Speed Awareness course

Legacy_user

The recent thread on declaring a speed awareness course made me wonder "What is a speed awareness course?"

I have recently decided that it might be sensible to have some kind of older driver's refresher course. Not for any particular reason, than that I have been driving for 50 years, with no claims or accidents, and just thought it might be sensible to get someone to cast a critical eye at my driving.
I can get critical about other people's driving, so thought perhaps i ought to check my own too.

The local authority run such a course, free of charge.
Reading the prospectus it, it covers handling, roundabouts, traffic awareness, highway code, and speed awareness.

If I do this course, am I at risk of then having to declare it?

mattk_180

I highly doubt it seeing as it would be an optional course for drivers to take as a refresher rather than one you have to attend following being caught speeding.

System

Yes, that's what I've assumed, but then insurer's can get tricky over consulting a doctor and having tests, as it might suggest that one had foreknowlege of a condition.
It's back to literal responses to questions v. assumptions.
Have you been on a compulsory speed awareness course - No.
Have you been on any course involving speed awareness -Yes.

Quentin

There isn't a 'compulsory' SaC

mattk_180

It's one of those grey areas where you shouldn't really have to declare it but a not-so-nice insurer could try and use it against you should they find out. Can't see how they would know though as assume these refresher courses aren't monitored as to who attends like the actual post-speeding speed awareness courses do.


At worst I think you should just take the stance of if you are specifically asked about speed awareness courses then just explain the situation. Any insurer that would want to note the policy or increase the premium because of it wouldn't be worth going with.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

So Admiral who are known for asking - they make you answer this:-
"In the last 5 years, has the driver had any motoring offences, including fixed penalties, convictions, driver awareness courses or disqualifications, or any pending prosecutions?"

Sadly, their words do not distinguish or reward voluntary attendance.

So it would be interesting what they would say if you asked them - why not ask therefore...

Aretnap

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

So Admiral who are known for asking - they make you answer this:-
"In the last 5 years, has the driver had any motoring offences, including fixed penalties, convictions, driver awareness courses or disqualifications, or any pending prosecutions?"

Sadly, their words do not distinguish or reward voluntary attendance.

So it would be interesting what they would say if you asked them - why not ask therefore...

I agree that it could be worded better, but context matters and I think the fact that they've bracketed it with fixed penalties, convictions, disqualifications etc (plus basic common sense) makes it fairly obvious that they're talking about courses offered in lieu of a prosecution, not about general refresher/advanced driving courses that you might have chosen to take.

Also, remember that these days the onus is on the insurer to ask clear questions, and if the questions they do ask are unclear, any ambiguity should be interpreted in the consumer's favour

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Aretnap wrote: »

Also, remember that these days the onus is on the insurer to ask clear questions, and if the questions they do ask are unclear, any ambiguity should be interpreted in the consumer's favour

I agree. Although if all insurers were so fair in accepting ambiguity when they created it - the Ombudsman would have a much quieter life...

System

Quentin wrote: »

There isn't a 'compulsory' SaC

It's compulsory in that one or other of fine or SAC is compulsory.

Although I suppose you could argue that neither is compulsory - you could just refuse and then be sent to prison instead.

pinkteapot

ThinkingOutLoud wrote: »

So Admiral who are known for asking - they make you answer this:-
"In the last 5 years, has the driver had any motoring offences, including fixed penalties, convictions, driver awareness courses or disqualifications, or any pending prosecutions?"

Sadly, their words do not distinguish or reward voluntary attendance.

So it would be interesting what they would say if you asked them - why not ask therefore...

The bit in bold is key, in my view. What follows the "including" is a list of possible 'punishments' for committing a motoring offence.

If I voluntarily took some top-up driving lessons, or similar, then nothing in their wording would make me think I had to declare it.

Also, from this page:
https://saferessexroads.org/pages/enforcement/enforce-awareness/

The purpose of the National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) is to give eligible offenders the opportunity to attend a course as an alternative to the Fixed Penalty system of a £100 fine and three penalty points to be endorsed on their licence. In some situations it could prevent a summons to attend court being issued.

The courses are only available by referral from the police.

That seems pretty clear to me that OP going on a general "driver improvement course" that includes a section on speed is a very different thing to the Speed Awareness Course the police send you on.

As always though, if you've ever got any doubts about whether your insurer needs to know something, just phone and ask. I've done this before without it adversely affecting my premium. I always make a note of the date and time of the call and get the name of the person I spoke to, so that if they dispute my informing them in the future I can ask them to listen to the recording of the call.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

pinkteapot wrote: »

That seems pretty clear to me that OP going on a general "driver improvement course" that includes a section on speed is a very different thing to the Speed Awareness Course the police send you on.

So the entire sentence is seen as very hard to read on any readability score index. I nevertheless agree that your interpretation is probably what they mean. I also agree as already stated that calling to check is the peace of mind solution.

You demonstrate another aspect of potential confusion:-
> the words used are "driver awareness course" which is the same term as used by many selling such course to those who have committed no offence (https://www.advanced-driving.co.uk/essential-thinking-skills/driver-awareness-courses/?gclid=CLGqsNrRodICFa8W0wodnTQKMg

> you say a "driver improvement course" is different and so not what they mean - this is what Kent Policy offer - http://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/road-safety/driver-improvement-courses most are for offences / those reported by police

> Finally, "Speed Awareness Course" is just one of a number of courses that you can be sent on after an offence and is not the term used by Admiral for this reason. You can also enjoy Driver Diversion or Driving 4 Change, for example.