Warning! Accused of leaving driver awareness course early! You can avoid this! Use this simple tip

caprikid1

"With the screen shots I would have reported the Dorset police to Action fraud."

There is no fraud, unfortunately course participation is subjective and if they feel you were not fully engaged and sufficiently participating then they can will fail you on the course.

In recent years I have done two for slightly different offences, the first I did on line and was warned for phone fiddling / not paying attention and I could fail the course, I suffer a bit of ADHD and long on line meetings / courses are to say the least painful.

When another offence occurred (46 on a motorway !) I then chose to do the course face to face, they were yet again very strict on attendance and participation.

I had extreme difficulty connecting to the first course online it was highly unreliable and caused considerable stress.

I ended up taking the morning of my birthday off work to do the course face to face to make sure it was all good.

I think the OP highlights not the need to take screen shots because that will not protect you, if you foresee ANY issues chose a face to face course. Incidentally the first course I did I planned to book it face to face and booked online accidentally. You will get a lot more out of the course F2F.

As has been pointed out the system is a bit weird but it is down to the individual to make sure they comply with the requirements of the course and they believe you did not.

Good luck in court !

WEASELL

caprikid1 said:

"With the screen shots I would have reported the Dorset police to Action fraud."

There is no fraud, unfortunately course participation is subjective and if they feel you were not fully engaged and sufficiently participating then they can will fail you on the course.

In recent years I have done two for slightly different offences, the first I did on line and was warned for phone fiddling / not paying attention and I could fail the course, I suffer a bit of ADHD and long on line meetings / courses are to say the least painful.

When another offence occurred (46 on a motorway !) I then chose to do the course face to face, they were yet again very strict on attendance and participation.

I had extreme difficulty connecting to the first course online it was highly unreliable and caused considerable stress.

I ended up taking the morning of my birthday off work to do the course face to face to make sure it was all good.

I think the OP highlights not the need to take screen shots because that will not protect you, if you foresee ANY issues chose a face to face course. Incidentally the first course I did I planned to book it face to face and booked online accidentally. You will get a lot more out of the course F2F.

As has been pointed out the system is a bit weird but it is down to the individual to make sure they comply with the requirements of the course and they believe you did not.

Good luck in court !

caprikid1 said:

"With the screen shots I would have reported the Dorset police to Action fraud."

There is no fraud, unfortunately course participation is subjective and if they feel you were not fully engaged and sufficiently participating then they can will fail you on the course.

In recent years I have done two for slightly different offences, the first I did on line and was warned for phone fiddling / not paying attention and I could fail the course, I suffer a bit of ADHD and long on line meetings / courses are to say the least painful.

When another offence occurred (46 on a motorway !) I then chose to do the course face to face, they were yet again very strict on attendance and participation.

I had extreme difficulty connecting to the first course online it was highly unreliable and caused considerable stress.

I ended up taking the morning of my birthday off work to do the course face to face to make sure it was all good.

I think the OP highlights not the need to take screen shots because that will not protect you, if you foresee ANY issues chose a face to face course. Incidentally the first course I did I planned to book it face to face and booked online accidentally. You will get a lot more out of the course F2F.

As has been pointed out the system is a bit weird but it is down to the individual to make sure they comply with the requirements of the course and they believe you did not.

Good luck in court !

you offer good advice.

The camera in question is a ‘ tourist trap’ in Bournemouth. it literally traps people from all over the UK and the course leader actually mentioned people joining other courses from abroad.
It’s the main duel carriage way and there is a sudden change from 50 to 40 I didn’t observe. I did think I was driving at the correct speed. ( please people no need to post to tell me how deserving of this £230 +plus punishment I am).

I post a photo showing over nine thousand people were punished by my camera last year. There are speed camera signs everywhere. I am certain missed that essential sign just like me.

Aretnap

Grumpy_chap said:

 I also wonder whether the being in the car satisfied the "being alone" criteria as, presumably, there could be an assistant giving input through the windows.

The requirement for you to be alone is basically for privacy of the other participants - so that no more people than necessary see that they've been caught speeding and sent in a course. It's not because they're worried that you might be getting hints from an assistant - it's not an exam.

Herzlos

Have you got a streetview link? I'm curious as to how badly sign posted it is, because if it is obscured somehow you've got a reasonable case of appealing the charge.

mr_stripey

could it be here?



if so then it is well signposted, and there is actually a roundabout in between the 40 and the next speed camera (which is also signposted), so you'd have to presumably slow down to an almost halt for the roundabout and then get up to 50 again in time for the camera.

https://www.google.com/maps/@50.7290641,-1.861492,3a,75y,248.07h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxp2hfPwx9645dEbHksKTFg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

prowla

Thanks for the speed awareness course awareness tip!

LightFlare

WEASELL said:

you offer good advice.

The camera in question is a ‘ tourist trap’ in Bournemouth. it literally traps people from all over the UK and the course leader actually mentioned people joining other courses from abroad.
It’s the main duel carriage way and there is a sudden change from 50 to 40 I didn’t observe. I did think I was driving at the correct speed. ( please people no need to post to tell me how deserving of this £230 +plus punishment I am).

I post a photo showing over nine thousand people were punished by my camera last year. There are speed camera signs everywhere. I am certain missed that essential sign just like me.

Do you mean attending courses remotely while on holiday or none UK residents ?

If the 2nd - I would seriously question the accuracy of that

WEASELL

Aretnap said:

Grumpy_chap said:

 I also wonder whether the being in the car satisfied the "being alone" criteria as, presumably, there could be an assistant giving input through the windows.

The requirement for you to be alone is basically for privacy of the other participants - so that no more people than necessary see that they've been caught speeding and sent in a course. It's not because they're worried that you might be getting hints from an assistant - it's not an exam.

Hi @Aretnap!
you mentioned in a previous post about the cost of going to court.
I do realise I am asking the question how long is a piece of string’?
But please will you give me a best guess that may not be correct?

WEASELL

LightFlare said:

WEASELL said:

you offer good advice.

The camera in question is a ‘ tourist trap’ in Bournemouth. it literally traps people from all over the UK and the course leader actually mentioned people joining other courses from abroad.
It’s the main duel carriage way and there is a sudden change from 50 to 40 I didn’t observe. I did think I was driving at the correct speed. ( please people no need to post to tell me how deserving of this £230 +plus punishment I am).

I post a photo showing over nine thousand people were punished by my camera last year. There are speed camera signs everywhere. I am certain missed that essential sign just like me.

Do you mean attending courses remotely while on holiday or none UK residents ?

If the 2nd - I would seriously question the accuracy of that

LightFlare said:

WEASELL said:

you offer good advice.

The camera in question is a ‘ tourist trap’ in Bournemouth. it literally traps people from all over the UK and the course leader actually mentioned people joining other courses from abroad.
It’s the main duel carriage way and there is a sudden change from 50 to 40 I didn’t observe. I did think I was driving at the correct speed. ( please people no need to post to tell me how deserving of this £230 +plus punishment I am).

I post a photo showing over nine thousand people were punished by my camera last year. There are speed camera signs everywhere. I am certain missed that essential sign just like me.

Do you mean attending courses remotely while on holiday or none UK residents ?

If the 2nd - I would seriously question the accuracy of that

I am sorry I don’t know. I don’t remember the course tutor telling us that detail.

WEASELL

prowla said:

Thanks for the speed awareness course awareness tip!

I would love to think any information here, helps another person. Thank you