Speed Awareness Course

[FredPuli43]

Anybody been on the speed awareness course offered instead of taking three points on your licence? What it's like?
No idea what the criteria for being offered it is.Isn't it meant for persistent speeders? I'm offered one for 36 mph in a 30 zone. My previous speeding 5 years ago was 26 mph over Tower Bridge, which a 20mph zone on the bridge itself. Hardly boy-racer stuff !.

[Jenarry]

From what i understand these courses are mainly for the minor speeding 'culprits' for want of a better word. Anyone who was going massively over the speed limit would not be given this softer option but will be going straight to court. It's a 2.5/3hr course designed to re-educate you about the speed limits on our roads and our actions whilst on these roads.

[slinkycat]

Hi Fred, hubby went on one of these in much the same circumstance you describe. What made us laugh was that the letter said he could have 3 points on his licence and a something like £40 fine, or no points and no fine as long as he went on a speed awareness course which would cost, you guessed it £40!
Just do it and put it down to experience!

[slinkycat]

That's different from in the midlands Methyl, hubby went on a 3ish hour course and that was it.

[VHG]

We are in the Midlands. My wife did one of these for being slightly over the limit, about 3 hours.

It is quite useful as it reminds you of the dangers of speeding and how to manage road rage etc.

The lady who gave the course, her son was killed by a speeing motorist so it had a lot of effect on the people who attended.

[grasscarp]

Went on one a couple of weeks ago and it is just attend watch a couple of films and answer some questions. All straight forward and 3 1/2 hours went quite quickly, cost ninety quid but nil points!

[d9f1c7]

it's worth it to avoid the points but you'll have to listen to a motoring evangelist spouting a load of sanctimonious drivel for a couple of hours.

[KJN]

Hmmm Interesting, seems to be different courses for different places,mine was listen to lecture in morning , watch videos, go out with driving instructor in their car, me driving, back into office to listen to whats wrong with my driving then back out for another drive to see if improvement, (3 offenders so to speak to a car) . Started about 9am finished about 4pm.

[VHG]

>>>>motoring evangelist spouting a load of sanctimonious drivel for a couple of hours.

Maybe that person is trying to cut down on the thousands of people killed on Britain's roads every year.

It is about 2,000 a year, or FIVE every day.

Or maybe you dont care (until it is your wife or mother or one of your children who is killed).

[grasscarp]

Ours wasnt like that d9f. Chap giving it was friendly and none of it was at all preachy. Just factual. Info on stopping distances, speed limits on different roads. Spot the hazards. Facts and figures on accidents in different areas - motorway, urban, rural. Was all useful and relevant stuff.

[FredPuli43]

Interesting. My 36 mph offence was in Chester. I live in Cambridgeshire. Just hoping that by leaving the 'take course in another force area' option, has it in my county and not just some county than Cheshire!

[d9f1c7]

nearly all crashes are the result of bad driving not speed.

[keithlbw]

d9f1c7....Speeding is bad driving .

[ojread2]

speeding is bad driving - a 2008 report said only 3% of accidents were caused by speeding. Surprised me

[misspins]

I did this course in Dorset and there were people there who came from out of the county, one as far as Rochester, because he was caught speeding whilst here on holiday. It was a 3 hour course on all aspects of road safety not just speeding, at the time it was £60 but I believe it is much more now. I did it 4 years ago, but have never had points on my licence and never had to inform my insurance companies, after the course the instructor said, the slate is wiped clean and as if the offence never happened. My offence was 36 in a 30, unfortunately we did the crime... we gotta do the time

[grasscarp]

I paid £90 or it could have been £92. As my course was only a few weeks ago my experience is pretty current.

[TWR]

On a point about Insurance, you have no need to tell your Insurance regards the Awareness course, but if they do ask you, you have to tell them, that's up to you.

[granny grump]

I paid £60 - all classroom work- they have stopped the outside driving part -probably cost reasons. There were about 4 classrooms all full and in my room there were people who had been over 30/40/50/60/& 70 Think that you may be a bit harsh d9f1c7. The 2 guys who took our course were only doing a job and at the end of the day it was our choice to be their. I agree with grasscarp - mine was in January

[ubasses]

When OH went on his course which was run by ex police driver, he told insurance and they said they did not want to know.

[misspins]

I was told by the instructor there was no need to tell the insurance companies so I never have, I correct myself in that it was 3 years ago not 4. My sister did it recently and paid around £90 but someone at work informed me they had been told well over £100.... cripes...definately not speeding again anytime soon!!!