Speed awareness course feedback
Discussion
A short while back I was caught at 82 on the a303. My first blemish in nearly 30 years of getting away with it.
Annoying as it was, it was a fair cop.
The SAC date came, dreading 4 hours of being told I was a menace to society I arrived with my preconceptions.
Not a habitual speeder my indiscretions were limited to wide open NSLs.
I didn’t come away thinking such activities as 82 on an open empty dry dual carriageway was a major danger and yet since, I’ve benefited massively from keeping to the limits.
Using the electric limiter has proven hugely rewarding, no stress and it only makes a difference to journey times if doing 200 plus miles in open clear roads.
It’s really helped me arrive less stressed, sure I can still get my fun, driving rewarding roads but keeping as close to the safe limit is far more rewarding.
Have you been on a sac and has your driving changed?
Annoying as it was, it was a fair cop.
The SAC date came, dreading 4 hours of being told I was a menace to society I arrived with my preconceptions.
Not a habitual speeder my indiscretions were limited to wide open NSLs.
I didn’t come away thinking such activities as 82 on an open empty dry dual carriageway was a major danger and yet since, I’ve benefited massively from keeping to the limits.
Using the electric limiter has proven hugely rewarding, no stress and it only makes a difference to journey times if doing 200 plus miles in open clear roads.
It’s really helped me arrive less stressed, sure I can still get my fun, driving rewarding roads but keeping as close to the safe limit is far more rewarding.
Have you been on a sac and has your driving changed?
No. I got caught at 99 on the M4 on Grand National day a couple of years ago - my first blemish too. The officer who pulled me was decent considering; he told me I was lucky that he had 99 on his gun but wasn't labouring the fact, I jokingly asked if a SAC was an option! Obviously not!!
Since then, my driving has changed. A lot more setting the cruise control to 70 and just getting there.
Thanks for mentioning the A303, I travel that road twice a week and will be on it tomorrow again; I'll make a special effort to set the cruise with your thread in mind.
Since then, my driving has changed. A lot more setting the cruise control to 70 and just getting there.
Thanks for mentioning the A303, I travel that road twice a week and will be on it tomorrow again; I'll make a special effort to set the cruise with your thread in mind.
I was surprised that I didn't get a SAC option when I received my first speeding ticket last year in over 20 years of driving.
I was clocked at 64 (ish, can't quite remember the exact figure) in a 50 zone, sure it was above the "threshold" but I would of assumed that given I had an unblemished record up to that point, maybe a reminder and refresh would be better than just points and a fine.
I guess it's all automated though.
My driving hasn't changed, I'm just aware now that the mobile camera that caught me, on a road that I use daily, covers both sides of the road, in both directions!
I was clocked at 64 (ish, can't quite remember the exact figure) in a 50 zone, sure it was above the "threshold" but I would of assumed that given I had an unblemished record up to that point, maybe a reminder and refresh would be better than just points and a fine.
I guess it's all automated though.
My driving hasn't changed, I'm just aware now that the mobile camera that caught me, on a road that I use daily, covers both sides of the road, in both directions!
Yes i have done a course and no my driving hasn’t changed....
The entire course. all 3 or 4 hours of it could have been condensed down to 2 words....SLOW DOWN...no amount of crash pictures or guess the accident rate on motorway questions would have changed the fact i got on the cruise control slightly late ...
Have i religiously stuck to limits since? no...i think looking at the road is somewhat safer than obsessing about doing 30 or 31...do i drive sensibly and try to obey the laws of the road? yes...
Do i drink and drive? no do i use my phone? no do i face t
t or drive while tired? no....but then i didn’t before...
Some of the comments from the course leader were farcical ...such as justifying a speed camera on a corner locally as it was a dangerous corner....on that basis speed cameras should be installed every 100 yards (the corner to my knowledge has never had an accident in 30 years...).
But it generated £100 for someone so that’s ok then...
The entire course. all 3 or 4 hours of it could have been condensed down to 2 words....SLOW DOWN...no amount of crash pictures or guess the accident rate on motorway questions would have changed the fact i got on the cruise control slightly late ...
Have i religiously stuck to limits since? no...i think looking at the road is somewhat safer than obsessing about doing 30 or 31...do i drive sensibly and try to obey the laws of the road? yes...
Do i drink and drive? no do i use my phone? no do i face t
t or drive while tired? no....but then i didn’t before...Some of the comments from the course leader were farcical ...such as justifying a speed camera on a corner locally as it was a dangerous corner....on that basis speed cameras should be installed every 100 yards (the corner to my knowledge has never had an accident in 30 years...).
But it generated £100 for someone so that’s ok then...
Lazadude said:
The only thing the SAC showed me was that the public really don't know anything about the rules of the road, signs or even basic physics...
Yes that was my feeling and reconfirmed that continuous driver education would be a much better idea, say a retest in a car - not a classroom, every ten years including a eye testrichs2891 said:
Lazadude said:
The only thing the SAC showed me was that the public really don't know anything about the rules of the road, signs or even basic physics...
Yes that was my feeling and reconfirmed that continuous driver education would be a much better idea, say a retest in a car - not a classroom, every ten years including a eye testGeorge Smiley said:
A short while back I was caught at 82 on the a303. My first blemish in nearly 30 years of getting away with it.
Annoying as it was, it was a fair cop.
The SAC date came, dreading 4 hours of being told I was a menace to society I arrived with my preconceptions.
Not a habitual speeder my indiscretions were limited to wide open NSLs.
I didn’t come away thinking such activities as 82 on an open empty dry dual carriageway was a major danger and yet since, I’ve benefited massively from keeping to the limits.
Using the electric limiter has proven hugely rewarding, no stress and it only makes a difference to journey times if doing 200 plus miles in open clear roads.
It’s really helped me arrive less stressed, sure I can still get my fun, driving rewarding roads but keeping as close to the safe limit is far more rewarding.
Have you been on a sac and has your driving changed?
I have, and it did yes.Annoying as it was, it was a fair cop.
The SAC date came, dreading 4 hours of being told I was a menace to society I arrived with my preconceptions.
Not a habitual speeder my indiscretions were limited to wide open NSLs.
I didn’t come away thinking such activities as 82 on an open empty dry dual carriageway was a major danger and yet since, I’ve benefited massively from keeping to the limits.
Using the electric limiter has proven hugely rewarding, no stress and it only makes a difference to journey times if doing 200 plus miles in open clear roads.
It’s really helped me arrive less stressed, sure I can still get my fun, driving rewarding roads but keeping as close to the safe limit is far more rewarding.
Have you been on a sac and has your driving changed?
My driving was much the same as yours before the course (I was zapped on a NSL Dual Carriageway at 85mph), I've always stuck to 30/40/50 limits however in the past (Pre Speed awareness course) NSL on both single carriageways and multi-lane was treat as almost an "advisory limit" ....I used to happily and regularly exceed the limit by quite some margin.
Not anymore.
I Did mine in Newbury, it was a course run by a married couple ~I obviously found it very educational tbh
Maybe it's my age as well, I came away from SAC feeling like I've been super lucky for the last 20+ years of driving.
OP how old are you if you don't mind?
richs2891 said:
Lazadude said:
The only thing the SAC showed me was that the public really don't know anything about the rules of the road, signs or even basic physics...
Yes that was my feeling and reconfirmed that continuous driver education would be a much better idea, say a retest in a car - not a classroom, every ten years including a eye testLazadude said:
The only thing the SAC showed me was that the public really don't know anything about the rules of the road, signs or even basic physics...
I found that shocking as well, loads on my course thought NSL was 50mph on single and Dual carriageways and ONLY allowed to do 70 on motorways! And as you say many of them didn't know what the different road signs and marking meant either!
Chris I’m 43. Like you I stuck to all other limits and even on the motorway commute I’d stay around 60 as you got there no quicker but at most I’d typically go to 77 on the clock.
Day I got caught I obviously was doing more but I got caught.
Missus laughs. She never obeys any limit and unlikely to get zapped due to the roads she drives. Humph.
Day I got caught I obviously was doing more but I got caught.
Missus laughs. She never obeys any limit and unlikely to get zapped due to the roads she drives. Humph.
George Smiley said:
Chris I’m 43. Like you I stuck to all other limits and even on the motorway commute I’d stay around 60 as you got there no quicker but at most I’d typically go to 77 on the clock.
Day I got caught I obviously was doing more but I got caught.
Missus laughs. She never obeys any limit and unlikely to get zapped due to the roads she drives. Humph.
Ha I'm 44, yeah my Mrs drives quicker than I do now too.Day I got caught I obviously was doing more but I got caught.
Missus laughs. She never obeys any limit and unlikely to get zapped due to the roads she drives. Humph.
Safe travels to you both
Not at all.
I did one in Staffordshire after being clocked at 56 on a temporary 50mph stretch of the motorway at 2am in the morning.
I am a hardened criminal and I deserve the be hung.
Two people on my course did make it amusing though.
When given a bunch of photos and asked to highlight the potential hazards (kids playing, blind bends etc), one guy circled a Range Rover "cuz they all drive like dheads innit".
Another got into an argument with the course presenters over the stated stopping distances being out dated, even offered to go 40mph through the car park and let them measure it
He'd arrived in a Caterham (or at least a replica, I've no idea)
I did one in Staffordshire after being clocked at 56 on a temporary 50mph stretch of the motorway at 2am in the morning.
I am a hardened criminal and I deserve the be hung.
Two people on my course did make it amusing though.
When given a bunch of photos and asked to highlight the potential hazards (kids playing, blind bends etc), one guy circled a Range Rover "cuz they all drive like d
heads innit". Another got into an argument with the course presenters over the stated stopping distances being out dated, even offered to go 40mph through the car park and let them measure it
He'd arrived in a Caterham (or at least a replica, I've no idea) I have told this before... had a really posh but utterly potty mouthed bloke on my table sat next to the most council woman on earth. They seemed to get on famously.
We watched that "speeding is bad" safety film with the guy who keeps seeing the body of the red haired kid that he ran over everywhere.
The lights went up and the ghastly woman who was running things said "that was harrowing wasn't it?"
To which Ms Council blurts out "I know right? That kid was really ginger."
Posh bloke guffaws really loudly and the whole room starts laughing.
We watched that "speeding is bad" safety film with the guy who keeps seeing the body of the red haired kid that he ran over everywhere.
The lights went up and the ghastly woman who was running things said "that was harrowing wasn't it?"
To which Ms Council blurts out "I know right? That kid was really ginger."
Posh bloke guffaws really loudly and the whole room starts laughing.
Whilst I've never been on a SAC, the most interesting fact seems to be that a fairly trivial increase in speed (30 -> 35, say) results in a disproportionate increase in kinetic energy of the vehicle, and a disproportionate increase in impact speed if an accident occurs.
Both make sense mathematically, but aren't immediately intuitive.
Both make sense mathematically, but aren't immediately intuitive.
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