Speed Awareness Courses should be mandatory for new drivers

JackeeBoy

Last year, I had to attend a speed awareness course and it shocked me how many people did not know the simple rules of the road. Only 3 people put their hands up to knowing what a single and dual carriage was and what were their respective speed limits. Also, when asked what the speed limit is when it is shown on a sign, a shocking number of people thought it was genuinely 10% + 2 of whatever was on the sign. Not thinking that was the leeway given, but the actual speed limit.

I have been driving for 6 years and consider myself a relatively decent driver. However, It was not only until 3 or so years ago I found out that undertaking is not legal and it's not just the lane furthest right that is used for overtaking. During my lessons, you were taught how to drive but there were a lot of basic stuff which were left out.

In addition to the above, I met a friend for lunch. First time we spoken in some time. He mentioned that he car got written off as he lost control of the car and hit a lorry. When I said "wow, so soon after getting your licence" as when I last spoke to him, he hadn't passed his test, his response to that was "no, I had my licence for some time before the accident. 9 months".

Obviously 9 months is not a long time to be driving. I then had a little think and remembered my cousin had two cars written off within two years of getting his licence, a colleague at work crashed his recently purchased sports car completely writing it off. My sister has had 2 serious accidents and her friend was in a coma after her second crash. My brother was in the car when his friend crashed the car after recently passing and my cousin died in a car crash.

All of the above were relatively new drivers. I don't know if car accidents are on the rise but just from my perception, too many people are getting licences when they shouldn't have them and more needs to be done to prep people in getting on the road for the first time.

oldernonethewiser

"However, It was not only until 3 or so years ago I found out that undertaking is not legal"


It can be legal in certain circumstances but as I general rule I am surprised you didn't know this.

lopsyfa

Speed awareness course is a subset of the theory driving test and there is no need for new driver to take it to be honest if they properly understand the highway codes and pass the theory test. The rules about undertaking, single and dual-carriageway etc are what the theory test cover.

Even if new driver take the SAC, this will not prevent some people from forgetting.

societys_child

Last year, I had to attend a speed awareness course

So you had to attend and now believe everyone else should?

If you'd driven within the limits, you wouldn't have had to attend a course would you . .

Scrapit

A new driver breaks the law and gets caught and feels that it should apply to everyone? Bless.

Korkyb

JackeeBoy wrote: »

In addition to the above, I met a friend for lunch. First time we spoken in some time. He mentioned that he car got written off as he lost control of the car and hit a lorry. When I said "wow, so soon after getting your licence" as when I last spoke to him, he hadn't passed his test, his response to that was "no, I had my licence for some time before the accident. 9 months".

Obviously 9 months is not a long time to be driving. I then had a little think and remembered my cousin had two cars written off within two years of getting his licence, a colleague at work crashed his recently purchased sports car completely writing it off. My sister has had 2 serious accidents and her friend was in a coma after her second crash. My brother was in the car when his friend crashed the car after recently passing and my cousin died in a car crash.

.

JackeeBoy


You are a bloody jinx.......

fred246

I think in the future the current era of car usage will be seen as a terrible time. The time when drivers basically did whatever they wanted and took no responsibility for the outcome. A time when motorists terrorized their communities without fear. More people are killed each year by motorists than died in Auschwitz. Knife crime? Nothing compared to road deaths. Undoubtedly in the future technology will be used to reduce the killing. It won't be possible to drive 50MPH in a 20MPH zone where children are playing. How we get there will be interesting. Self driving cars? GPS speed limitation? Black boxes? Technology as always will be the key.

lister

JackeeBoy wrote: »

During my lessons, you were taught how to drive but there were a lot of basic stuff which were left out.

Knowing what lane to be in, when and why, is part of being taught to drive. Your driving instructor failed you badly if he/she didn't ensure that you knew. Likewise with speed limits and what makes a road a dual carriageway.

In fact of course, your instructor shouldn't have needed to anyway. You should have been aware from your preparations for the theory test, because you of course read, digested, questioned and re-read the 'Highway code', 'Driving the Essential Skills' and 'Know your traffic signs' like all good learners do (or more likely you just did what almost every other learner does, download an app and do practice tests until you could pass and learn diddly-squit in the process).

wymondham

My wife did the speed awareness course and enjoyed it - said she learnt lots of interesting stuff in general discussion in class.....

Car_54

JackeeBoy


Everything you mention was covered in your training for the theory and practical tests, but it hasn't stuck. What makes you think a SAC would be any more effective?

Exemplar

wymondham wrote: »

My wife did the speed awareness course and enjoyed it - said she learnt lots of interesting stuff in general discussion in class.....

LOL as an ex Norwich boy the fun we had with that name along with Happisburgh.

Wymondham - pronounced wind-umm
Happisburgh - pronounced haze - borough

Made me smile, thanks.