Points V Driving awareness course?

swingaloo

A work colleague of mine has just got a speeding ticket 39 mph in a 30 zone.:o

She says she expects to be given an option of taking a speed awareness course rather than points but is worried about the cost of it and having to take time off work.

Ive said that I thought her insurance premium may not rise as much if she takes the course as opposed to points, but is this true as surely she needs to let her insurance company know even if she does do the course in which case it will rise anyway.

Also wondering if she has to let her insurance know straight away or does she wait till her renewal time which is not till Jan?

I cant advise as Ive not been in the position she's in but she doesn't have access to this site so I said I would try to get an answer for her.
Thanks.

hartcjhart

take the course apx £80 she will not need to tell the insurance company(although somebody said aviva ask you)

Iceweasel

You are under no obligation to tell your insurance company that you have been on an 'awareness course'.

Neither right away nor on renewal.

However it seems that some companies have been asking specific questions about whether or not you have been on one.

You colleague needs to find that out.

But it's a sad reflection of society and how much importance is placed on having a clean licence these days, that it comes down to how much it costs to go on a course instead.

bod1467

The cost of a course is typically no different really then the cost of the fixed penalty notice. (Which is now £100 and 3 points).

vansboy

I feel it should be a compulsory course, rather than points, certainly for first offence.

It is a good reminder of what can go wrong, in a situation where the incorrect speed is applied.

VB

bod1467

39 in a 30 is right on the edge of being offered a course. (10% plus 6 mph is the limit).

Iceweasel

bod1467 wrote: »

The cost of a course is typically no different really then the cost of the fixed penalty notice. (Which is now £100 and 3 points).

Just in case I was misunderstood - what I was getting at was 'old school' folks like me would be more than happy to pay £80 and take a day off work to be able to continue to say that they had a clean licence.

And held it for x number of years.

Seems like a days pay is more important to some folks.

But ...... if a days pay really is a case of cash-strapped financial necessity, then that too is a sad reflection on the wages paid in the UK.

Of course some of our footballer personalities would just throw money at the problem and make it go away.

There is no easy answer to this -- is there?

Iceweasel

bod1467 wrote: »

39 in a 30 is right on the edge of being offered a course. (10% plus 6 mph is the limit).

Using the ACPO guidelines an awareness course could be given for speeds up to 42mph.

http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/uniformed/2013/201305-uoba-joining-forces-safer-roads.pdf

No awareness courses at any speed in Scotland of course.

sheilavw

My Husband did the course about 18 month ago. It had changed to a half day instead of a full and was £60 . If you are worried about time off work and work monday to friday you can request a saturday, he did and got a saturday morning

Aretnap

bod1467 wrote: »

39 in a 30 is right on the edge of being offered a course. (10% plus 6 mph is the limit).

2011 called, it wants its criteria back. Now 10%+9 in almost all areas which offer courses.

swingaloo

Thank you all for the responses. I will pass on the information tomorrow.