Driver awareness course - Anyone been on one?

[Roadhump]

Interesting that some people were not allowed to attend a course nearer to where they live. I got zapped by a mobile camera doing 57 in a 50 on the Snake Pass in Derbyshire. I got the NIP letter and following my declaration that I was the driver, I got another letter offering the course. I was offered a course at a location in Derbyshire, but also told that I could choose another location nearer home via the internet which I did.

Things that struck me where:

• the sheer number of people attending, there was a course immediately before mine and one immediately after, each course had about 30-35 attendees, and they are run 6 days a week at numerous locations around the country
• the instructors weren't police officers, and said that this was so the course was seen as a learning rather than a finger wagging exercise
• they said that if they were caught speeding, they would lose their jobs as it would be viewed as hypocritical if not (not sure I agreed with that) unless their circumstances allowed them to qualify for a SAC themselves
• some attendees had been on several courses, one said he was a van driver and had 14 points for various offences but had pleaded exceptional hardship at his last court appearance, the court agreed and allowed him to keep his licence - then he was flashed speeding and was allowed to attend a SAC - cats and 9 lives spring to mind
• I was once told by a traffic cop that they exercised a margin of discretion of 10% + 2 mph over the speed limit (which my 57 in a 50 met) when dealing with speeding offences, but that seems to have gone by the board - one attendee on a previous course got caught doing 76 on the motorway

I was genuinely glad to be able to attend and now I take more care - as well as saving myself a few quid in increased insurance premiums.

 

[GaryA]

Mind numbing patronising twaddle for nearly 4 hours-could have completed course in 1 hr
Durham radison blue hotel, nice venue mind.
(35mph on entering 30mph dual carriageway-mobile camera......last working day of month)

 

[MisterStan]

Mind numbing patronising twaddle for nearly 4 hours-could have completed course in 1 hr
Durham radison blue hotel, nice venue mind.
(35mph on entering 30mph dual carriageway-mobile camera......last working day of month)

On the course I attended, there were pictures of where my friend's girlfriend's head had gone through the windscreen of a car at Christmas time when she was crossing the road. Driver was doing between 35 and 40 in a 30 MPH zone. Certainly made me think.

 

[GaryA]

I dont need a course to make me think
I'm not complaining, just commenting....
Every other day I nearly get sideswiped by drivers I'd wager never get caught for being incompetent and dangerous

 

[Roadhump]

Mind numbing patronising twaddle for nearly 4 hours-could have completed course in 1 hr

Perhaps the other 3 hours is a form of punishing you by surreptitious imprisonment

Durham radison blue hotel, nice venue mind.

Me and my wife stayed in that hotel for a mini break a couple of years ago - top venue

(35mph on entering 30mph dual carriageway-mobile camera......last working day of month)

Another 10% + 2 mph case that might have just got a ticking off before discretion was frowned upon - but perhaps just a sneaky trick, there is a place near me where a road goes from a built up area (30 limit) in Merseyside into a rural area (National limit of 60 mph) in Lancashire and Lancs Police are renowned for parking 20 yards into their 60 mph bit and using a hand held speed gun to catch people as they accelerate a few yards before leaving the 30 zone - an offence strictly speaking but sneaky and hardly conducive to wooing Joe Public.

 

[Pale Rider]

• I was once told by a traffic cop that they exercised a margin of discretion of 10% + 2 mph over the speed limit (which my 57 in a 50 met) when dealing with speeding offences, but that seems to have gone by the board - one attendee on a previous course got caught doing 76 on the motorway

.

The 10 per cent plus 2mph rule is the maximum speed for which a speed awareness course can be offered.

There is no minimum transgression, so the guy doing 76mph on a motorway was offered a course, as could someone done for 71 or 72mph.

 

[Globalti]

I would argue that a van driver with 14 points should be banned for incompetence; he must be a crap driver to have failed to notice the cameras so many times.

 

[Roadhump]

I would argue that a van driver with 14 points should be banned for incompetence; he must be a crap driver to have failed to notice the cameras so many times.

He was probably just bulls******g, but he was twice my size so I didn't argue