Driver Awareness Course tomorrow - anything I need to know?
Discussion
Got caught 7mph over the 30 mph on the way to work a month or so back, got the Driver Awareness Training tomorrow.
I've been told to expect people to talk down to me in a very patronising way for a couple of hours, but obviously, this could be based upon someone elses experiences.
Anything I need to know to prepare?
I've been told to expect people to talk down to me in a very patronising way for a couple of hours, but obviously, this could be based upon someone elses experiences.
Anything I need to know to prepare?
I did one recently.
If you are a keen PHer you will find they are targeted below your level. There were people on my course who didn't know the national or Mway speed limit FFS...
However, despite being a complete know it all, who's driving is near perfect
, I still learnt a few things and actually though it a good effort - certainly better than just handing out points (both for my own benefit and for the numpties, who bearly knew one end of a car from another)
If you are a keen PHer you will find they are targeted below your level. There were people on my course who didn't know the national or Mway speed limit FFS...
However, despite being a complete know it all, who's driving is near perfect
, I still learnt a few things and actually though it a good effort - certainly better than just handing out points (both for my own benefit and for the numpties, who bearly knew one end of a car from another)A Mate of mine participated in one not long ago, it sounds great!! the lecturer was training to be a track day driving instructor, he was basically explaining how to drive on the limit and what to do if you encounter over steer at high speed! yep, sounds like just what is needed for every day driving 
balls-out said:
I did one recently.
If you are a keen PHer you will find they are targeted below your level. There were people on my course who didn't know the national or Mway speed limit FFS...
However, despite being a complete know it all, who's driving is near perfect, I still learnt a few things and actually though it a good effort - certainly better than just handing out points (both for my own benefit and for the numpties, who bearly knew one end of a car from another)
It's a broad church, some speed carelessly, others wilfully If you are a keen PHer you will find they are targeted below your level. There were people on my course who didn't know the national or Mway speed limit FFS...
However, despite being a complete know it all, who's driving is near perfect
, I still learnt a few things and actually though it a good effort - certainly better than just handing out points (both for my own benefit and for the numpties, who bearly knew one end of a car from another) so best to start with the basics.Sit, listen, leave.
I was bored out of up skull but poster above is correct, it will be full of people who have no idea on the roads and people who think they know it all.
Don't be flippant or sarcastic as they can kick you out (leading to losing the cash you paid and needing to pay £100 and take the points - it happened to someone in mine).
There was one guy who spend the night tutting and shaking his head and then wheelspinning out of the car park.
I was bored out of up skull but poster above is correct, it will be full of people who have no idea on the roads and people who think they know it all.
Don't be flippant or sarcastic as they can kick you out (leading to losing the cash you paid and needing to pay £100 and take the points - it happened to someone in mine).
There was one guy who spend the night tutting and shaking his head and then wheelspinning out of the car park.
My experience is, I'm sure, not atypical; the majority of people didn't know the most basic stuff, and very few had a clue about braking distances etc. Some were still angry at having been caught, some still protested their innocence....but filter them out, go in with an open mind and you'll learn something. Maybe not £100 worth, but even if it just makes you pause and think about one or two of your driving habits, that's a good thing.
longblackcoat said:
My experience is, I'm sure, not atypical; the majority of people didn't know the most basic stuff, and very few had a clue about braking distances etc. Some were still angry at having been caught, some still protested their innocence....but filter them out, go in with an open mind and you'll learn something. Maybe not £100 worth, but even if it just makes you pause and think about one or two of your driving habits, that's a good thing.
Are people really still harping on about 'braking distances', as if something so infinitely variable can be quantified by a single unifying number? Besides which, I (and I'm not alone, I can't be, I'm a driving God) really couldn't tell you how far behind the car in front I should be (could be 200 feet, could be 300, I'm not really sure why it matters what the actual number is), but I know a safe distance when I see one.Simon.
I'm sure there are similar stories, but if they show a picture of a nice A road and ask the question "how fast can you go on this section of road" remember the correct answer is not "well, maybe about 95 on the straighter parts".
Luckily they all thought I was joking, and was diluted by the fact that most people in the room genuinely didn't know.
Just try not to say anything, you're attending the course to ultimately avoid the points, and hopefully learn something in the process. Despite being very sceptical none of the content was wrong and I did learn something.
Luckily they all thought I was joking, and was diluted by the fact that most people in the room genuinely didn't know.
Just try not to say anything, you're attending the course to ultimately avoid the points, and hopefully learn something in the process. Despite being very sceptical none of the content was wrong and I did learn something.
The one I went to was a good course and well delivered by an engaging ex copper. No patronising chat at all. Some useful pointers on road safety in general. Good refresher stuff plus some new stuff. There were a couple of typical peepipoo style d
heads in the audience, but ignore them if you get any at your course and you may even enjoy the session.
heads in the audience, but ignore them if you get any at your course and you may even enjoy the session.ferrariF50lover said:
Are people really still harping on about 'braking distances', as if something so infinitely variable can be quantified by a single unifying number? Besides which, I (and I'm not alone, I can't be, I'm a driving God) really couldn't tell you how far behind the car in front I should be (could be 200 feet, could be 300, I'm not really sure why it matters what the actual number is), but I know a safe distance when I see one.
Simon.
Whilst stopping distances are hugely variable, based on weather, type of car etc, there are some interesting facts re stopping distance that are mathematical equations based on the laws of physics and are not variable. Eg. If you slam on the brakes at 30mph and stop 1mm short of the child that's run out, had you been doing 35, you would have hit the child at 18mph.Simon.
And, even more alarmingly, if you brake on the m/way from 70 and just stop short of the car in front, if you'd been doing 100, you'd have hit them at 71mph!!!
So not all talk of stopping distances is wasted.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Whilst stopping distances are hugely variable, based on weather, type of car etc, there are some interesting facts re stopping distance that are mathematical equations based on the laws of physics and are not variable. Eg. If you slam on the brakes at 30mph and stop 1mm short of the child that's run out, had you been doing 35, you would have hit the child at 18mph.
And, even more alarmingly, if you brake on the m/way from 70 and just stop short of the car in front, if you'd been doing 100, you'd have hit them at 71mph!!!
So not all talk of stopping distances is wasted.
No one doubts the physics, but the act of actually knowing what's written in the Highway code is meaningless for the reasons I stated. Asking people "what's the stopping distance from 30mph?" is a meaningless question for reasons both of variability in the answer and of the fact that, even if we were somehow to know the precise stopping distance for any given set of variables, being able to accurately estimate that distance while actively concentrating on driving is a task which most people would find impossible. And, even more alarmingly, if you brake on the m/way from 70 and just stop short of the car in front, if you'd been doing 100, you'd have hit them at 71mph!!!
So not all talk of stopping distances is wasted.
Knowing that one needs to be exactly 476.3 feet behind the car in front is all well and good (even if it's not true, which it won't be), but if one can't tell the difference between 450 and 500 feet, one never quite knows for sure whether one is far enough back. I haven't the foggiest what the "stopping distance" is from any speed at all, but I've never rear ended anyone, so I can't be doing it too badly.
Simon.
Show up in plenty of time, if you are late even by a minute the jobs worth in charge may refuse to allow you to do the course and you don't usually get a 2nd chance
Also if you have a nice car parking well out the way and don't leave right away. You will understand when you see the stream of poorly driven rot boxes being driven out by the thugs and simpletons which will have probably made up a large percentage of the room
Also if you have a nice car parking well out the way and don't leave right away. You will understand when you see the stream of poorly driven rot boxes being driven out by the thugs and simpletons which will have probably made up a large percentage of the room
I went on one recently and if you go in with a positive attitude it can be quite interesting and informative.
Get involved as much as possible or it will seem like your watch has stopped. (It's about 4 hours long)
As already mentioned, the "I'm a perfect driver" and the "I never speed" people are amusing.
Take a bottle of water and some sweets too although we got filtered water and bowls of mint inperials on the course I attended.
Get involved as much as possible or it will seem like your watch has stopped. (It's about 4 hours long)
As already mentioned, the "I'm a perfect driver" and the "I never speed" people are amusing.
Take a bottle of water and some sweets too although we got filtered water and bowls of mint inperials on the course I attended.
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff