Speed Awareness Courses
I was possibly caught speeding last night by an officer with a radar gun (11pm on Easter Sunday can you believe it?) - nothing major, I was just doing a little more than 30.
If the 10% + 2mph rule applies I'm probably okay (do they still usually go by this?). I definitely wasn't going any more than 35 and it might well have been as low as 31/32.
Assuming I'm not and I was 'caught', my question is do they universally offer the speed awareness course to those with a clean licence that are caught speeding at 31-35 in a 30? Or is it dependent on your area or other factors?
I'm in the Thames Valley police area.
If the 10% + 2mph rule applies I'm probably okay (do they still usually go by this?). I definitely wasn't going any more than 35 and it might well have been as low as 31/32.
Assuming I'm not and I was 'caught', my question is do they universally offer the speed awareness course to those with a clean licence that are caught speeding at 31-35 in a 30? Or is it dependent on your area or other factors?
I'm in the Thames Valley police area.
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Comments
He wrote off and asked if he could go on the awareness course that time, he was allowed to.
Yes. Everyone caught on their first minor speeding offence (or first one in three years) are given the opportunity to do a speed awareness course. They're usually between 80-90 quid and last 4ish hours.
More expensive than accepting the fine but you don't get 3 points.
Better than points, but there is still a cost, thought it would be a tedious business but it does make you realise that the extra 10 miles an hours I allegedly did could have been dangerous. As it was on a long straight road with wide verges either side I didn't feel I had been dangerous, but if a child had run out in front of me, nobody would blame the child or their parents, it is the driver who gets the blame.
Not everyone. There is a limit on how far over the speed limit you can be.
Anyone know if that's still the case?
I’ve really no idea, but obviously when you are caught on a 'speed camera' the first you know is that a letter/fine is delivered through the post.
As the technology has evolved (number plate recognition and all that fiendish clever stuff) then maybe the police hand-held radar guns are much more advanced than they used to be???
No, the limit for a course in most forces is 42mph in a 30mph zone, here are a few examples:-
Bedfordshire - http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/advice_centre/casualty_reduction_partnership/speed/frequently_asked_questions.aspx
North Yorkshire - http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/11056
Sussex - [url] http://www.sussexsaferroads.gov.uk/the-speed-awareness-course.html[/url]
Dorset - http://www.dorset.police.uk/default.aspx?page=602
You might want to stick to your push bike and then you don't need to worry about speed limits.
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/rdsafe-roadpol-education-speedaware
I did one last December and I actually found it to be quite interesting. If you go in with the right attitude and participate fully then you should get something out of it.
The ones in our area are run by driving instructors, not coppers.
It's a nice little earner 20 x 70 quid (or there abouts), couple of hundred quid for the instructors, and a few bob in the electric meter, so over a grand for 4 hours work, all in the name of road safety.
Just remember: NO EXCUSES!
Evening all.
It's already been said. You won't get a ticket, a hand held speed gun would require you to be stopped and given a ticket.
You won't receive one through the post.
Yes it is.
A radar gun does not read the number plate, how could they issue a ticket. A radar gun just gives a speed reading.
Yes, I think that making the course compulsory for new drivers and then a refresher every 10 years would be a great idea. You wouldn't want to fly on a plane where the pilot hadn't been on any training courses since getting their first licence.
Don't pilots just have to do so many flying hours a year to keep their licence? I might be wrong?
The increase in speed cameras over the past 30 years has seen a corresponding decrease in speed signs. It’s quite possible these days to go for miles without being able to check the speed limit for the area.
More signs, and perhaps a national colour code system indicating the current speed limit would help to reduce speeding. Unfortunately that won’t happen because it would mean spending money rather than raking in fines and revenue from Speed Awareness Courses.
Advanced driving course are available for anyone wanting to upgrade their driving skills.
And yes, you can be notified through the post when caught in a mobile speed trap.
I did the course at a local hotel. It was 4 hours long but I actually enjoyed it! It was presented really well and not in a patronising way. Most importantly, it did make me think. That two or three mph faster really could be the difference between life and death.
The only person who didn't pass was a guy who just argued all the time and at one point said to the trainer, "well what do you knew really about driving? Afterall, you're only a woman." I KID YOU NOT! You could hear the collective intake of breath before he was ejected!
Is that correct?
Evidently there are modern hand-held LiDAR speed guns that have video recording and number plate recognition technology in-built. They’ve been used in the US for a while. Not sure whether they are used here though.
Surely those who have been on a recent course should get a discount on their insurance as they ought to be safer drivers ;-)
No, one insurer, Admiral, but they have several brands.
And there is no way they can check because the database is not public.
You get tea and biscuits anyway