Why no speed awareness course for those that need it?

[d9f1c7]

Further to my post below, genuine conundrum, why are speeding awareness courses only offerred to those who are barely speeding and not to those that most need them?

[rowanwitch]

Those that are really over the top may be seen as unlikely to benefit as it is more likely to have been a deliberate choice to go faster rather than not paying attention to the speed you are doing...

[ummmm]

The danger aspect.

[grasscarp]

Good question and I used to think that. Have recently been on this course and thought on the whole it was useful. Would help a lot of people, but I suppose they dont want those who have been going much faster to get out of their points this way. Maybe someone reading this will have another reason.

[gness]

Brick wall and dead horse spring to mind.

[d9f1c7]

what is the danger aspect? Are you saying that the speed awareness course is dangerous of the speeder is over a certain rate?

[ummmm]

The faster you drive the more dangerous it is.

[joko]

they are also more worthy of being properly punished

its easy for speed to creep up a bit - it doesnt make someone a speeder or bad driver, but actively tear-arsing around, way over the limit is deliberate and definitely not an accident or absent mindedness

i did one because i was going 3mph over the limit - in my head!

i was actually 13mph over the limit - because the speed limit had been changed on the road, and my out of date satnav was saying 60 instead of 50... i explained that etc and was offered the course

[joko]

its a course for 'awareness'

we all 'know' we shouldnt speed, but many think its ok to be just a little bit over, or to do 40 in a 30 etc
some people are unaware of the spped limits on certain roads, and some dont pay attention to their speedometer etc etc


the course is to help people become more aware of these things...to re-educate and to help people keep on top of it.

if you are proper, deliberate speeder, the course wont really help you - because you already know you are speeding far too much, so deserve punishment

[d9f1c7]

We are talking about the course ummmm not the offence. If speeding is dangerous then surely the course it should be offerred to all speeders

[ummmm]

Joko has explained it well enough.

[grasscarp]

I have been "done" twice in my life. Once for doing 104 on the M4 and once for doing 37 in a 30. The first time I was very aware of what I was doing, and a course would not have helped me. The second one I did not notice a flash, or even that I had done anything wrong until the NIP arrived. Got the course. So it was relevant to me as what it does teach you is how to know you are in a 30 area for example.

[d9f1c7]

you did 104! are you out of jail yet? have your kiel hauling wounds healed?

[grasscarp]

I was having a bit of a race with an XK8. I know very bad, Saturday morning, clear road, good weather. Then a BMW started to sprout blue lights and became a police car and stopped me. Asked me how would I pleased and I said guilty. Policeman then says, I am glad you said that as otherwise we would have had to take this film to court and show where you were doing 110mph. Net result, lots of worry, 5 points, £340 fine and kept my licence with the magistrate holding his index finger close to his thumb to show how close I had come to losing it. Followed by me hurrying out of the room saying thank you.

[FredPuli43]

Same thought I had.

I blame the speed cameras. I never speeded before they came !

Be interesting to know how many accidents are caused by the typical candidate for speed awareness courses. I suspect they are something like me; no conviction for careless driving, in my case for almost 50 years, can't remember ever having a 'fault' accident; I've only had two anyway; have always driven the same way, and no speeding conviction before speed cameras.After all, the speed cameras don't pick a car at 36 in a 30 zone because it's dangerous; they operate 24 hours a day in all weathers and all conditions,regardless whether 36 presents a danger but 30 -33 wouldn't. If the driver has a good record he's offered the course; I suspect one with 9 speeding points all for far over the speed limit, but not banned, wouldn't be.

But I'm happy to avoid the points. It may be just a reward for being not much of an offender and I may learn something!

[joko]

for the very high speeders there should be a differnt type of course - one that shows car wrecks, injuries and accidents and gives statistics etc - info about effects of losing licence, trouble with insurance, etc etc

may stick better than the other informal chat/ school lesson type one...

[tonyav]

I love fast cars :-).

[boxtops]

have you got a link to your "post below" d9 ?

[d9f1c7]

directly below this one boxtops