Speed awareness courses, online?
Discussion
Did one last year from a leafy lay-by in West Wales.
Work were told that I'd need the time, and agreed that blocking out a bit of the day for the SAC was better for both them and me than having the whole day off.
So approaching the appointed hour, I checked for decent mobile data, tethered the laptop to the phone, and participated from the comfort of my cab. A couple of relatively painless hours later I was on my way. I even learned something - 'gateway' limit changes, which was what had caught me (besides a wholly inappropriate speed limit).
Apparently I wasn't the first HGV driver to 'attend' in this manner.
Another, however, had recently attempted to leave out the 'parking' bit, and take part while driving down the M6...
Work were told that I'd need the time, and agreed that blocking out a bit of the day for the SAC was better for both them and me than having the whole day off.
So approaching the appointed hour, I checked for decent mobile data, tethered the laptop to the phone, and participated from the comfort of my cab. A couple of relatively painless hours later I was on my way. I even learned something - 'gateway' limit changes, which was what had caught me (besides a wholly inappropriate speed limit).
Apparently I wasn't the first HGV driver to 'attend' in this manner.
Another, however, had recently attempted to leave out the 'parking' bit, and take part while driving down the M6...
Takemeaway said:
I have one coming up and saw this on the email.
"You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
Perhaps that's why there are options - course or 3 pts."You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
BertBert said:
Takemeaway said:
I have one coming up and saw this on the email.
"You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
Perhaps that's why there are options - course or 3 pts."You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
BertBert said:
Takemeaway said:
I have one coming up and saw this on the email.
"You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
Perhaps that's why there are options - course or 3 pts."You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
Just to update this. I did managed to get an online course, in fact I think most are now. All quite straight forward, done via Zoom.
It did take about 40mins to get going as all participants have to be individually logged in and approved etc. The actual course was just over two hours, in two modules with a 10 minute tea break. All very friendly and the guy doing it was a good lecturer.
As for the content, all a bit basic, I didn't really learn anything new, I suppose it did give me a refresher. I was surprised how many of the other participants didn't know the basic rules and speed limits. There where a couple of videos of a car driving into cardboard boxes at various speeds, demonstrating the difference in stopping distances etc, all a bit unrealistic and contrived.
Better than getting 3 points though.
It did take about 40mins to get going as all participants have to be individually logged in and approved etc. The actual course was just over two hours, in two modules with a 10 minute tea break. All very friendly and the guy doing it was a good lecturer.
As for the content, all a bit basic, I didn't really learn anything new, I suppose it did give me a refresher. I was surprised how many of the other participants didn't know the basic rules and speed limits. There where a couple of videos of a car driving into cardboard boxes at various speeds, demonstrating the difference in stopping distances etc, all a bit unrealistic and contrived.
Better than getting 3 points though.
CarCrazyDad said:
BertBert said:
Takemeaway said:
I have one coming up and saw this on the email.
"You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
Perhaps that's why there are options - course or 3 pts."You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
BertBert said:
I'd missed how popular my response was! I'm just curious about what options you think are needed? If it was a course you had to attend you clearly couldn't take kids. So if you didn't have any childcare available you'd have no choice but to take the points. But you do have a choice, there are options.
I think you should worry about something else. CarCrazyDad said:
BertBert said:
I'd missed how popular my response was! I'm just curious about what options you think are needed? If it was a course you had to attend you clearly couldn't take kids. So if you didn't have any childcare available you'd have no choice but to take the points. But you do have a choice, there are options.
I think you should worry about something else. 
BertBert said:
CarCrazyDad said:
BertBert said:
Takemeaway said:
I have one coming up and saw this on the email.
"You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
Perhaps that's why there are options - course or 3 pts."You will need to be in a private room, alone without disturbances. This includes not having childcare responsibilities during the course for safe-guarding reasons."
Good job i'm not a single parent with no childcare options
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff