speed awareness course

Jack_Regan

Iceweasel wrote: »

I expected you to miss the point again - and you did.

But you're right - if we stick to the facts - he's guilty.

It doesn't really matter why.

Fair enough.

What is your point?

His speed was inappropriate?

But that's not an offence is it?

Iceweasel

Jack_Regan wrote: »

What is your point?

His speed was inappropriate?

But that's not an offence is it?

Exactly - now you have understood.

The offence was not stopping.

The inappropriate speed was the reason for not stopping.

But I already said it doesn't matter why he is guilty.

He's just guilty and let's leave it at that.

Lum

Jack_Regan wrote: »

His speed was inappropriate?

But that's not an offence is it?

Inappropriate speed can, by itself, be an offence. It's a lot harder to prosecute than speeding or red light offences, however.

Jack_Regan

Lum wrote: »

Inappropriate speed can, by itself, be an offence. It's a lot harder to prosecute than speeding or red light offences, however.

How and what offence?

Speeding is exceeding a set limit. If it forms part of the evidence for dangerous driving then the offence is dangerous driving.

Or maybe you know of a summons/charge under the road traffic act for in inappropriate speed.

Lum

Careless driving would be an example of a possible charge.

To take this particular situation to it's extreme. Picture a Transit van driver doing 69.9mph on the M6 motorway on a Friday evening in thick fog where the visibility is down to 10 meters.

Jack_Regan

Lum wrote: »

Careless driving would be an example of a possible charge.

To take this particular situation to it's extreme. Picture a Transit van driver doing 69.9mph on the M6 motorway on a Friday evening in thick fog where the visibility is down to 10 meters.

So inappropriate speed isn't the offence in itself as you stated is it?

It forms the evidence for careless so I'll say it again.

Where is it an offence in its own right?

Lum

Can you be brought to court and prosecuted for inappropriate speed? yes

That was the point I was making. Anything else is semantics and pedantry, and I don't have the spoons for that right now, sorry.

Jack_Regan

Lum wrote: »

Can you be brought to court and prosecuted for inappropriate speed? yes

That was the point I was making. Anything else is semantics and pedantry, and I don't have the spoons for that right now, sorry.

No you can't because it isn't an offence.

alastairq

Jack_Regan wrote: »

No you can't because it isn't an offence.

Not per se...but Careless driving is.

Thus, like the Highway Code, it is evidence of......

Specifically defined motoring offences, by their very nature are more difficult to prosecute.

IE, a defined offence requires defined evidence.

That is the 'beauty' of the Careless driving regulation...it is vague, therefore covers so many more eventualities...ie,harder to wriggle out of?

Iceweasel

This thread has lost it's way.

The OP should attend the course wherever it is as it's the penalty free way out. Apart from his travel costs.

To try to justify going through a red light is a loser from the start.

There can be no mitigating circumstances in this case - a fire engine needed through, avoid another vehicle etc. - none of these are possible in this instance - so an offence has been committed and that's that.

Your obligation is to drive at a speed at which you are able to come to a halt promptly, if required. The Court will conclude that you had not taken into account the conditions, ie the effect on braking distance of the heavy trailer, and the offence has therefore been committed. Indeed, there is a risk that the allegation could become driving without due care and attention, which carries a higher punishment.

Also the part about long vehicle combinations and the trailer triggering the camera is a non-starter too.

If the red light is not showing when the front of the vehicle crosses the line, but is illuminated before the rest of the vehicle has passed, an offence is committed. The rules state that it is your obligation as a driver to ensure that the whole of the vehicle can pass on green. If it cannot, you should not proceed.

So we are back to the driving too fast to stop - inappropriate speed - although not exceeding the speed limit of 30mph.

Definitely a speed awareness issue in my opinion.