[PurpleTT]

Well I've booked myself in for a 4hr course, at the recommendation of the Surrey Constabulary

Totally in the wrong of course, doing 86 on an empty dual carriageway (A3), mid afternoon, sunny etc etc but no excuse. 'twas a van parked in a layby that dun me.

Anyway - what actually happens on the day? I doubt it's a friendly bit of chit chat & a few canapes. The website says the course covers:

• The benefits of complying with speed limits
• Attitudes surrounding misuse of speed
• The consequences of speeding
• Knowledge and skills
• Personal responsibility
• What difference does your driving speed make?
• Impact of your behaviour on other road users

Anyone been on one? Did it change you? I kinda want it to change me if I'm honest, but I am what I am and don't usually respond to people telling me what to do terribly well but I will have an open mind.

[Edinburra]

Originally Posted by PurpleTT

Well I've booked myself in for a 4hr course, at the recommendation of the Surrey Constabulary

Totally in the wrong of course, doing 86 on an empty dual carriageway (A3), mid afternoon, sunny etc etc but no excuse. 'twas a van parked in a layby that dun me.

Anyway - what actually happens on the day? I doubt it's a friendly bit of chit chat & a few canapes. The website says the course covers:

• The benefits of complying with speed limits
• Attitudes surrounding misuse of speed
• The consequences of speeding
• Knowledge and skills
• Personal responsibility
• What difference does your driving speed make?
• Impact of your behaviour on other road users

Anyone been on one? Did it change you? I kinda want it to change me if I'm honest, but I am what I am and don't usually respond to people telling me what to do terribly well but I will have an open mind.

I haven't been on one, yet, but am very interested in just how it changes your perception, if indeed it does.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by PurpleTT

I kinda want it to change me if I'm honest

In what way?

[Daftasabrush]

A good friend of mine went on one and said it was one of the most depressing experiences he'd ever had. He was basically preached at for the entire duration and shown harrowing images of what happens if you crash and get wounded.

[335dJa]

I think they vary, I went on one that was involving and interesting. My dad went on one that was just a load of preaching, with questions that all had the same answer.
Best to go with an open mind like you say, and hope to learn.
You always get a few people turn up who are determined not to learn, they will argue till they're blue in the face that their "mitigating circumstances" made it different and its just a way of making revenue.

[dizzy619]

I will tell you what those days are........



. Better than 3points!

[Consett Mag]

I went on one a couple of years ago. It was actually ok. The guys were reasonably fair. Not condescending etc.

It's for minor speeding. Can't do it for going stupidly fast.

Opens your eyes to problem of fatalities still occuring with minor infringements.

It makes you think - but you'll still want an M3.

[JNW1]

I had to go on one last year and to be honest it was ok; a long time since I did my test and looked at the highway code so in some respects it was a useful memory jogger! However, as others have said, I think it very much depends on who's running the course as I know friends and colleagues who've been on them and found it all quite patronising and a bit of a waste of time (albeit worth it to avoid points on the licence!).

Did it change me? Well, I was done by a camera van for doing 80mph on a relatively quiet stretch of dual carriageway and thought that was pretty harsh given there was nothing unsafe about what I was doing (had a patrol car been sat at the side of the road I doubt they'd have even batted an eyelid as I went past). However, I am now more conscious of vans potentially lurking almost anywhere and am aware that there's probably now less leeway for exceeding the limit than I previously thought. It hasn't changed how I drive around town as I'm usually pretty good at sticking to the speed limits there anyway but I'm definitely not exceeding the limits on A-roads and motorways by as much as I used to; always thought I'd be ok in the 80's on dual carriageways and motorways but clearly not!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Slightly off topic, however this blog article by CPMG is not bad from police speed check point of view.

https://trafficwmp.wordpress.com/2016/04/

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by JNW1

Did it change me? Well, I was done by a camera van for doing 80mph on a relatively quiet stretch of dual carriageway and thought that was pretty harsh given there was nothing unsafe about what I was doing (had a patrol car been sat at the side of the road I doubt they'd have even batted an eyelid as I went past). However, I am now more conscious of vans potentially lurking almost anywhere and am aware that there's probably now less leeway for exceeding the limit than I previously thought. It hasn't changed how I drive around town as I'm usually pretty good at sticking to the speed limits there anyway but I'm definitely not exceeding the limits on A-roads and motorways by as much as I used to; always thought I'd be ok in the 80's on dual carriageways and motorways but clearly not!

But have you slowed down because the course convinced you that your speeding made you a more dangerous driver, or are you just now more aware that the chances of being caught are higher than you thought?

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by Consett Mag

I went on one a couple of years ago. It was actually ok. The guys were reasonably fair. Not condescending etc.

It's for minor speeding. Can't do it for going stupidly fast.

Opens your eyes to problem of fatalities still occuring with minor infringements.

It makes you think - but you'll still want an M3.

^^This

I've done a couple of these, they have to be over 3 years apart from memory otherwise you get the points. 2nd one was run by the AA. Bought myself a better camera detector as a result, which makes me drive more safely I think, as well as avoiding points of course

As above, it won't make you buy a 116d though

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Go with an open mind and engage with them.

For me (qualified as an advanced driver) I didn't actually learn anything new BUT it was all a reminder. The guys were OK, in fact better than OK, never once looked down on the group or spoke about people's offences.

As a keen driver you'll find you are one of the few who will be able to answer all the hazard perception and observation questions. It will likely surprise you how some people just don't get it.

It changed me insomuch that I realised I wouldn't be offered a course again for 3 years so became resolutely not to be caught again.

Did you get caught on the A3 near the M25 (northbound past the BP garage?) SBE of so, they're always parking there!

Where are you doing the course?

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

But have you slowed down because the course convinced you that your speeding made you a more dangerous driver, or are you just now more aware that the chances of being caught are higher than you thought?

The latter; I don't believe I was doing anything dangerous when I was flashed by the camera van and, as I say, I don't think a traffic car would have given me a second glance unless the officers inside were having a really bad day! Much of the speed awareness course I attended focused on speeding around town (it's 30 for a reason, etc) and I actually get that; however, I'm not convinced there's any good reason for 70 on motorways and dual carriageways and the vigilant enforcing of that limit does seem to me to be more about revenue than safety. However, I have no desire to accumulate points or throw money away in fines so the net result is I've slowed down a bit on those roads....

[Tengocity]

Ok that makes sense! the 70mph limit on motorways is a complete and utter nonsense and no amount of speed awareness courses will change my view on that. Everywhere else I think it seems about right, though there are inconsistencies everywhere.

[PurpleTT]

Tengocity Well I'm really an impatient driver and I need to learn to chill. Trouble is I'm frustrated by holdups every day, I pounce to accelerate at every opportunity. It's a life on the M25 that harbours that pent up desire to get going. Just coming to work today J9 was blocked - when my diversion got me back on the M25 past the overturned lorry it was clear as a whistle - but matrix signs said 60. It's all just so aaaaaargh!!

I don't need a speed awareness course, I need a psychiatrist!

MarkG335 Yeah sounds like there - it was the A3 Ripley bypass northbound not far past the Hindhead tunnel. I'm booked in at the Hartsfield Hotel near Betchworth 24th June.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by PurpleTT

Tengocity Well I'm really an impatient driver and I need to learn to chill. Trouble is I'm frustrated by holdups every day, I pounce to accelerate at every opportunity. It's a life on the M25 that harbours that pent up desire to get going. Just coming to work today J9 was blocked - when my diversion got me back on the M25 past the overturned lorry it was clear as a whistle - but matrix signs said 60. It's all just so aaaaaargh!!

I don't need a speed awareness course, I need a psychiatrist!

MarkG335 Yeah sounds like there - it was the A3 Ripley bypass northbound not far past the Hindhead tunnel. I'm booked in at the Hartsfield Hotel near Betchworth 24th June.

Yeah that's a fair point, and i can be the same. I'm pretty chilled in that kind of Motorway slog where it's nose to tail, but I struggle not to get annoyed by the outer lane hoggers when if they pulled over it would release a stack of traffic that could all do 90+ happily.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Ok that makes sense! the 70mph limit on motorways is a complete and utter nonsense and no amount of speed awareness courses will change my view on that. Everywhere else I think it seems about right, though there are inconsistencies everywhere.

Thing is, there are times when 70 on a motorway is too high (in fog or in heavy rain with lots of spray for example) but there's never any action taken against the idiot who sits 6 feet from your back bumper in those circumstances. Conversely, I was caught doing 80 on a sunny day with a dry road and relatively light traffic (so no safety implication whatsoever) and that's what I find annoying. Many years ago old Len Setright said there should be only one motoring offence (dangerous driving) and whilst I'm sure it was said tongue in cheek I know what he meant!

[Gixerste]

Originally Posted by JNW1

Thing is, there are times when 70 on a motorway is too high (in fog or in heavy rain with lots of spray for example) but there's never any action taken against the idiot who sits 6 feet from your back bumper in those circumstances. Conversely, I was caught doing 80 on a sunny day with a dry road and relatively light traffic (so no safety implication whatsoever) and that's what I find annoying. Many years ago old Len Setright said there should be only one motoring offence (dangerous driving) and whilst I'm sure it was said tongue in cheek I know what he meant!

+1 I've done this course, 58 in a 50 area. It was dual carriage way with a crash barrier between the lanes and the speed limit had just been dropped a couple of month before . The course it self wasn't too bad but I think that was because of the people who were doing, it take it with a pinch of salt answer the questions and look interested as if they think you didnt participate they can fail you and you then get the points

[dopper99]

At 23% over the speed limit I'm surprised the OP was offered an speed awareness course TBH and that they didnt throw 3 points at him. I guess his speedo would have been showing near 90mph with speedo error.

I thought they only offered you these courses if you were just a small percentage over (say around 80mph)?

(BTW Not knocking the OP, we've all done it. )

[goodbyalfa]

I was offered and went on a course for driving without due care, when i had an accident a few years ago. When pulling out of the back of a motorway service station and exiting onto a country lane I couldn't really see clearly as I looked left and right due to bushes etc. Anyway, as i pulled out, a car was shooting along and I couldn't get out of the way due to the narrow road. Copper at the time said it was one of those things, an "accident". However, the back room investigators saw the chance of earning a few quid with the course kick back fees, so off I went...

The course was run by the AA and was really good actually. Yes there is plenty of the potential death stuff to make you think but mostly ok really. Biggest pain was that it was quite an expensive a course and I had to take a day off work and drive to the other side of Ipswich.. Mostly stuff you know but a good refresher, and the ~1 hours driving was quite insightful. One thing he suggested for the "peep and creep" out of blind exits was to wind the window down and listen, which I'll be honest I had never even considered!
I also realize that whilst I am a capable driver, I do drive on autopilot a lot, ie If I passed a road sign, 10 seconds later the instructor would ask me what the sign said and I'd already long forgotten..

[Kal101]

Am I right in thinking that you have to declare this to your insurance now a days as well ???

[Gixerste]

Originally Posted by Kal. 101

Am I right in thinking that you have to declare this to your insurance now a days as well ???

On the course they say not, although if an insurance company ask you outright I suppose you would have to