is clear), and slow down to 50mph. They must be waiting for the flash when I go past with 69.5mph on the speedo.

The authorities don't help, by often not having a speed limit sign anywhere near the camera.

My theory is that if you pass a speed camera at a speed lower than 1mph less than the limit, you're admitting defeat.
In a 30 limit, I try to have the needle between 29.5 and 30mph when passing a camera.

It is illegal for a speedometer to under-read, so they are designed to over-read slightly (probably 1% to 2%). Also, as your tyre wear, the speedometer will gradually become less accurate (over-read more). Over-reading by more than 10% is also illegal. It is the driver's responsibility to ensure the car is legal.

Answer 3

People are idiots, they do the same thing for a cop that has pulled someone over on the side of the road. Do they think, that the cop is all of a sudden quit giving that guy a ticket, just to come get you cause you were doing 2 over?
No one pays attention to there driving, so they have no idea what speed they are going, so they just slow down instead of looking at there spedometer. That's my theory anyway, maybe one of those morons will see this question and tell us what the heck they are doing.

Answer 4

If what you assert is actual you've were given them by technique of the b o l l o.ok..Take this suggestion, to get a conviction the police ought to get you into court interior six months ok, after that date they couldn't take action, case brushed aside. So all you ought to do is delay the action for 6 months, Step a million/ on recieving the first notification merely ignore about it, they don't look to be presented by technique of recorded shipping so that they cant instruct that you recieved it. each now and then that's the end of the remember. Step 2/ in case you recieve a 2d be conscious write back and say you by no skill recieved the first and request a photo of the incident, that is a delay of two months. Step 3/ once you get the photo merely placed it in the bin. and waite for the subsequent reply. Step 4/ in the adventure that they contact you back say you've not recieved your requested photo's Step 5 on your case the photo's will instruct that the warnings were inadequate, so write back and factor this out and also state that you've different photo's to instruct your factor anf you desire the case refered to the courts. you'll then recieve a latter saying they're looking into the remember,(more effective delays). Dont deliver them a replica of your photo info untill they ask for it, (more effective delays back) If what you assert is actual they are going to drop the case. To every person recieving photo's of the offence watch for this CON by technique of the police wherein they deliberately falsify the evidense to get a conviction. you'll come across on the first photo they drop a vertical line out of your back bumper to the line on the line ok. on the 2d photo they take a projection less than the vehicle it really is what the camara does, this may improve the area by technique of as a lot as six foot and calculate a more effective robust % than you grow to be doing. It ought to be the same for both photo's, ie both vertical drops or both projections. project that in court.

Answer 5

I agree. However, to answer you question, probably the same reason people instinctively slow down when they see a cop. I do. I slow down, then look at my speedometer, when I realize I'm not speeding I just keep going the same speed or work back up to the speed limit until I don't see the cop anymore. It's habit.

Answer 6

I think people are so scared and brainwashed at the prospects of fines and points on their licences that they think pehaps the cameras might be set lower than what the limit indicates. If they slow down and drive well below the limit then they feel safer. These revenue raisers should be scrapped.

Answer 7

Its become a natural reaction to slow down for a speed camera

Answer 8

The fear of points on your licence would make you want to be extra careful when you get speed notices for doing about 4 - 6m/ph over the speed limit. You just can't be too careful.

Answer 9

I travel just under the limit.

Answer 10

The accuracy of the speedo on cars can over read, i used to have a car once that showed i was doing 30mph and my brother who was behind in a bmw said it was more like 20mph.I would say the more expensive car or the jap ones are more accurate.