On my way to the Southport National last year, I was flashed on the outskirts of Chorley by a Gatso in a 30mph zone doing 36mph.
I know I should not have been anywhere near Chorley but I was trusting the SatNav that was bringing me into the town from the north. Admittedly this was due to the fact that I just put in the road name of the hotel into the SatNav and it had decided that I wanted to be at the far end of it!!! After visiting Southport for many years, I wasnt paying enough attention to the unfamiliar roads although I had spotted the signs, and didnt give them enough respect.
So shortly after, Lancashire Police kindly wrote to me to tell me of the offence - gutted but expected as it was a classic double flash, quickly followed by that very hopeful glance towards the speedo, just in case the camera was dodgy!
Fortunately, I was offered a Speed Awareness Course that I duly took along with about 25 one afternoon down in Kent. Of these 25, there were three of us sitting in a row who had all been caught in Lancashire. Apparently, the Lancashire Constabulary often prosecute every offender over 30mph - no leniency at all.
The result is that it certainly has slowed me down and as someone who drives 33k miles plus a year, my licence (and a clean one at that) is very important to me!
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