AIBU to be astonished by how many people lie about speeding?

Yes. We live very close to the Swiss border, where speeding fines are horrendous {CHF400.--}. Our English-speaking friend was caught after having had to pay the above, so talked his partner into accepting the penalty. I habitually ask OH to slow down when we are in Swizzle, but he thinks he will never be caught - little does he realise. The Swiss police do not have a great deal to do - everyone is more or less law-abiding, so spend their lives trapping unwary motorists. But that doesn't make speeding right.

Manchester council have changed the speed limit to 20 mph in all the residential streets round here in an effort to cut speeding. If you drive at 20 mph you get an impatient driver on your tail, so hardly anyone does. Also it's not environmentally friendly to be driving in 3rd gear all the time. Have the speeders paid any attention to the new speed limit ? And has anyone enforced the new limit? NO!

I just think if MP's are caught blatantly lying they should be banned form public office for 1 years. If caught a second time 2 years and if a third time life time ban. My sat nav also pings to let me know I am going over limit. I use it even when I know exactly where i am going for that very reason. It is easy to slip a couple of miles over limit without realizing especially on motorway when everybody and their dog seems to zoom past me but I am driving at 70.

umhum. Oh yes - I'm shocked and depressed by how ordinary people think that lying on job forms etc is totally acceptable. I might have got somewhere in life if I'd known earlier that's how the system works...

Yes, it's wrong that she lied and deserves to be punished for doing so. Some people don't seem to think that the speed limit applies to them.
I get really annoyed by drivers behind me who don't seem to like the fact that I am sticking to the speed limit, usually this is in the 20 and 30 zones, but I refuse to be bullied into going over the limit. If they want a speeding fine and points on their licence, fine. I don't. I also don't want to be responsible for injuring or killing someone because I was going too fast. This possibility just not seem to occur to some of these drivers.

Oddly enough, she seems to be comparing her 'persecution' to that of Jesus! I think I've heard it all now.

annodomini, same here. After the first one I really have tried to keep to the speed limit but every so often, I find myself going quicker than I thought. It was one of those occasions where I had my AC talking to me which distracted me. I had actually braked before I saw the speed van but it was too late. I was really cross with myself.

Mumofmadboys, I have an automatic so 3rd gear won’t work for me.
When the speed limit changes there should be a ‘gateway’ i.e. a post on either side of the road. I learnt this from DH after his course.

Elrel is right ... MP's lie professionally so why should we be surprised.

I was once a passenger in my sister's car on a long journey and I have never allowed her to drive me anywhere since - she broke speed limits the whole way. When I worked in Cambridge me job entailed a lot of driving and I became the butt of some (good natured) office banter because I refused to drive as if possessed when visiting clients. My colleagues all routinely broke speed limits and consequently spent less time on the road than I did. They presented me with a cheeky framed 'Diploma' when I left that awarded me a prize for always going two miles slower than the speed limit!

Driving fast is dangerous and speed limits are there for a reason in my view.

I think everyone should go on a speed awareness course, it really does sharpen up your driving! I was caught doing 32mph in a 30 zone in my village soon after they removed the leeway. I chose the course and every single offender there had been caught doing between 31-35 mph. in a 30 area. We couldn't lie because the organisers had all details on us!

Doing 41mph in a 30 limit was way over the top which is probably why the MP wasn't given a choice of a speeding course. We see drivers speeding every day but we were assured on the course they do get caught. Many don't tell even their nearest and dearest!

Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce were jailed for lying in court? I think that's a crime, as should knowingly lying to Parliament be.

I am astonished at how glibly some people lie, full stop.
“Thou shalt not be found out” seems to be the only commandment they have ever heard of.

Oddly enough, she seems to be comparing her 'persecution' to that of Jesus! I think I've heard it all now

I saw that too.
I don’t remember Jesus endangering the lives of others by driving dangerously or texting while driving.
Perhaps she can enlighten me?

As for the lie by Labour MP Fiona Onasanya I am waiting to hear if Peterborough will have a bi-election?

It will depend on her sentence as it doesn't appear she is going to resign over the fact she persistently and deliberately lied and has been found guilty of ' perverting the course of justice'.

Consequences ?

Yes curlilox, we have blanket 20mph speed limits in the town where I live too. As you say, it is more or less impossible to keep to such a slow speed. Fair enough on play streets or roads with schools, but on main thoroughfares, it really is silly. The local police have said that they will not enforce the speed limits as they do not have the staff, so the result is that everyone totally ignores it.
It is a real problem for driving schools as they obviously have to comply with the legal limit and drivers aren't able to practice driving at higher speeds.
I suppose the only thing to be said for it is that people actually drive at 30mph rather than 40!

You'd think she would have learnt from the Chris Huhne and Vicky Price saga and imprisonment, wouldn't you.

And to think I wanted him as leader of the Lib Dems …

I am surprised that anyone should think that an M.P. wouldn’t lie. I think that we regularly see behaviour that most of us wouldn’t dream of exhibiting and the way they act is a disgrace. I think that come the next election whenever that might be a I will think very carefully before voting and I have never previously not voted for any elected. I am ashamed our politicians. I am also very disappointed that they can just walk away from this awful situation the country is in and go on holiday.

Of course we would take advantage of a clever lawyer if we could afford it - but that doesn’t make it right.

Those who try to hoodwink the police are idiots. The police get great pleasure nabbing them. The MP will now most probably be jailed.

I no longer have a car but when I did drive I always kept to the speed limits much to the annoyance of many other motorists who made no secret of their annoyance. A thick skin was needed.

I'm astonished that people (wives, secretaries...) take the rap for liars.

No excuses she should resign and be disbarred you simply cannot have an MP and a solicitor who obviously think they are above the law, they are just the type of people that we don't want in either position.

I was caught doing 34mph in a 30 limit. Went on a speed awareness course, which I got a lot out of. I now stick to speed limits. But it is hard. On dual carriageways out of London, you are tailgated, harassed, intimidated. Motorways such as M25 are bigger nightmare. Massive lorries who should do 60 are right on your tail for doing that in slow lane. They want to go faster. Sit on your bumper and then shave past you into next lane. Cut back in front as if to give you a warning, you’re in their way. Hate them.

I imagine most people would lie if possible to avoid points. I would never be brave stupid enough to lie.
My son was left in a coma by a careless driver. I try hard to stick to speed limits. And near schools or during school holidays I crawl along at 20mph near parked cars as children could run out. You can't undo damage.
I think penalties should be higher. Why do people just not leave more time for journeys? And tailgating puts pressure on drivers as does flashing lights. More traffic police and cameras are needed.