Speed awareness course

[Deleted User]

ontheroad1970 said:

[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.  

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/23452613.speeding-ticket-error-said-driver-going-57mph-tybridge-street/

Fortunately the victim had proof they were not speeding, probably a dash cam with GPS speedometer.

The mobile ones don't have the secondary measurement, the two photos with white lines on the road. They also aren't fixed and the van moves when other vehicles go past it, gusts of wind hit it etc.

As the article notes, the police are well aware that radar based speed cameras are unreliable.

Car_54

[Deleted User] said:

ontheroad1970 said:

[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.  

As the article notes, the police are well aware that radar based speed cameras are unreliable.

But most speedmeters don’t now use radar.

macman

Pennylane said:

TooManyPoints 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.  

No there isn't. But you have to complete the course satisfactorily and if you allow somebody in the room you will not be deemed to have done that.

Why is that?  When you do a classroom course there are loads of people in the class. Genuine question. 

It's because there is considered to be an expectation of confidentiality for the other participants. When I attended a physical  SA course a few years back, we were told right at the start that mobile phones were to be switched off and not visible at any time. 
With an online course, there is always the possibility of someone recording the proceedings.

[Deleted User]

Car_54 said:

[Deleted User] said:

ontheroad1970 said:

[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.  

As the article notes, the police are well aware that radar based speed cameras are unreliable.

But most speedmeters don’t now use radar.

Fixed ones mostly do. The hand held or van mounted ones are usually laser, but they are prone to error too.

Get a dash cam with GPS to protect yourself.

TooManyPoints

Get a dash cam with GPS to protect yourself.

I wonder how much protection it will afford, though. To prosecute a speeding offence, the police will produce evidence that the speed was measured by an approved device, operated in the correct manner. Unless any doubt is cast on that evidence, the prosecution will succeed. Attempting to cast doubt by producing evidence from an unapproved device, which are not themselves particularly accurate anyway, is no guarantee of success.

Far more likely to succeed is the introduction of evidence that shows that either the device was faulty or was not operated correctly. That will take expert assistance and the cost of that help is not likely to be reimbursed even if the defence is successful. 

Stubod

Pennylane said:

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.  

I got "caught" about 20 years ago, but was let off with a "chat" as they did not have the "gun" on me at the time. Ever since then I have done my best to adhere to all speed limits.

I find it fairly easy on motorways as I tend to stick in the LH lane at around 60, (adaptice cruise control and auto box are great for this), likewise on roads where the national speed limit of 60mph applies as I tend to drive these at around 50.

The problem tends to be the 30, and (now 20mph) limits as they feel really slow, and I usually find a lot of the motoring public don't think these limits apply to them so there is always somebody either tailgating or overtaking...but I do find adaptive cruise control to be a real help...

chrisw

Stubod said:

Pennylane said:

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.  

Ifing it fairly easy on motorways as I tend to stick in the LH lane at around 60, likewise on roads where the national speed limit of 60mph applies as I tend to drive these at around 50.

Why do people do this? What's wrong with doing an indicated 70 or 60? There's sufficient error in the speedo and limit allowance to stay within the limits.

This is what causes drivers following to become frustrated and impatient and results in unnecessary accidents.

Ibrahim5

That's the normal speed limit for a lorry. If you become a dangerous driver because there is a lorry in front of you, you really have to wonder if you should be driving at all.

user1977

chrisw said:

Stubod said:

Pennylane said:

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.  

Ifing it fairly easy on motorways as I tend to stick in the LH lane at around 60, likewise on roads where the national speed limit of 60mph applies as I tend to drive these at around 50.

Why do people do this? What's wrong with doing an indicated 70 or 60? There's sufficient error in the speedo and limit allowance to stay within the limits.

This is what causes drivers following to become frustrated and impatient and results in unnecessary accidents.

Given this is a money-saving site...it's often more fuel-efficient to be doing 60 than 70. I suspect there's less of an argument for doing 50 in a 60.

Alanp

When I was caught by a camera van, I was doing 58, in a 60, …in a van, of course, if that van had side windows, I’d have been ok..