Speed Awareness Course

[Barx]

Been on my first speed awareness course today;

Must admit, I thought it was very good, very informative and they don't belittle you in any way.

Think I'll go again in 3 years.....and 1 day :slap

 

[Sharpend]

How much did it cost you and where did you get done?

 

[Apache]

Barx, you are clearly a more rational man than me. I spent the whole course biting my tongue as it said on the paperwork if I didn't participate fully then they would still give me 3 points!

They told us speed kills - I politely explained it didn't.

They kept going on about accidents related to speeding. I asked about the statistics and he seemed very unsure. I asked if I hit a deer on the motorway and I am going 80mph is that a speed related collision - I was told yes. It's not at 70mph. The chances are you'd hit the deer either way.

Many of the fellow participants had no idea that different classes of vehicle had different speed limits.

I asked if the 3 year period is from date of speeding offence or date of the course. He didn't know.

I'd say it was a waste of an afternoon, I learnt nothing. The only thing I do differently is watch out for the unmarked van now I know what it looks like........

 

[steptoe]

I dont speed,

seriously, I DONT.

I drive the van around at a moderate 50 usually, and even in the wifes car very very seldom do I reach 70 [on motorway obviously] , as I normally have the wife and kids with me,

a lot of folks think Im weird as I used to race bikes at stupid speeds [i was actually slow   :Blushing      ] ,

but maybe thats why Ive never felt the need for going fast in a car , or van,,,,  :C

I do agree tho, speed doesnt kill, just the same as guns dont kill, its unskilled drivers that kill, or idiots with access to firearms,

if speed really did kill, there'd be a helluva a lot more deaths at realroadracing .

 

[NozSpark]

I think I'd take the points (especially if I was busy)

 

[sprocketflup]

I had one of them, decided id go with an open mind, and actually enjoyed it.. Learnt a fair bit too about stopping distances and the likes, didn't stop me speeding on the way home though

And Steps, racing slowed me down too

 

[Apache]

I think I'd take the points (especially if I was busy)

I already had 3 when they sent me the offer so I took the course.

First time I was going too fast to be offered a course :innocent

 

[misssweden]

I went to one a few weeks ago. It was better than I thought it would be, but I was ever so slightly hungover and it was a lovely sunny saturday afternoon. Not a good time to be stuck indoors.

 

[Apache]

You got caught speeding in a land rover ?  :slap

42 in a 30. I had a vet student in the car too, just for added entertainment!

The big girl goes fast, just weighing 3 tonnes she takes a little getting there..............

 

[Sidewinder]

Only 3...

 

[ProDave]

Up here there's a plan afoot to install average speed cameras to cut down the carnage on Scotland's most dangerous road (the A9 from Perth to Inverness)

Most of the accidents are caused by inappropriate overtaking of lorries sticking to the official 40mph speed limit on a twisting road. supermarket delivery lorries are the ones that stick to the 40mph limit. Most notably Coop lorries.  Other general haulliers do a more realistic speed.

While I love the road (it's really scenic) It is badly designed. Lots of long sweeping bends where you are never sure is there enough visibility so see far enough to overtake or not?

The plan has stalled at the moment, because research has showed the average speed on the road is in fact presently 58 mph 

Post #3 sums up my feelings.  But if you have been "offered" one of these courses, the best thing to do is just participate and keep your feelings to yourself.

 

[Blue Duck]

Miss sweden speeding? Tut tut...

In islington the speed limit was 30mph and is now 20mph the number of people killed or seriously injured at 30mph is greatly reduced though the number of people killed or seriously injured at 20mph has increased massively!

The real deciding factor is how quickly the ambulance arrives

 

[Apache]

Up here there's a plan afoot to install average speed cameras to cut down the carnage on Scotland's most dangerous road (the A9 from Perth to Inverness)

Is that the one that goes past House of Bruar? If it is it's a gorgeous road. The best thing they could do is make it dual carriageway all the way IMO.

 

[ProDave]

Is that the one that goes past House of Bruar? If it is it's a gorgeous road. The best thing they could do is make it dual carriageway all the way IMO.

That's the one.

Lovely road when it's empty.  The most frustrating road in Scotland on a bank holiday when you have to add caravans to slow you down as well as hgv's

It is in the process of being dualled all the way from Perth to Inverness, but that's a 20 year project.  This average speed camera thing was intended as a "quick fix" to cut down the carnage.  What I want to know is what distance are you averaged over?  Just between one camera and the next? or between several?  If you do 10 miles at 40 stuck behind a lorry, can you do the next 10 at 80 and get away with it?

 

[Apache]

I was told many of the average cameras are dummies and maybe a single pair will be active. There's just no way of knowing which.

 

[kerching]

i went on one of the first ever courses run in Lancs

2 of us criminals in the car and an Instructor......the woman with me went the wrong way around a roundabout! Me and the Instructor nearly shat ourselves

during the video/spot the mistake part.........he stopped the film as the car approached a pedestrian crossing and asked what \i would do.

the crossing indicator was on green so I said I would slow down in case they changed to red or, as it was near a shop kids could come running out into the road. he told me i was wrong as it was an oofahh doofahhh crossing or summat and it needed activating by a pedestrian so i could carry on at 30 MPH.

he then asked me if I knew how many different types of crossing there was. i thought for a minute.........i know 3~~~~~~~~pelican, zebra and pegasus. so thinking on my feet I doubled it to 6 and added one. so my answer was a total guess at 7

to which he said " correct, well done, can you name them?"

I replied " Yes" and then just sat there for about 1 minute in total silence

he asked me why I was not naming them, looking somewhat confused.

at this point I let rip and explained that since he was being so fricking picky with me that he had " actually asked if i could name them" and not " Please will you name them for us.    his question was based upon my ability to name them and not actually to do it"

sandwiches were good though and I did not get the 3 points or need to tell the insurance bandits

 

[revjames]

I went on that one too Kerch in Leyland near the old leyland Truck factory. I thought it was good and informative and I ended up spending a whole afternoon 1 to 1 with an advanced driving instructor and picked up lots of tips. I'd say it made me a better and safer driver and would recommend it.

 

[Apache]

This was an afternoon in a classroom, helping swell AA Drivetech's coffers......

I even had to go up to frigging Sunderland to do it

 

[kerching]

I went on that one too Kerch in Leyland near the old leyland Truck factory. I thought it was good and informative and I ended up spending a whole afternoon 1 to 1 with an advanced driving instructor and picked up lots of tips. I'd say it made me a better and safer driver and would recommend it.

that was the one. Farington I think, by the old tyre works.

joking aside, i did actually learn a couple of things. the instructor was like Peter Kay crossed with a red face ginger

 

[Sharpend]

To put it like that apache, it must have been bad!!!!! :[pmsl1]