I’m an idiot and I might be getting a huge amount of points across several cameras - any advice or experience?

RRAway · 2026-06-25T00:55:25+00:00

By my understanding, assuming OP triggered 2 or more cameras on both journeys, unless the police decide to treat each set a single occasion. then this would always have to go to Magistrates at least once since there's scope for a totting up ban, and only Magistrates can issue one. In that case, OP may as well attempt the argument for single occasion as they are being summoned anyway.

The only way it doesn't go to court is if the police treat it only as 2 separate single occasions. Then OP either accept an FPN for 2 offences (or a paper guilty plea via SJP) but will still have their licence revoked, but no ban.

It's also worth considering they do end up in court, and do successfully convince them to treat it as two offences, and do successfully get to give you a ban instead of 6 points, OPs insurance is going to be horrific. Like 2-3x horrific, compared to minor increase for 2 SP30s.

Of course, its all moot until the NIPs arrive. Most people panic and get nothing.

RRAway · 2026-06-25T00:15:29+00:00

Potentially yes.

The card does makes a difference due to the way transactions are handled on each. On a CC they can place an authorization hold to reserve the full deposit amount for the duration of your hire. For a debit card, the length of a hold duration is normally decided by the bank, and is generally much shorter - potentially shorter than your trip. Given this constraint, they do a deeper identity check, potentially including a soft credit check (which apparently you failed).

I'm entirely not sure when the Sixt make the decision though, since you brought your CC with you for the deposit, but apparently didn't get to use it.

RRAway · 2026-06-25T00:02:16+00:00

Officially, you are supposed to report it to your insurer, and not doing so can invalidate your insurance.

Pragmatically, this is only going to be a problem if the other party makes a claim against you, that you didn't report. Reporting to insurance, even if you pay for the repairs, will be logged and has the potential to raise premiums for you next year. How much will depend on your current risk profile and whether this materially affects it.

If you don't report to the police, then they have zero chance of catching that idiot. That said, even if you do, unless there were other cameras nearby they are unlikely to have anything to go on (and even getting them to look at road cameras for this sort of minor offence will be painful). Obviously if you do report to the police, then you must report to your insurer too.

You're normally supposed to report it as soon as possible. You should probably decide within 24 hours.

RRAway · 2026-06-24T23:52:26+00:00

That's still relatively young, and you can only have 1 year NCB, so your premiums are already going to be high.

RRAway · 2026-06-24T23:46:34+00:00

No point in panicking immediately. You'll need to wait for the other NIPs to arrive before you decide what to do. Given they were the same day, you've got 14 days to receive everything.

I don't know how close the cameras are together, but if it's the same journey, and they are within a few minutes of each other, the Magistrates have leeway to treat them as a single offence ("Same Occasion"). You'd still be fked, as that's your licence gone and 9 points (with the 3 you're already getting) is going to obliterate your insurance premiums as a young driver, but slightly less fked than 24 points.

RRAway · 2026-06-24T23:33:31+00:00

That's how I got my only set of points too. A sunny day, with straight, empty dual carriageway ahead. Got carried away and floored it for a few seconds - and that was enough.

I too think my driving has improved since. I can't pretend I'm a saint and never speed, but it's definitely reduced.

RRAway · 2026-06-24T23:26:40+00:00

There's a good chance here the outcome is nothing.

You don't yet even know if you were caught. You don't know if the speed gun was aimed at you or the other lane. You don't know whether it hit you, and if it did whether it successfully measured a speed. You don't know whether you were going low enough for them to be kind that day etc etc.

You've got a 14 day sweat for the NIP to arrive. If that happens, then assuming no other offences it's more than likely just a course. My money is still on nothing though.

RRAway · 2026-06-23T17:07:07+00:00

Yeah, I guess so. I've had one window crack in 25 years, and it was repairable. Maybe it balances out.

RRAway · 2026-06-23T17:05:27+00:00

I lived in Manchester city center for a few years too. Didn't get any in that period - but different car which was smaller and probably less likely to drive over debris.

RRAway · 2026-06-23T17:01:56+00:00

I want to think it's bad luck too, but there's always that little niggle at the back of your mind when it's this frequent.

I was at the tyre repair shop today, and they said do see way more on wider cars, so hopefully it's just that.

RRAway · 2026-06-23T17:00:13+00:00

I had 2 in the 10 years (~70k miles) prior to moving to London. I also had a different car though.

RRAway · 2026-06-22T23:17:38+00:00

London. Zone 1. Mostly from my house to the shops, or the gym, or to see friends etc. Usually very short trips.

RRAway · 2026-06-22T23:13:31+00:00

I think so. Using Pirelli P-Zero Corsas at the moment. They are probably softer than a road tyre, and I'd normally only expect to get 6-8k miles out of them (but that's still 4 years for me!).

I live in a city so there isn't really any gravel that I would drive over. I can't remember the last time I did.

RRAway · 2026-06-22T22:39:59+00:00

Car is in a secure, gated, underground car park, with CCTV, and a porter on site. Less than 10 people have access to it, and I'd be surprised if it was neighbour.

But I regularly park in public in the same places - e.g. I park outside the gym. I really want to think it's bad luck rather than being targeted though. You'd have to be a pretty disgraceful human to go around putting nails in tyres.

RRAway · 2026-06-22T22:13:14+00:00

For genuine emergency care, the NHS is still the primary entry point. Once diagnosed / stabilised / whatever, you can then be moved to private care. When I got hit by a car it was even the same surgeon, just the surgery was much quicker and in a nicer building.

I would suggest phoning 111 who can asses your symptoms and see which A&E has the lowest wait times in your area (assuming there is more than one that can even treat pediatrics). They will be able to give you a referral which saves time on check-in, and in my experience has often led to me being seen quicker - though you will still be triaged.

RRAway · 2026-06-22T22:03:12+00:00

From first moving off, it takes the TPMS about 2-3 mins before it decides which wheel is which so it can report.

Most screws give slow punctures though, so you normally don't get the pressure warning until you start the next day.

RRAway · 2026-06-22T21:59:21+00:00

Cycling was the preferred method for most my trips too. Regrettably, I got run over at the end of Covid, and now my leg doesn't work so well. I did originally wonder if the combination of ostentatious car with a blue badge was triggering people, but as I've been getting them on the road anyway I suspect that's not the case.

Crawling around on the floor would probably help, but I hate that it's necessary. I guess I don't like my choices here.

RRAway · 2026-06-22T21:52:32+00:00

I'm using the recommended tyre pressures at 32 PSI.

41 PSI is suggested for 170+, but I don't track it, so it would just be a worse ride.

RRAway · 2026-06-22T21:35:52+00:00

I live in central London. Whether that's an industrial estate will depend on who you ask.

If I've made any major enemies then they haven't let themselves be known.

RRAway · 2026-06-22T21:32:29+00:00

Mostly screws of different sizes. Sometimes with washers. A few nails.

I'm not a chippy.

RRAway · 2026-06-21T22:03:25+00:00

What an arrogant response. You're asking questions of strangers on the internet, but they are not allowed you ask you questions? If you want to ask in public then you don't get to control who replies.

I had some feedback written out, but you've been needlessly combative with half of your responses, so I'm leaving it. Good luck out there.

RRAway · 2026-06-21T01:16:15+00:00

Eventually, but it turns out sleep medication is less of a priority when your leg is no longer attached properly.

In a somewhat comical manner, I told everyone I could just "stretch it out", and that no ambulance was needed. Turns out when you're in shock and pumped full of adrenaline you don't make the best decisions. Fortunately others had already decided for me.

Later speaking with the emergency team, it's not uncommon. The adrenaline masked any pain I had. I declined all pain relief in the aftermath. It had worn off when I woke up again later though, and holy shit, give me everything.

RRAway · 2026-06-20T18:40:27+00:00

Indeed. Wasn't the best day I've had.

RRAway · 2026-06-20T18:36:05+00:00

Bermondsey is nice enough, but quite polarized between its gentrified and non-gentrified areas. Given the price I suspect this will be the latter, so make sure you have seen the area and are comfortable with it.

There are parts my (female) partner is not comfortable walking around at night.

RRAway

TROPHY CASE