First speeding ticket
Discussion
I got my first speeding ticket in 7 years of driving. A speed camera caught me doing 37 in a 30 mph zone. I have received the option to attend a speed awareness course which is the same price as the ticket but I don't get the 3 points so I enlisted for the course.
I understand that you can fail the course. Can somebody who attended a course like this tell me what is the structure and how should I prepare for it?
I understand that you can fail the course. Can somebody who attended a course like this tell me what is the structure and how should I prepare for it?
Sat the course... learnt absolutely nothing from it!
Did it in 2010, so not sure if its changed, but you just sit there for half a day getting bored. There isnt a test or anything so doubt you can fail it.
Worth the half day of boredom to avoid the 3 points.
Surprised you were offered the course for doing 37 in a 30, thought the cutoff was 34?? Grab opportunity with both hands!
Did it in 2010, so not sure if its changed, but you just sit there for half a day getting bored. There isnt a test or anything so doubt you can fail it.
Worth the half day of boredom to avoid the 3 points.
Surprised you were offered the course for doing 37 in a 30, thought the cutoff was 34?? Grab opportunity with both hands!
Unless it has changed, you can only 'fail' if you don't turn up or they feel you are not 'engaging' with the course...
It's pretty much just listening to what they have to say. Some of it was quite interesting, a few bits and pieces of the highway code I'd forgotten. Mine was for doing 36 in a 30 in case anyone is wondering.
Turn up, try to stay awake you should be fine.
It's pretty much just listening to what they have to say. Some of it was quite interesting, a few bits and pieces of the highway code I'd forgotten. Mine was for doing 36 in a 30 in case anyone is wondering.
Turn up, try to stay awake you should be fine.
sorin1987 said:
I got my first speeding ticket in 7 years of driving. A speed camera caught me doing 37 in a 30 mph zone. I have received the option to attend a speed awareness course which is the same price as the ticket but I don't get the 3 points so I enlisted for the course.
I understand that you can fail the course. Can somebody who attended a course like this tell me what is the structure and how should I prepare for it?
The only way to 'fail' the course is by not showing up or being so disruptive they kick you off.I understand that you can fail the course. Can somebody who attended a course like this tell me what is the structure and how should I prepare for it?
Be prepared for 3 hours of being constantly surprised at the lack of knowledge the other people we share the road have. I was in a group of people who didn't know the difference between A-roads and motorways, had no idea of the national speed limit for various roads and didn't understand some of the most simple questions being asked.
romeogolf said:
The only way to 'fail' the course is by not showing up or being so disruptive they kick you off.
Or by turning up with an expired licence - when I went on such a course 3 of the people were turned away as it had expiredI did learn something - that the majority of drivers are absolutely totally clueless and really should not be driving at all
My mum went on a course. She's not the best driver and admits it. She was caught doing 35 in a 30.
Anyway, apparently the cop asked how everyone would rate their own driving out of 10. And some bloke in an Astra gave himself 9 out of 10. Haha! My mum (who had given herself a 4) piped up and asked him how he managed to get caught speeding if he was that good!
Incidentally, the traffic cop rated himself at 6.5. Said that he still had a lot to learn which I think applies to all of us.
It sounds like the key to passing and making life easy is to accept you f
ked up. Be humble. And get on with it.
Anyway, apparently the cop asked how everyone would rate their own driving out of 10. And some bloke in an Astra gave himself 9 out of 10. Haha! My mum (who had given herself a 4) piped up and asked him how he managed to get caught speeding if he was that good!
Incidentally, the traffic cop rated himself at 6.5. Said that he still had a lot to learn which I think applies to all of us.
It sounds like the key to passing and making life easy is to accept you f
ked up. Be humble. And get on with it.Edited by Freddy88FM on Thursday 19th November 16:27
romeogolf said:
Be prepared for 3 hours of being constantly surprised at the lack of knowledge the other people we share the road have. I was in a group of people who didn't know the difference between A-roads and motorways, had no idea of the national speed limit for various roads and didn't understand some of the most simple questions being asked.
^ this, out of the dozen people on the course I attended only me and another guy who also rode motorbikes as well as driving cars knew the speed limits for each type of road, half of them thought the motorway limit was 50!!! that explains a lot 
DO turn up on time with the required docs in order - failure to do so is an automatic 'fail', 'got caught up in traffic, mate' won't wash.
DO NOT be disruptive, sarcastic or generally take the piss, if you get the 'crowd' laughing at their expense, they will have the last laugh. If you get chucked off the course you don't get your £80 back, and you then get the £100 + 3 points. Zip it and keep thinking of the points you're saving.
DO NOT use the word 'scamera'
DO NOT attempt to start a discussion on the theme of revenue generation, the speeding 'industry' etc - they've heard it 53 zillion times before and are not interested.
My fellow miscreants were a right miserable bunch, on arrival I gave a cheerful 'morning' to the assembled sinners in the waiting area - zilch, they were all sat there looking like the customers at a clap clinic.
Nearly everyone on my course were '36 in a 30' category, and all without exception had been nicked by a camera van, rather than an actual human being.
Be prepared for a 'green' section telling you how to drive for maximum fuel economy - PH it ain't! One numpty took great pride and delight in telling everyone that his Honda stbox had a little green light on the dash that came on when it was time to change up for max fuel efficiency, and he thought this was 'brilliant', almost lost the will to live at that point.
DO NOT be disruptive, sarcastic or generally take the piss, if you get the 'crowd' laughing at their expense, they will have the last laugh. If you get chucked off the course you don't get your £80 back, and you then get the £100 + 3 points. Zip it and keep thinking of the points you're saving.
DO NOT use the word 'scamera'
DO NOT attempt to start a discussion on the theme of revenue generation, the speeding 'industry' etc - they've heard it 53 zillion times before and are not interested.
My fellow miscreants were a right miserable bunch, on arrival I gave a cheerful 'morning' to the assembled sinners in the waiting area - zilch, they were all sat there looking like the customers at a clap clinic.
Nearly everyone on my course were '36 in a 30' category, and all without exception had been nicked by a camera van, rather than an actual human being.
Be prepared for a 'green' section telling you how to drive for maximum fuel economy - PH it ain't! One numpty took great pride and delight in telling everyone that his Honda s
tbox had a little green light on the dash that came on when it was time to change up for max fuel efficiency, and he thought this was 'brilliant', almost lost the will to live at that point.Swanny87 said:
Did anyone else get told about driving in 3rd at 30?
The increased engine noise is supposed to give a greater "impression of speed" than a higher gear.Back in the days of 5-speed boxes some driving instructors used to say,
1st - for 10 mph
2nd - for 20 mph
3rd - for 30 mph
4th - for 40 mph
5th - for 50 mph
Vizsla said:
Nearly everyone on my course were '36 in a 30' category, and all without exception had been nicked by a camera van, rather than an actual human being.
This ^^I got caught by a camera van at 79 on a NSL daul carriageway. Was pleasantly surprised that I am not going to hell, with eternal fire and damnation for breaking the speed limit. Most of the course was aimed at going too fast in a 30/40 zone.
Go, be polite, nod sagely, drink tea, go home.
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