Speed Awareness

[terrywogan]

Has anyone been to a Speed Awareness workshop? I was tagged speeding at 36 mph along a road at 6.30 in the morning and I've been given the choice of paying the fixed penalty of £60 and three penalty points OR paying £97.02, attending a speed awareness workshop for three hours and NOT getting any penalty points!

I had three penalty points for 35mph nearly four years ago and was just about to have them removed from my license.

I am by no means a speed freak - I generally get grief from other drivers for sticking to the maximum speed limit of the road I am on.

[neil42]

i went on one this year,it was very friendly,nothing to worry about.....Neil

[neil42]

Got free coffee too lol.

[Dodger666]

I went on one just after Christmas. It was interesting, much better than three points on your licence.

There's not much to it. There will be a group of you round a table and the course is mainly via an overhead projector and you will discuss various scenarios and be asked your opinions etc. Go for it!

[Old_Geezer]

36 mph. Tsk, they have nothing better to do have they. Seriously, what an appaling waste of tax, finding excuses to have a go at decent folk.

[Prudie]

I also went on one earlier this year. It was 2 or 3 hours of low key nothing (reminded me of a pink and fluffy work training couse). I heard nothing I didn't know but was certainly worth not getting the points and others on the course made it like a coffee morning chat. I'd go with it.

[R1Geezer]

well the question really is, "Can I stand 3 points on my licence now" - Personally I'd do the course because you never know when you'll need points capacity.

[lcg]

seems like a no-brainer to me...x

[VHG]

>36 mph. Tsk, they have nothing better to do have they.

My wife went on one of these speed awareness workshop.

The woman who took it, her son had been killed right outside her house, by a driver doing 36mph in a 30mph zone.

[TonyV]

Terry - perhaps this is the opportunity to raise this

"I am by no means a speed freak - I generally get grief from other drivers for sticking to the maximum speed limit of the road I am on."

With Police Officers and other attendees??
You might get some good advice?

[Dodger666]

They will certainly get some good advice but none of it will come from the Police. Like all government work it's outsourced to contractors, or at least the one I attended was.

Another benefit of taking the course is you don't have to tell your insurance company you've been prosecuted for speeding. This will keep your premium down. There was some muttering that SOME insurance companies may like to be notified you've attended the course. It's up to you to choose whether to tell them or not.

[JonnyBoy12]

It could be worse. You could have been caught doing 36 mph in a 35.9 mph zone. I know one person who got fined for being 1.4 mph over the limit so there are others who are worse off than yourself. I would choose the course over the points any day as for some jobs you need a clean licence. It is only money and you may enjoy the course.

You have asked us our valued opinion; now you have to act upon our worthy advice.

[DTCwordfan]

brilliant last line, jonny, rolling round the floor here - well just about.

Almost worth 3 pints or is that points.

[jg96]

The one I went on in Lancashire was a half day affair even went out in a car with a driving instructor spent more time looking at the speedo rather than the road ahead but yes its worth it not to get the points everybody who was there said the same.The crazy thing is you only get invited if your just over the speed limit I was 36 in a 30 too so the speed freaks who are well over never get the chance to mend there ways.

[Buenchico]

See DocSpock's post here:
http://www.theanswerb.../Question1005823.html

[TonyV]

Anyone listen to radio at this time of night, or throughout night, when chatterbank close's - which is preference Radio 5 or Talksport?

[TonyV]

posted in wrong topic

[terrywogan]

Thanks, Buenchico. There seems to be a big difference in the prices charged for this workshop. I've been told it's £97.02! That's nearly a whole weeks' pension!

[terrywogan]

Thanks, everyone, for your good advice and thoughts. I'll see if I can borrow the extra £40 and go for it!

[neil42]

Shop around,i paid £65 for mine ,but the nearest one to me was £129.You may have to travel a little distance but it may be worth it......Neil

[flip_flop]

You learn nothing on these courses - and the one I went on quite a few years ago was patronising and pathetic - but that said I decided I'd rather be talked at for a couple of hours than take the points.

As Geezer rightly said - you never know when you will need points capacity.