Caught speeding - HELP!

Joe_Horner

Joe_Horner wrote: »

The courses themselves are useful or not depending entirely on your own attitude while you're there - if you're ok with learning / being reminded of stuff you once learned then they're worthwhile, if you have an "I know best / nothing to learn" mindset then doing one is probably a waste of everyones time

spacey2012 wrote: »

They are a waste of time, yes everyone should drive under the limit, but everyone does not and if you drive at the limit, sooner or later someone will make a mistake over taking you and either write off your car or worse kill you.

We have a winner!:rotfl:

Lovelyjoolz

Going on the speed awareness course and avoiding the points will not necessarily avoid any increased insurance premiums. A lot of insurers have cottoned on to this and will now ask you if you have been on the course and apply the same uplift in premium as there would have been if you'd taken the points instead.

Sometimes, its more prudent to just take the points and save the extra 'fine'.

TadleyBaggie

Unless of course the offence was in Scotland, where no speed awareness courses are available.

Hodge4ever

As previous posters have stated, you will have to return the form saying that you were the driver and then you should receive a letter offering the course as an alternative to a FPN. It will state you need to take it within a certain time-frame (3 months IIRC)

Joe_Horner wrote: »

The courses themselves are useful or not depending entirely on your own attitude while you're there - if you're ok with learning / being reminded of stuff you once learned then they're worthwhile, if you have an "I know best / nothing to learn" mindset then doing one is probably a waste of everyones time

spacey2012 wrote: »

They are a waste of time, yes everyone should drive under the limit, but everyone does not and if you drive at the limit, sooner or later someone will make a mistake over taking you and either write off your car or worse kill you.

Personally I thought the course I went on was useful, obviously a lot of it depends on the people running it, however I went in expected a lot of condescending BS but was pleasantly surprised. They were some small elements verging on 'telling off naughty school children' but overall it was a positive experience.

Mojisola

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

If an awareness course scheme is running in your area, and you meet the criteria, you may be offered it although it is not an automatic right.

Have they changed this? There was a thread on here recently from someone who was having to go back to the area that the offence was committed in to attend the course.

Johno100

Mojisola wrote: »

Have they changed this? There was a thread on here recently from someone who was having to go back to the area that the offence was committed in to attend the course.

I think with that poster it was a traffic light offence and so a different course that was offered. Apparently, those only available in a few areas so the poster faced a long journey back to the area of the offence.

mgdavid

Hodge4ever wrote: »

As previous posters have stated, you will have to return the form saying that you were the driver .......

No; as previous posters have said, your fiancee needs to fill in, sign and return the form stating who was driving |(you).

Aretnap

Mojisola wrote: »

Have they changed this? There was a thread on here recently from someone who was having to go back to the area that the offence was committed in to attend the course.

If the offence was in an area where the local force was in the national scheme, you can do the course in any other area where the force is in the national scheme, subject to availability.

If the local force isn't in the NS you have to do the course in the same area as the offence. Off the top of my head the only forces still not in the NS are Wilts and Dorset (and Scotland which has no courses at all).

fivetide

Since we are at the point where people are posting conflicting and potentially inaccurate information I'm going to go ahead and quote myself:

fivetide wrote: »

Probably worth getting over to pepipoo for some clear advice for your local area etc

gabbleRatchet

I know a couple of people who've been caught doing 36 in a 30 recently and they were both offered the option of doing a speed awareness course.

Agree with Lovelyjoolz. It may be better just to take the points and drive carefully from now on unless you've already got some points on your licence.

Both guys I know who did the course lost a days pay plus the cost of the course. When you calculate the insurance loading for three points or for declaring you've been on a speed awareness course it may not be worth doing it