Does the 10% speed "rule" still apply ?

Question

Hi Folks,

It used to be the case, many years ago, that the police would not prosecute if you were up to 10% over the speed limit.

So 55mph in a 50mph zone was ignored, as old mechanical speedometers were deemed to be only 90% accurate.

I suppose that is no longer an excuse, even if I ride my 30 year old motorbike, which has always had a poor Smiths cable operated speedo.
Despite lubrication and adjustment, you just have to tap the thing, and it moves up or down a few mph.

Any notions ?

Bob

Answer 1

Bob, I've been led to believe that speedos 'over read' by 10%, because the vehicle manufacturers are scared of being blamed (or sued by) drivers who get prosected for speeding, so they err on the safe side. By the way; those street signs that display your speed seem to bear this out, ie; when I'm doing about 35, they flash-up '31' !

Answer 2

you're able to nicely be perplexed touching directly to the sentence that asserts "as mild travels upward..." that's perplexing, because of the fact it means that the better you bypass, the decrease the frequency will become. i do no longer think of that's what he meant to assert, and the sentence could be interpreted otherwise. The more desirable the gravitational container, the extra desirable the time dilation result. undergo in strategies that the time would not relatively decelerate as that's perceived via those residing on the floor of the planet. that's in simple terms diverse - incredibly speaking - than the time as perceived via those at a lots larger altitude. the version is using the exchange in the gravitational container potential as you bypass away the floor of the planet. the sector is powerful on the floor, so time dilation is important, while in comparison with somebody who isn't in a gravitational container in any respect. The frequency of the sunshine on the floor will seem completely generic, except that's pointed upward and observed from area. the gap traveller will see that the sunshine from the floor of the planet could have a decrease frequency - a purple shift - in assessment to his very own mild source, which will seem generic to him. The observer on the floor will see that the gap traveller's mild could have a more desirable frequency - a blue shift - because of the fact it is not as critically tormented via gravitation. of direction, we ought to consistently be careful approximately different effects besides. If the gap traveller is moving previous the Earthbound observer at a severe speed, then the guy on the floor will additionally see time slowing down for the gap traveller - because of the relative action time dilation. it is not in any respect straightforward.

Answer 3

Never was a rule, or even a guideline.
Just what people said when they didn't get pulled over.
The only speedo I ever saw that could have been that inaccurate was on a bicycle.

Cops will tell you different things when you ask them. This question would probably get a "no", even though I have heard some say "I do it".
I've seen a number of times when the cop did not know the laws. Registrations are a prime example.

Answer 4

The speed limit in a posted area, in law, is the absolute maximum for that area.
This speed limit is non debatable, however, each authority will have its own guideline to deal with varying discrepancies in vehicle speedometers, this can vary from 10% of the posted speed limit plus 2mph to 10% of the speed limit plus 4mph.
The majority of manufactures will compenstae by overstating the actual spped of the vehicle.

Answer 5

depends on the cop I was doing 45 in a 40 zone when i saw a cop in my mirror he didn't put his lights on so I kept up the 45 then when it got to a 60 mph zone I just moved up to 55 he was still there about a mile later when we got to a roundabout about 1 mile from the end of his jurisdiction he just turned around as I went straight on it was a weekend so he may have been looking for drunks so I got away with the earlier speeding as I was not drunk

Answer 6

I think with modern police technology they dont give much leeway, as years ago it was up to the individual bobby but with computerised modern technology everything is recorded so they have to act according to instructions.I never found them generous years ago.One followed me for miles as i drove my bike and then booked me for doing 55 in a 50 limit during the fuel crisis of the 1970,s Still got the bike Laverda Mirage

Answer 7

It was never 10%.They usually don't ticket for 10 mph over the limit.It depends on the posted limit(25 mph zone you would likely get ticket for going 35.) and how busy the police are.

Answer 8

Yes it does, 10% plus 2

Answer 9

It depends on where you are. In California, you can speed without recourse if necessary to keep up with traffic. Very often, this is well over 10%.

Answer 10

+definately depend s on the coper and how good u are at trying to explain that it is a poor smiths cable