Coventry woman fined twice for going over 30mph on a "40mph" road!

[dutchman]

Four Pounds Avenue is one of several Coventry roads to get new average speed cameras - but it's sparked confusion over the speed limit



A Coventry driver has been left furious at being fined twice for exceeding 30mph on a Coventry road, despite signs which state the speed limit is 40mph. The driver is a regular user of Four Pound Avenue, and was hit with two fines in the space of a few days - both for the same stretch of road.

The £100 notices tell her she exceeded 30mph on the road which connects Allesley Old Road and Holyhead Road. But the driver, who asked to remain anonymous, says she only went over 30 as there are numerous speed signs which say it is a 40mph zone.

"I have photographic evidence clearly showing that the signs on Four Pounds Avenue are still displaying 40mph," she said: "Yet I’ve received two fines stating I was over 30mph, which doesn’t match the signage.

"I also noticed that just six days ago Coventry Live reported on the council being told to speed up the rollout of 20mph and 30mph zones across the city. It raises the question — have the cameras already been switched on before the signs were actually changed?

"I’ve contacted Coventry City Council twice requesting a copy of the current Traffic Regulation Order (the legal confirmation of the speed limit) and had no response. So at present, neither the police nor the council can provide evidence that 30mph is legally enforceable there.

"If so, that would mean drivers are being fined for something they couldn’t reasonably know, as the legal signage in place doesn’t match the alleged offence."

CoventryLive recently reported several major roads, including Four Pound Avenue, now have average speed cameras, but as of today (19 August), there are still signs stating the speed limit on the road is 40mph.

CoventryLive have approached West Midlands Police, who issued the fine, and Coventry City Council for a comment on this issue and have not yet received a response.

The driver added: "I’ve contacted the enforcement office four times now within the stated time frames, pointing out that their evidence is incorrect and asking for clarification. Despite their own policy saying they respond within five days, I’ve still had no reply.

"What I find unfair is that we as motorists are given very strict deadlines to reply, under threat of heavier fines or prosecution, yet the authorities themselves don’t seem to stick to their own timeframes. I don’t believe a conviction can be fair when the evidence itself is flawed and the process isn’t being followed equally on both sides."

[dutchman]

Police confirm error and speeding refund after Coventry driver fined twice

Police have confirmed there was an error on their part that left a motorist confused and frustrated after being fined twice for exceeding 30mph in a signed 40mph zone. As previously reported by CoventryLive, a resident received a fine from West Midland Police earlier this month for alleged speeding offences on Four Pound Avenue.

She received two such fines saying she went over the limit of 30mph - despite there being numerous signs on the road which stated it was a 40mph zone.

The driver shared their confusion at getting the fines and revealed an attempt to prove their innocence with police and the council was fruitless.

Coventry City Council revealed after the initial report the road signs were correct and that the local police force were responsible for policing speed.

After asking West Midlands Police about the issue, they responded to say there had been an error and that the driver's fine was being overturned.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We've reviewed the issuing of the tickets and they have now been cancelled.

"There was a temporary recording error and we are now in the process of making the driver aware that these will be rescinded."

A Council spokesman previously said: “We can confirm the signage on Four pounds Avenue is correct and the road is 40mph. The Police are responsible for enforcement of average speed enforcement and they are aware and dealing with this issue.

"As far as we are aware, no further fines should be issued in error.”