Speed courses could cut premiums
Insurer calls for education not penalty points
Are insurers ripping us off?
However, you have to ask why, with over 40 per cent of British drivers now holding speeding points on their licences, whether general standards of driving have declined enough to warrant higher insurance premiums as a result of the points, or if it's simply the effect of the massive growth in the number of speed cameras.
The awareness courses, which already run in areas such as Humberside, are said to be effective, with fewer than one in 12 of the participants re-offending. Other police forces offering such courses include Lancashire, Thames Valley and Avon & Somerset, but as yet there is no uniformity in the cost or content of the course and, importantly, drivers in other areas have little choice but to accept the penalty points and accompanying fines.
This is soon set to change with most police forces offering courses within a year. Until then however the situation is that some drivers who are given the option of attending a course, rather than receiving penalty points, may have to travel hundreds of miles in order to take part.
Insurer A & A Group has called for the adoption of a nationwide policy and availability to be introduced as soon as possible. This will keep more drivers on the road thus reducing insurance premiums of those who have been caught speeding, but more importantly will lead to a much lower rate of repeat offenders and mean that every driver is treated consistently, wherever they are in the country.
Under the present system, which operates in areas running the scheme, drivers prosecuted for speeding are offered the option of taking part in a speed awareness course at a cost of £60; the cost of a fixed penalty. Drivers will only qualify for the course if they have exceeded the speed limit by 10 per cent plus 2mph which is based on ACPO’s (Association of Chief Police Officers) level for enforcement.
A & A boss Tony Allen said, "There are currently 6,000 fixed and mobile camera sites in Britain. In 2003 alone, over 33,000 drivers were disqualified for reaching the 12 point limit. Currently over 40 per cent of drivers now have points on their licence. Any measure therefore that can decrease the risk of repeat offending will keep some of these drivers on the road and importantly will show them where they were making mistakes before.
"In our experience many drivers are caught by a speed camera as a result of a momentary lapse of concentration rather than being habitual offenders and it is important that such individuals are given every opportunity to keep as clean a licence as possible and so keep their insurance premiums at a minimum."
Allen said, "Insurance premiums can rise dramatically for drivers with six penalty points or more, even through a specialist such as ourselves. The idea that drivers may now have the option to take part in a speed awareness course means that not only will they not accumulate points in the event of an offence, but intermediaries such as ourselves would be willing to take such a course into consideration as a further means of reducing their premium.
"In fact, over the past two years we have already been offering substantial discounts to drivers taking the "Working Towards Safer Driving" course, run by Ultimate Car Control and we would be happy to extend similar discounts to drivers attending police run safer driving courses."
insurance boss said:
"Insurance premiums can rise dramatically for drivers with six penalty points or more, even through a specialist such as ourselves. The idea that drivers may now have the option to take part in a speed awareness course means that not only will they not accumulate points in the event of an offence, but intermediaries such as ourselves would be willing to take such a course into consideration as a further means of reducing their premium.
"In fact, over the past two years we have already been offering substantial discounts to drivers taking the "Working Towards Safer Driving" course, run by Ultimate Car Control and we would be happy to extend similar discounts to drivers attending police run safer driving courses."
These statements seem to hint that if you are caught speeding and take the option of the speed awareness course your insurance might be reduced, in otherwords encouraging people to speed!
article said:
Drivers will only qualify for the course if they exceed the speed limit by 10% +2 which ist based on ACPO level for enforcement
Und people of Lancs have complained at being invited there at 33 und 34 mph.
They made biggest play last year of warning letter up to 36 mph und speed courses at 10% + 5 - but I read in local paper letter columns und from others that ist still these low margins.
Speed course or any kind of training ist a good idea - und not knocking it.... but it has to be applied mit common sense und target those who really need this help.
und
article said:
In our experience mny drivers are caught by speed camera as a result of a momentary lapse of concentration rather than being habitual offenders
which proves ist about revenue raising in itself und has nothing to do mit safety. Und a mometary lapse ist no reason to insist on speed course. Such lapses can occur regardless. Should be warning letter over such momentary lapses und a course for all blats of widest margin.
Und in any case - the case ist closed on completion of the course. There ist no obligation to disclose the one off discrepancy at all.
If this bloke ist serious about promoting und providing a carrot to improve - then we should have some measure whereby insurance premium ist lowered for voluntary coursese to improve driving - und there could also be some other incentives like vouchers to off-set against servicing etc.
But suspect ist case of potential 2 points for 31 mph und 3 points for 35 mph - und excuse to hike up premiums as people have said already.
qsilver911 said:
"over 40 per cent of British drivers now holding speeding points on their licences"
If this is true I can not see how the government can claim speed cameras are doing a lot of good, apart from earning them lots of money of course. Its a total joke.
Agreed. All the cameras do is remove the stigma of speeding points. It used to be that only really dangerous drivers were banned, if you got upto 6 points you were a nutter; but now it seems like a lottery depending on which county you live in or the distance you drive.
C_M (clean licence again in 1 week!)
cliffe_mafia said:
Agreed. All the cameras do is remove the stigma of speeding points. It used to be that only really dangerous drivers were banned, if you got upto 6 points you were a nutter; but now it seems like a lottery depending on which county you live in or the distance you drive.
Agreed...somehow I've never had any points!
(if you've passengered with me when I'm having fun, that statement will sound hilarious! Not that I'm a dangerous driver, just that I have my own views on what speeds are safe for what roads....based on observation of sight-lines, hazards, conditions, traffic-volumes etc.)
) Generally, here if the offense isn't that serious you can take the course (say, 4-hour course for speeding 5-10 over, 8hrs for 10-20), but there's no complicated math to figure out of you're qualified.tuscanboy said:
Maybe its dawning on the government, that at the present rate of penalty point endorsments, there could be a significant drop of in driver numbers and therefore speeding revenue. They could drop the points altogether and increase fines, but this would expose the policy for what it really it. So instead, offer a course which "will improve driver safety" and avoid the dilemma of too many banned drivers. A friend of mine was given this option recently but had heard that in order to "pass" the course you had to effectively admit that your 3 mph excess speed threatened the lives of unborn children in the remotest corners of the world, and that driving at 29.5 mph with your attention firmly focused on your speedometer is the best policy. He told them to F*** Off and accepted the 3 points.
I'm not at all keen on the idea of receiving my first three points, but I'm inclined to agree with your friend.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
TripleS said:
I'm not at all keen on the idea of receiving my first three points, but I'm inclined to agree with your friend.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
No no no. If you are offered a course swallow your pride and take it. How bad can it be smiling and nodding and saying your sorry whilst inside (deep down and hidden) one is laughing away at the fact you've hoodwinked them into letting you off.
£60 is irrelevant to many people as a fine.
3pts contributing to totting up is not.
I challenge the SCPs and the Government to prove its not about the money.
Get rid of the fines completely. Keep the points system as it is.
Don said:
I'm not at all keen on the idea of receiving my first three points, but I'm inclined to agree with your friend.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
No no no. If you are offered a course swallow your pride and take it. How bad can it be smiling and nodding and saying your sorry whilst inside (deep down and hidden) one is laughing away at the fact you've hoodwinked them into letting you off.
£60 is irrelevant to many people as a fine.
3pts contributing to totting up is not.
Maybe you're right, but I would have a real struggle even pretending to agree with their claptrap. I have a long term habit of saying what I think, for good or ill, and it's a difficult habit to break.
In any case it's not just a matter of 3 points and £60 is it? Do they not make a hefty charge for their brainwashing sessions?
Best wishes all,
Dave.
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