Speed Awareness Course this PM - What to expect?

Speed Awareness Course this PM - What to expect?

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Tyre Smoke

Original Poster:

23,018 posts

260 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
41 in a 30 I consider myself fortunate to have been offered said course. So I will go with the right 'attitude' and not be a tosser.

But four hours? How many times am I going to hear "Speed Kills"? Because it doesn't (I will play the game though) it's inappropriate use of speed and lack of talent that kills.

Apparently it's 'interactive' so am I likely to be sat in a discussion, or are there 'games' to play as a group to illustrate why "Speed Kills"?

I do realise there will be interesting bits, but am struggling with the length of time it's going to take.

PoleDriver

28,616 posts

193 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
When I went on one a few years ago the opening line was...
" We've all heard the phrase 'speed kills'. Has anyone here been on an airplane? Did you die?"

He was a realist who got the message over that driving fast will never kill you. Stopping by colliding with something probably won't have such a favourable outcome!

My best advice is don't try to be a smart-arse and don't be silent.

Fun can be had at listening to answers given by other participants who often don't have a clue.

I couldn't get over how few people actually know what the National Speed limits are, especially those who thought it was 50MPH for a single carriageway and still got done for speeding in excess of 70! rolleyes

covboy

2,573 posts

173 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
Al lot depends on the presenters. Go with an open mind and be prepared to learn (perhaps) Mine was presented by an ex Traffic man and wasn't,t the least bit condescending. I came away with a few useful tips.

Plinth

713 posts

87 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
Not been on one myself, but my elderly mum (!) has.
Apparently it was good – the presenter was not patronising or self-righteous and while pointing out that limits should be adhered to, driving too slowly (especially on NSL roads) was crap driving also.
Focussed on observation and driving skills, not just speed/speed/speed.

_dobbo_

14,327 posts

247 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
Prepare to be shocked at how little of the highway code most attendees will know.

Prepare to listen to "all cyclists are xxxx" and "all lorry drivers are xxxx" from cyclists and lorry drivers, despite having been told to please avoid those types of statement.

Sit, listen, drink cups of tea, maybe learn something.

There is really no downside in my opinion. I attended one and have modified my driving in a couple of ways, having expected it to be a waste of time but still better than points.

Tyre Smoke

Original Poster:

23,018 posts

260 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
I really am going to go with an open mind. I truly hope I learn something, otherwise it will be four hours I'll never get back but the plus side being my licence will not have 3pts on it.

I am ready for 95% of the group to know next to nothing about the highway code, it amazes me how these people actually pass a driving test.

I shall report back later. biggrin

Prohibiting

1,734 posts

117 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
I did my first one last month (51mph in a 40 zone).

To be honest, I found it boring. It wasn't what I expected. I thought it would be like "speed kills blah blah" but it focused more on how to be a better driver, which of course I already am like the majority of us wink

We did have an old guy in the group who kept going on about potholes which was completely irrelevant and you could see that the presenter wanted him to shut up.

Also, the presenter said that when doing 30mph, keep the car in 3rd gear as it helps you maintain that speed easier (which is fine) and someone said that they put it in 4th gear to save petrol. The presenter said that driving in 3rd gear instead of 4th at 30mph won't have any difference on the mph. I piped up at that point and told her she was wrong as the revs in 4th gear would be lower. She didn't argue (I think they're trained not to argue) and she moved onto the next section.

They also focused on hazard awareness which I thought was one of the more useful parts.

Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 24th March 13:33

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
Tyre Smoke said:
41 in a 30 I consider myself fortunate to have been offered said course. So I will go with the right 'attitude' and not be a tosser.

But four hours? How many times am I going to hear "Speed Kills"? Because it doesn't (I will play the game though) it's inappropriate use of speed and lack of talent that kills.

Apparently it's 'interactive' so am I likely to be sat in a discussion, or are there 'games' to play as a group to illustrate why "Speed Kills"?

I do realise there will be interesting bits, but am struggling with the length of time it's going to take.
It went far quicker than you'd think. On the one I did (TTC2000 run, Dyfed/Powys), there were video clips and various group exercises. It was certainly far more positive and useful than I expected it to be.

DON'T FORGET YOUR DRIVING LICENCE... (and, if it's not a photocard, the other ID)

parabolica

6,703 posts

183 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
covboy said:
Al lot depends on the presenters. Go with an open mind and be prepared to learn (perhaps) Mine was presented by an ex Traffic man and wasn't,t the least bit condescending. I came away with a few useful tips.
Couldn't have said it better myself.

4040vision

255 posts

85 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
Tyre Smoke said:
I really am going to go with an open mind. I truly hope I learn something, otherwise it will be four hours I'll never get back but the plus side being my licence will not have 3pts on it.

I am ready for 95% of the group to know next to nothing about the highway code, it amazes me how these people actually pass a driving test.

I shall report back later. biggrin
There is always someone on the course who thinks he knows it all and shouldn't be there. Looks like the rule isn't going to change with your attendance.
As you have been seen at 41 in a 30 you should maybe think about your attitude a bit more than you do now.

Tyre Smoke

Original Poster:

23,018 posts

260 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
Just home. Agree with all of the above. Was well presented and surprisingly informative.

Definitely not an easy alternative to the points.

48k

12,985 posts

147 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
Prohibiting said:
The presenter said that driving in 3rd gear instead of 4th at 30mph won't have any difference on the mph. I piped up at that point and told her she was wrong
laugh

vsonix

3,858 posts

162 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
PoleDriver said:
Fun can be had at listening to answers given by other participants who often don't have a clue.

I couldn't get over how few people actually know what the National Speed limits are, especially those who thought it was 50MPH for a single carriageway and still got done for speeding in excess of 70! rolleyes
^absolutely this. Or, exactly how many of the participants didn't actually know what the NSL sign means redface


WJNB

2,637 posts

160 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
Many men find it difficult if not impossible to swallow their masculine pride & in fear of being judged weak know when to shut up & listen. Using brain & not mouth or muscle & playing the game is so much cleverer.
Ok it might seem like going back to school but we never stop learning & it takes a real man to acknowledge that.
I wonder if women are less proud pushy & bumptious when faced with having to attend such courses.
Even in the work place I have noted how both men & women of a certain age hate being corrected or having to attend meetings or courses in order to learn new work practices or rules.

vsonix

3,858 posts

162 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
...and to be fair if you read between the lines a little, there's a fair bit of info on 'how not to get caught in future' as well.

Tyre Smoke

Original Poster:

23,018 posts

260 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
4040vision said:
Tyre Smoke said:
I really am going to go with an open mind. I truly hope I learn something, otherwise it will be four hours I'll never get back but the plus side being my licence will not have 3pts on it.

I am ready for 95% of the group to know next to nothing about the highway code, it amazes me how these people actually pass a driving test.

I shall report back later. biggrin
There is always someone on the course who thinks he knows it all and shouldn't be there. Looks like the rule isn't going to change with your attendance.
As you have been seen at 41 in a 30 you should maybe think about your attitude a bit more than you do now.
I don't think I have stated anywhere that I'm arrogant enough to know it all. Or that I shouldn't be there.

But then, there's always one prick ready to jump to a conclusion.

Tyre Smoke

Original Poster:

23,018 posts

260 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
vsonix said:
...and to be fair if you read between the lines a little, there's a fair bit of info on 'how not to get caught in future' as well.
Yep. Picked up on this quite a bit.

48k

12,985 posts

147 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
vsonix said:
...and to be fair if you read between the lines a little, there's a fair bit of info on 'how not to get caught in future' as well.
Did this super secret reading between the lines only for those in the know top tips include such gems as "don't break the fking speed limit"?

Hackney

6,811 posts

207 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
_dobbo_ said:
Prepare to be shocked at how little of the highway code most attendees will know.
This

Hackney

6,811 posts

207 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
48k said:
Prohibiting said:
The presenter said that driving in 3rd gear instead of 4th at 30mph won't have any difference on the mph. I piped up at that point and told her she was wrong
laugh
Is there a typo in that quote or did that genuinely happen?