"Offer" of training.

[BliarOut]

Well whoopee in doo...

As a result of an "incident" a few months back I have an "offer of training"

Now I am all of a quandry... So, according to the letter the police are "satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to support a prosecution against you in that your driving fell below the standard expected of a reasonable, prudent and competent driver".

So if your evidence is that good, charge me and right off. I suspect the truth is that they think I'll roll over which is not in my nature. Mind you, it would be tricky to defend as ultimately I crashed... Competent drivers shouldn't crash.

An alternative to court proceedings is a twelve hour training course for the bargain price of £169.00 yada, yada, yada. Satisfactory completion of the course will avoid the need for court proceedings and you would only receive an official warning.

Now I'm a bit pissed, part of me wants to go to court and highlight the root of the problem, the shitty council's failure to sweep the roads any more (top tip, look at the amount of crap in the apex's near islands, they don't get swept any more)

However, the yang to this ying is that another part of me thinks it, it's only £169, I get some training and I don't get an ulcer. I was going to get some skid pan training off my own back as a result of this so maybe it's not all bad.

So, the questions.

Has anyone had any of this "training"? Is it any good or am I expected to simply say speed is bad, cameras are good, the british justice system is the fairest in the world.... If the training is ok then perhaps I'll just write this all off to experience and not bother fretting about it.

What is this "official warning"? If there is insufficient evidence to bring a charge why should I accept a warning? Under what legislation does that come? What are the future implications?

I kinda can't be arsed with all the aggro TBH but I want to ascertain all and any implications before I decide what to do.

[BliarOut]

Due care and attention I suspect.

[BliarOut]

Cheers Gaz et al. Wasn't the Porker fortunately... Or perhaps unfortunately as PSM would have prevented it in the first place

I've done the maths and I'm kinda wavering on going for the training as I had planned on some anyway.... But it just tugs at my rebellious streak and I don't like veiled threats

There's no harm in some training if it's sensible as it's twenty years since I did my advanced motorcycle stuff and despite going back to the scene and analysing what went wrong I'm disappointed I didn't avoid it.

Any more experiences or opinions are very welcome, especially on the "official warning".

Oh and Wildy, I almost understood every word of that

[BliarOut]

J500ANT said:

I think you should do it, then if anyone else asks we can point them your way

Do I look like a bloody cavy

On second thoughts, there's no need to answer that.

[BliarOut]

vonhosen said:

7db said:

Tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine and take the prosecution.

Got to agree. Maintain your integrity & don't play ball with the scoundrels.
Otherwise you are just giving support to the system.

I bloody well knew you would pop in sooner or later

Although if you have any experience of these schemes I would be interested to hear it.

[BliarOut]

7db said:

BliarOut said:

vonhosen said:

7db said:

Tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine and take the prosecution.

Got to agree. Maintain your integrity & don't play ball with the scoundrels.
Otherwise you are just giving support to the system.

I bloody well knew you would pop in sooner or later

Although if you have any experience of these schemes I would be interested to hear it.

The TVP one was surprisingly good, a subject of their training recently told me. No indoctrination tactics (depending on your level of defining that) and Roadcraft-based thinking. That was for a speeding offence - not sure if it's different for you (is it a S3 careless you're up for?) Which force has made you the offer?

Lincolnshire, although I am in Cambs so I would want to transfer if that's the route I take.

I'm not going into great detail on a public site for obvious reasons.

[BliarOut]

bleesh said:

I did one of these last year - day and a half, involving some classroom work and about a total of 6 hours out on the road, with 3 "students" plus the instructor.
As mentioned before it taught about observation and roadcraft, and was actually quite well constructed. The commentary drive is really difficult, but you find yourself actually seeing things that you wouldn't normally.

I modified the way I drive after this, but only managed 19/20 for the highway code questions!!

Part of thw incentive for me was the choice between a day and a half's holiday and paying £150 for the privilege, or 6 points, £1000 fine, and expensive insurance till god knows when.

I took the pragmatic approach, and did the course.

Steve

Thanks for that Steve, sounds like exactly the same thing I've been offered. It covers much of the stuff I did twenty odd years ago but I'm sure a refresher won't do me any harm. I quite like the idea of a commentary drive and you never know, it may pick up on any bad habits I've developed over the years. Sod the ulcer, I think I'll go for the training.

Did you get the "official warning" and if so, what is it? That's the only thing I'm uncertain of now. I would like to know if it is written and carries any legal weight or is it just a good old fashioned bollocking.

[BliarOut]

7db said:

vonhosen said:

BliarOut said:

Thanks for that Steve, sounds like exactly the same thing I've been offered. It covers much of the stuff I did twenty odd years ago but I'm sure a refresher won't do me any harm. I quite like the idea of a commentary drive and you never know, it may pick up on any bad habits I've developed over the years. Sod the ulcer, I think I'll go for the training.

Sell out

But he's going to be a victim of more training - surely a good thing.

VH, you have no idea how much it pains me to run this by PH knowing you would be sat there smiling inwardly as you read it

When all's said and done I made a mistake and I'm man enough to admit it and learn from it. I had decided to do some sort of training off my own back, this just makes sure it actually gets done.