Speed Awareness Course.
Discussion
I had the pleasure of one of these on Monday. Generally a waste of 4 hours, the guys running it were actually apologetic.
What struck me was there was 50 people on the course at £100 a pop, so the private company running it is raking in £5000 a day. Costs? One room in a Holiday Inn and 2 retired coppers for the day.
I'm convinced that if we were not getting the benefit of saving our license from 3 points this would be a national scandal.
What struck me was there was 50 people on the course at £100 a pop, so the private company running it is raking in £5000 a day. Costs? One room in a Holiday Inn and 2 retired coppers for the day.
I'm convinced that if we were not getting the benefit of saving our license from 3 points this would be a national scandal.
I actually didn't mind the course, found some parts quite interesting.
Seemed to be lots of Scottish lorry drivers who took great exception to being there though and were just awkward.
Didn't help my cause being late due to turning up at wrong travel lodge.
Abandoned RS6 in car park, smelling of burning and still pinging and tinging away!
Seemed to be lots of Scottish lorry drivers who took great exception to being there though and were just awkward.
Didn't help my cause being late due to turning up at wrong travel lodge.
Abandoned RS6 in car park, smelling of burning and still pinging and tinging away!
I was on a table with 5 other people, We were asked to total up our driving experience, which equalled 129 years. Guess how many accident attributed to excess speed, 0.
The one thing I got wrong was draw a stop sign, they're octagonal not round. This was used to extrapolate everything else I must be doing wrong while driving.
The one thing I got wrong was draw a stop sign, they're octagonal not round. This was used to extrapolate everything else I must be doing wrong while driving.
ChocolateFrog said:
I was on a table with 5 other people, We were asked to total up our driving experience, which equalled 129 years. Guess how many accident attributed to excess speed, 0.
The one thing I got wrong was draw a stop sign, they're octagonal not round. This was used to extrapolate everything else I must be doing wrong while driving.
They''re very educational, and will teach you all you need to know about driving...The one thing I got wrong was draw a stop sign, they're octagonal not round. This was used to extrapolate everything else I must be doing wrong while driving.
I've been on two. 
The first one, maybe five years ago, was very old-fashioned - finger pointing, shaming stuff..... Completely antagonistic towards the 'class'. Much mumbling of coughw
kercough from the attendees. Unproductive.
Six months ago (I know, I know) I had the pleasure of another.
Way, WAY, better and ran by (hosted under the banner of) the AA. Two ex-professional drivers (??) The first an ex long distance lorry driver with believable stories to tell - and hints as to how to see more. Good stuff, really good stuff.
The other guy was a professional trainer who taught 'defensive' driving. Same thing, teaching something useful which was appreciated by anyone (60%, at a guess) with any interest.
Didn't so much learn much, but was reminded of a lot.
The first one, maybe five years ago, was very old-fashioned - finger pointing, shaming stuff..... Completely antagonistic towards the 'class'. Much mumbling of coughw
kercough from the attendees. Unproductive.Six months ago (I know, I know) I had the pleasure of another.
Way, WAY, better and ran by (hosted under the banner of) the AA. Two ex-professional drivers (??) The first an ex long distance lorry driver with believable stories to tell - and hints as to how to see more. Good stuff, really good stuff.
The other guy was a professional trainer who taught 'defensive' driving. Same thing, teaching something useful which was appreciated by anyone (60%, at a guess) with any interest.
Didn't so much learn much, but was reminded of a lot.
The one thing it made me do was read The Highway Code, probably no bad thing.
Also it highlighted how uneducated the general public is towards driving. Two examples that I swear are true,
1. We were shown a photograph of a road that clearly showed a 40 mph sign and asked what the limit was, people were calling out 30, 50 and 60!
2. We were asked what the appropriate speed was in a 30 and the first 3 answers were 35,,38 and 41!.
Also it highlighted how uneducated the general public is towards driving. Two examples that I swear are true,
1. We were shown a photograph of a road that clearly showed a 40 mph sign and asked what the limit was, people were calling out 30, 50 and 60!
2. We were asked what the appropriate speed was in a 30 and the first 3 answers were 35,,38 and 41!.
I did one last week and whilst I can think of many better ways of spending 4 hours, I'd happily do it each and every time I get caught to avoid points. What disappointed me more than anything was that on our course they showed 4 roads and asked everyone to say what the speed limit was. Not one got the single carriageway NSL, dual carriageway NSL, or motorway right.
However, in answer to the OP what's the problem? You'd be paying £100 to the Treasury on an FPN, as well as (probably) increased insurance of which something like 10% goes to the Treasury again in tax.
However, in answer to the OP what's the problem? You'd be paying £100 to the Treasury on an FPN, as well as (probably) increased insurance of which something like 10% goes to the Treasury again in tax.
ChocolateFrog said:
The one thing it made me do was read The Highway Code, probably no bad thing.
Also it highlighted how uneducated the general public is towards driving. Two examples that I swear are true,
1. We were shown a photograph of a road that clearly showed a 40 mph sign and asked what the limit was, people were calling out 30, 50 and 60!
2. We were asked what the appropriate speed was in a 30 and the first 3 answers were 35,,38 and 41!.
Those two points do demonstrate in reality why they do these courses, and a lot of other stuff besides. It really is an eye opener just how THICK a lot of people really are.Also it highlighted how uneducated the general public is towards driving. Two examples that I swear are true,
1. We were shown a photograph of a road that clearly showed a 40 mph sign and asked what the limit was, people were calling out 30, 50 and 60!
2. We were asked what the appropriate speed was in a 30 and the first 3 answers were 35,,38 and 41!.
Gavia said:
I did one last week and whilst I can think of many better ways of spending 4 hours, I'd happily do it each and every time I get caught to avoid points. What disappointed me more than anything was that on our course they showed 4 roads and asked everyone to say what the speed limit was. Not one got the single carriageway NSL, dual carriageway NSL, or motorway right.
However, in answer to the OP what's the problem? You'd be paying £100 to the Treasury on an FPN, as well as (probably) increased insurance of which something like 10% goes to the Treasury again in tax.
That's the whole point. We don't complain because it's cheaper than points and increased premiums. But if you look at it objectively it's not a gift from the govt/police it's a private company making millions from the system. If it's genuinely in the public spirit then why isn't the police force footing the bill? However, in answer to the OP what's the problem? You'd be paying £100 to the Treasury on an FPN, as well as (probably) increased insurance of which something like 10% goes to the Treasury again in tax.
ChocolateFrog said:
That's the whole point. We don't complain because it's cheaper than points and increased premiums. But if you look at it objectively it's not a gift from the govt/police it's a private company making millions from the system. If it's genuinely in the public spirit then why isn't the police force footing the bill?
It's a gift in that it gives us 5 strikes, rather than 4 assuming minor speeding infringements. I really don't see the problem with them. The fact you took the course when you knew all the stuff you're now railing against is a bit hypocritical. Gavia said:
ChocolateFrog said:
That's the whole point. We don't complain because it's cheaper than points and increased premiums. But if you look at it objectively it's not a gift from the govt/police it's a private company making millions from the system. If it's genuinely in the public spirit then why isn't the police force footing the bill?
It's a gift in that it gives us 5 strikes, rather than 4 assuming minor speeding infringements. I really don't see the problem with them. The fact you took the course when you knew all the stuff you're now railing against is a bit hypocritical. I went in with an open mind despite my scepticism and was sadly disappointed. I'm not going to cut my nose off to spite my face. Yes I could have taken the points as a one man protest but so what? It would have made no difference.
It doesn't mean I can't complain at the fact my minor transgression has done little more than line the pockets of TTC's directors.
clarkmagpie said:
I actually didn't mind the course, found some parts quite interesting.
Seemed to be lots of Scottish lorry drivers who took great exception to being there though and were just awkward.
If you had 500bhp but were only allowed to do 40mph on country roads, you'd be pretty arsey too.Seemed to be lots of Scottish lorry drivers who took great exception to being there though and were just awkward.
InitialDave said:
clarkmagpie said:
I actually didn't mind the course, found some parts quite interesting.
Seemed to be lots of Scottish lorry drivers who took great exception to being there though and were just awkward.
If you had 500bhp but were only allowed to do 40mph on country roads, you'd be pretty arsey too.Seemed to be lots of Scottish lorry drivers who took great exception to being there though and were just awkward.
ChocolateFrog said:
The one thing it made me do was read The Highway Code, probably no bad thing.
Also it highlighted how uneducated the general public is towards driving. Two examples that I swear are true,
1. We were shown a photograph of a road that clearly showed a 40 mph sign and asked what the limit was, people were calling out 30, 50 and 60!
2. We were asked what the appropriate speed was in a 30 and the first 3 answers were 35,,38 and 41!.
If you had read the Highway Code, as you should have done anyway, you may not have found your way onto this remedial course. Also it highlighted how uneducated the general public is towards driving. Two examples that I swear are true,
1. We were shown a photograph of a road that clearly showed a 40 mph sign and asked what the limit was, people were calling out 30, 50 and 60!
2. We were asked what the appropriate speed was in a 30 and the first 3 answers were 35,,38 and 41!.
You were and by the attitude evidenced still uneducated in driving; I think it inevitable that you will shortly find yourself accumulating 12 points and being banned. The sooner the better in my opinion.
Why don't you man-up and accept some advice?
drf765 said:
If you had read the Highway Code, as you should have done anyway, you may not have found your way onto this remedial course.
You were and by the attitude evidenced still uneducated in driving; I think it inevitable that you will shortly find yourself accumulating 12 points and being banned. The sooner the better in my opinion.
Why don't you man-up and accept some advice?
Sounds like you pedal to work.You were and by the attitude evidenced still uneducated in driving; I think it inevitable that you will shortly find yourself accumulating 12 points and being banned. The sooner the better in my opinion.
Why don't you man-up and accept some advice?
ChocolateFrog said:
I had the pleasure of one of these on Monday. Generally a waste of 4 hours, the guys running it were actually apologetic.
What struck me was there was 50 people on the course at £100 a pop, so the private company running it is raking in £5000 a day. Costs? One room in a Holiday Inn and 2 retired coppers for the day.
I'm convinced that if we were not getting the benefit of saving our license from 3 points this would be a national scandal.
Hi.What struck me was there was 50 people on the course at £100 a pop, so the private company running it is raking in £5000 a day. Costs? One room in a Holiday Inn and 2 retired coppers for the day.
I'm convinced that if we were not getting the benefit of saving our license from 3 points this would be a national scandal.
Stop whining. Don't speed.
HTH
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