Annoying Speed Awareness Courses
Discussion
Chose to sit through one of these recently again after a hiatus of a number of years.
What a total disaster.
NSA man “any ideas on how we could stay at 30mph more easily?”
Me “drive in 3rd - I mean, it’s bad for economy and emissions but the extra engine braking makes it easier to drive the car at this slow speed.”
NSA man “Great yes that works well and you’re wrong - it’s actually better for fuel economy and emissions. In fact you can damage modern cars driving them at low rpm. Because they don’t have carburettors they use less fuel at high rpm like that than at low rpm.”
Me - “ok thanks” - 20 years ago I would have been the annoying git that wanted to talk about it!
A bit later:
NSA man - “Imagine you’re trying to lose weight - can anyone think of a good strategy to stop eating biscuits?”
NSA man “anyone?”
NSA man “anyone got any idea?”
NSA man “Well I’ll tell you - what about not buying biscuits from the supermarket? Hmm?”
NSA man “That’s called a ‘strategy’ - do you think we could use a ‘strategy’ to help us not speed?”
I assume that the other five or six fully grown adults on the course could also feel their toes curling inside their shoes at that point.
Oh the strategy recommended?
NSA man “I suggest you draw a smiley face on a post it note, to remind you of me, and put it in the corner of your windscreen. That way, you’ll see me all the time and it will remind you to check your speed.”
Lovely.
I seem to remember the last one I did (in person) being of significantly better quality - this one was a real barrel-scraper!
What a total disaster.
NSA man “any ideas on how we could stay at 30mph more easily?”
Me “drive in 3rd - I mean, it’s bad for economy and emissions but the extra engine braking makes it easier to drive the car at this slow speed.”
NSA man “Great yes that works well and you’re wrong - it’s actually better for fuel economy and emissions. In fact you can damage modern cars driving them at low rpm. Because they don’t have carburettors they use less fuel at high rpm like that than at low rpm.”
Me - “ok thanks” - 20 years ago I would have been the annoying git that wanted to talk about it!
A bit later:
NSA man - “Imagine you’re trying to lose weight - can anyone think of a good strategy to stop eating biscuits?”
NSA man “anyone?”
NSA man “anyone got any idea?”
NSA man “Well I’ll tell you - what about not buying biscuits from the supermarket? Hmm?”
NSA man “That’s called a ‘strategy’ - do you think we could use a ‘strategy’ to help us not speed?”
I assume that the other five or six fully grown adults on the course could also feel their toes curling inside their shoes at that point.
Oh the strategy recommended?
NSA man “I suggest you draw a smiley face on a post it note, to remind you of me, and put it in the corner of your windscreen. That way, you’ll see me all the time and it will remind you to check your speed.”
Lovely.
I seem to remember the last one I did (in person) being of significantly better quality - this one was a real barrel-scraper!
He does sound a bit special. I did an in person SAC a couple.of years ago that was better than I was expecting. Reasonable presenter and some good discussions. Content a bit old. That video with Tiff Needell...
Maybe being on Zoom for 18 months has tipped him over the edge? I have felt that way myself occasionally;)
Maybe being on Zoom for 18 months has tipped him over the edge? I have felt that way myself occasionally;)
CoolHands said:
When eventually get caught, as I have a clean licence, I intend to take the points.
No don’t do that - do the course. Like the other poster I had a much better experience a few years ago.They should rename it “motorists survival course” and stop trying to justify the speed limits in the course, instead focussing solely on how to keep your license by using tactical driving and observation and stuff that I probably don’t do well enough.
Julian Thompson said:
They should rename it “motorists survival course” and stop trying to justify the speed limits in the course, instead focussing solely on how to keep your license by using tactical driving and observation and stuff that I probably don’t do well enough.
Then the course would be insufficiently patronising.dontlookdown said:
He does sound a bit special. I did an in person SAC a couple.of years ago that was better than I was expecting. Reasonable presenter and some good discussions. Content a bit old. That video with Tiff Needell...
Maybe being on Zoom for 18 months has tipped him over the edge? I have felt that way myself occasionally;)
Agreed. Mine was better than I expected, and I learnt a few things. Was certainly better than points.Maybe being on Zoom for 18 months has tipped him over the edge? I have felt that way myself occasionally;)
I’ve never had to do a SAC, I have got away with a roadside ‘word of advice’ the last 2 times I’ve been stopped (luckily both times it was by reasonable PCs). From the above, is audience participation obligatory on these? I assume questions get fired out individually to assess attitudes etc? I’m not sure I’d be able to hold my tongue if some of the more patronising, idiotic stuff was spouted, so is maintaining a ‘tactical silence’ an option?
I've done two. The first was about 12 years ago at a school in Oldham. It started with one of the two instructors introducing themselves and he came across as a decent chap. The other was a condescending prick. It was held at 5 pm, so I expect most people had just finished work and really did not want to be there.
There was one bloke who was insistent that it was his employer's (BT) fault that he was there, and kept moaning throughout. His logic was he does not like driving; he cycles everywhere and only drives the van for work.
There was a taxi driver there that clearly knew the square root of f**k all about the Highway Code. I never forget the end of the course though; the cars were parked on the opposite side of the school playground.
Watching everybody dashing to their cars and driving off as quickly as possible was like an old Le Mans start!
I had to do one a couple of years ago, this time I chose Bolton. This time the instructors were really sound.
One thing I have picked up from both courses is the overwhelming majority do not know how to determine the speed limit if there are no signposts.
There was one bloke who was insistent that it was his employer's (BT) fault that he was there, and kept moaning throughout. His logic was he does not like driving; he cycles everywhere and only drives the van for work.
There was a taxi driver there that clearly knew the square root of f**k all about the Highway Code. I never forget the end of the course though; the cars were parked on the opposite side of the school playground.
Watching everybody dashing to their cars and driving off as quickly as possible was like an old Le Mans start!
I had to do one a couple of years ago, this time I chose Bolton. This time the instructors were really sound.
One thing I have picked up from both courses is the overwhelming majority do not know how to determine the speed limit if there are no signposts.
CloudStuff said:
GreatGranny said:
Mine was a few years ago but was pretty good.
Maybe OP should be more observant and careful with his right foot if this is a regular thing
By definition, it can't be regular - a minimum of a three-year gap.Maybe OP should be more observant and careful with his right foot if this is a regular thing
Maybe BREAK should update their trolling scripts?
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff