Speed awareness course

[Deleted User]

Aretnap said:

Pennylane said:

Alanp said:

Also make sure you have nobody in the room with you as that’s an instant fail…( when you do the online course).

I have just been reading there is no Pass or Fail.  

There isn't an exam at the end that you can pass or fail but you do have to follow the instructions and engage positively with the course. You'll fail if you fall asleep during the course, or if you spend the while time saying "this is a load of rubbish" or if you're obviously doing something else like watching TV rather than paying attention.

You are not supposed to have someone else in the room with you while you are doing the course but "instant fail" is a bit melodramatic. The instructor will remind you of the requirements and give you chance to comply with them. You are not going to be booted straight off the course because someone puts their head round the door, and I very much doubt that you would be booted off if you had to ask a relative to come in briefly to help deal with a technical problem.

I've heard it can be a problem if you have a disability or medical issue, so be sure to explain that clearly to the staff before hand if you have either (or both).

Legally they can't penalise you for being disabled or having health issues, and they can't ask for details either. Given the are now a couple of million people with long COVID, it probably comes up a lot.

Mr.Generous

I did one online, take the positive from it. A bloke I worked with was running late for his classroom based speed awareness course a few years ago and got stopped for speeding on the way. To rub salt in the wound he turned up too late to join in and was asked to re-book - and pay again.

ontheroad1970

HillStreetBlues said:

I did a classroom one many years ago.
I was London and visited North Wales, I got done entering and leaving, so 3 points and a course.
I had to go to the course back to North Wales  so took the train.
Had a laugh during it, especially when a woman kept claiming "I never speed"

One thing I did learn, avoid North Wales.

With respect, cool story bro.  Firstly you get points OR the course not both.  Not sure how long you have had to travel to where the offence took place, but it has been the case where except for a few police authorities that aren't part of the National scheme (where you end up getting another 'life') for many years that you can take it anywhere that is part of the National scheme - North Wales is part of the scheme.  

ontheroad1970

[Deleted User] said:

SpudGunPaul said:

grandadgolfer said:

rollingmoon said:

Pennylane said:

I would still have preferred a classroom based course.

Been there and, believe me, you've missed nothing. Well done for not getting three points.

When you do a classroom you realise what a racket it is......20 odd people paying £100 and they do 2 sittings a day 5 days a week.
Its like being back at school when you go in everyone heads for the tables at the back and always somebody asking to many questions and trying to be a smart  alec

Best way to beat their racket is by not committing criminal offences. 

Sadly no guarantee, those mobile speed traps are pretty unreliable. It's usually easier to just take the course than proving that in court.

You've made this allegation before.  Do you perchance have any evidence of this, because if people use your 'advice' some may challenge the offence in court to their great expense.  

Car_54

ontheroad1970 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

I did a classroom one many years ago.
I was London and visited North Wales, I got done entering and leaving, so 3 points and a course.
I had to go to the course back to North Wales  so took the train.
Had a laugh during it, especially when a woman kept claiming "I never speed"

One thing I did learn, avoid North Wales.

With respect, cool story bro.  Firstly you get points OR the course not both. 

But he'd committed two offences ...

user1977

ontheroad1970 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

I did a classroom one many years ago.
I was London and visited North Wales, I got done entering and leaving, so 3 points and a course.
I had to go to the course back to North Wales  so took the train.
Had a laugh during it, especially when a woman kept claiming "I never speed"

One thing I did learn, avoid North Wales.

With respect, cool story bro.  Firstly you get points OR the course not both.  Not sure how long you have had to travel to where the offence took place, but it has been the case where except for a few police authorities that aren't part of the National scheme (where you end up getting another 'life') for many years that you can take it anywhere that is part of the National scheme - North Wales is part of the scheme.  

Yes, unless the rules have changed at some point. I could book anywhere in England or Wales, no need to return to the scene of the crime.

TooManyPoints

Yes, unless the rules have changed at some point. I could book anywhere in England or Wales, no need to return to the scene of the crime.

With the exception of Dorset. That county does not subscribe to the National Driver Offending Retraining Scheme (NDORS). They run their own courses under their "Driver Awareness" scheme. Normally you can only do one course in a three year period (calculated by the date of the offences) But this means that if you do a course in Dorset, you still have one "in hand" if you offend elsewhere and if you do a course elsewhere you are still eligible to do one if you offend in Dorset. 

HillStreetBlues

ontheroad1970 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

I did a classroom one many years ago.
I was London and visited North Wales, I got done entering and leaving, so 3 points and a course.
I had to go to the course back to North Wales  so took the train.
Had a laugh during it, especially when a woman kept claiming "I never speed"

One thing I did learn, avoid North Wales.

With respect, cool story bro.  Firstly you get points OR the course not both.  Not sure how long you have had to travel to where the offence took place, but it has been the case where except for a few police authorities that aren't part of the National scheme (where you end up getting another 'life') for many years that you can take it anywhere that is part of the National scheme - North Wales is part of the scheme.  

As already pointed out done twice,  and they wouldn't let me take two courses

It was about 20 years ago,  don't think they had been about very long.
The course only lasted about an hour, but worked out about an 18 hour day after travel.
But the difference between 3 and 6 points was worth the hassle.

ontheroad1970

HillStreetBlues said:

ontheroad1970 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

I did a classroom one many years ago.
I was London and visited North Wales, I got done entering and leaving, so 3 points and a course.
I had to go to the course back to North Wales  so took the train.
Had a laugh during it, especially when a woman kept claiming "I never speed"

One thing I did learn, avoid North Wales.

With respect, cool story bro.  Firstly you get points OR the course not both.  Not sure how long you have had to travel to where the offence took place, but it has been the case where except for a few police authorities that aren't part of the National scheme (where you end up getting another 'life') for many years that you can take it anywhere that is part of the National scheme - North Wales is part of the scheme.  

As already pointed out done twice,  and they wouldn't let me take two courses

It was about 20 years ago,  don't think they had been about very long.
The course only lasted about an hour, but worked out about an 18 hour day after travel.
But the difference between 3 and 6 points was worth the hassle.

Apologies for my poor reading 

Pennylane

Our tutor told us about someone he knows who got caught 4 times on the same day. Once taking kids to school, same again going home. again when collecting kids and another going home.

Don’t know whether this is true or whether he just wanted us to feel better about getting caught just once. 

The class lasted 2 hrs 45 mins precisely with a 10 minute break halfway through. 

I am using the speed limiter all the time now but I feel I am on edge remembering to use it, looking at lamposts etc. I used to be a very relaxed driver but I don’t feel I am any more.  Been driving 50 years and never caught speeding before, never been in an accident and only ever got one parking ticket.  My family think it’s hilarious as they tease me  for driving too slowly.