Driving Awareness Course

cyclonebri1

Ok, a few queries here;

Do all forces now give the option of these for all moving traffic minor/non serious offences?

What is the group size for these, 1 to 1? class of 10? etc??

Is it all theory or some practical stuff?

Does this avoid both points and fine?

What is the status re insurance, yes I know you should inform of any issues but does this flag up??????


And before anyone asks, this is not me, but it's close, ;):D

Lum

If you mean speed awareness, nearly all forces offer this.
If you're on about the various driver awareness corses (e.g. red light, considerate driver, ride aware etc.) these are new and only some forces offer them.

No idea on class details or content as I've never been on one. It most likely varies per force.

cyclonebri1

Lum wrote: »

If you mean speed awareness, nearly all forces offer this.
If you're on about the various driver awareness corses (e.g. red light, considerate driver, ride aware etc.) these are new and only some forces offer them.

No idea on class details or content as I've never been on one. It most likely varies per force.

I think I mean speed awareness, but thought all the stuff was rolled into driving awareness??, new to me too..

Trebor16

They have been running driver improvement schemes for people involved in lower level road traffic offences for a number of years now. I was involved in doing the on road training element for motorcyclists with the London Borough of Barnet (on behalf of the Met Police)as long ago as 2000, so they are not new.

As to declaring them to insurers, if you have had an accident and are then offered the improvement scheme then you wouldn't have to declare that you have taken up the option as it is not a conviction. But the accident would still need to be reported to the insurer.

Admiral on their online quote do have an option to select the speed awareness course in amongst all the endorsement codes but you would only get to this if you have answered "yes" to having had a motoring conviction within the last 5 years. If you truthfully say "no" then you will not be taken to the drop down menu of endorsements.

Lum

If it's speed awareness then the good news is most forces offer them nowadays. They're a good little money earner for the local council so the only way many SCPs can retain funding is to send lots of people on speed awareness courses now that they're not allowed to keep the money from fines any more.

Same with the new crop of driver improvement schemes, the ones that follow the fixed penalty process, not the court offered ones that Trebor16 describes. They make a profit so expect to see more of them.

So I guess the reason for this post is you want to know the likelyhood of your friend getting sent on a course. What speed were they doing, what was the limit and which police force has issued the NIP?

00ec25

Trebor16 wrote: »

Admiral on their online quote do have an option to select the speed awareness course in amongst all the endorsement codes but you would only get to this if you have answered "yes" to having had a motoring conviction within the last 5 years. If you truthfully say "no" then you will not be taken to the drop down menu of endorsements.

I went on a Hampshire police speed course, it was emphasised a number of times that because you are on the course you have not been convicted and therefore do not have to declare this on insurancne as the course is not a conviction, it is instead of a conviction

- It is more expensive than the fine, but avoids both the fine and points. Points cost insurance premiums for years after hence the reason for going
- as stated, it stays off your insurance record (assuming not involved in accident)
- my class was over 30 people, average length of driving experience among the attendees was somewhere around 20 years (only 1 person under 25 years old) "the young ones don't get invited" (ie they are not only just over the speed limit)
- no practicals, questions plus a few videos including ones seen numerous times as telly adverts, purposely not intended to shock, "don't want you having heart attacks or not being able to sleep"
- easy to sleep at the back during the videos, must wake up for the touch pad answer sessions, answers don't have to be correct but you must vote and class can't move on till system shows all have "participated"
- and the closing remark which I still remember "no class reunions for 3 years"

agrinnall

00ec25 wrote: »

- It is more expensive than the fine, but avoids both the fine and points. Points cost insurance premiums for years after hence the reason for going

I've seen posts that say 3 points for speeding don't have much effect on premiums though, and the additional cost of the course plus a day off work ends up costing you more than the fine and extra premiums. Whether this is true or not I have no idea but it seems not to be completely clear cut.

cyclonebri1

Lum wrote: »

So I guess the reason for this post is you want to know the likelyhood of your friend getting sent on a course. What speed were they doing, what was the limit and which police force has issued the NIP?

Don't let her hear you calling her my friend . Yes it was a speeding issue, had a quick look and it seems 53 in a 40 is the cut off point, this was 50.
It's also Derbyshire, a quick look again shows the cost to be about £94 from memory, good news is it's run only a few miles from home.

cyclonebri1

agrinnall wrote: »

I've seen posts that say 3 points for speeding don't have much effect on premiums though, and the additional cost of the course plus a day off work ends up costing you more than the fine and extra premiums. Whether this is true or not I have no idea but it seems not to be completely clear cut.

.

Yes I've seen the same, but from my own experience they do though, I think that's the main consideration. My only speeding ticket was about 8 years ago now, not only did it effect my premium for 4 years, it also raised the premiums on my wifes ins for the same time, with it having me included.

Lum

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Don't let her hear you calling her my friend . Yes it was a speeding issue, had a quick look and it seems 53 in a 40 is the cut off point, this was 50.
It's also Derbyshire, a quick look again shows the cost to be about £94 from memory, good news is it's run only a few miles from home.

Cut off point varies from force to force. It used to be around 46 or 47 in a 40 but they have gone up a lot this last year or so.

Hadrian

A number of years ago I killed my car, my fault, on a country road. I was given the choice of being 'done' for something or other or going on a course. Nobody told me what the course entailed but I was concerned that without a car the venue was some 30 miles away and getting there would have been horrendously difficult. Anyway eventually I got there. Tea and bickys were on offer, we stood around and exchanged notes and in walked the staff. We sat around an oblong table and introduced ourselves but not indicating as to why we were there.
We were shown a video and had to make notes about what potential problems we could see on the screen for us as motorists. Various signs were shown and we had to say what they were. Out of 15 or so I got the booby prize by one point. Questions and answers went on all that first day. We were told that the course wasn't judgmental in any way.
The second day we had to drive around the area in their car with one other of the class. After many years driving it was quite a struggle to drive to someone elses rules! Thankfully the other classmate took over while I relaxed in the back. It was certainly worse than 'the test' as we sat waiting for the examiner to write up his notes. He took his time in telling us we'd passed. It only remained for the results of the class tests to be evaluated. They were and I think we all passed, including the 17 year old who appeared not to take the slightest bit notice of what was going on, and a 70 years old lady who gave me the impression it was all a prelude for imprisonment. God help the examiner on their driving tests!
It certainly altered my driving habits for the better and has lasted some 3 years. If you have the choice certainly go on these courses. One thing though - I was told if I had another culpable accident within 3 years this would not be an option.