Driver Awareness Course

[Maydup]

I have receive a speeding notice today, 37 mph in 30 limit and offered opportunity to attend drivers awareness course, which I thought I would opt for. Sadly we were on holiday at the time and if I want to take the course I can only do it in that county which is over 6 hours away therefore not a possibility.

I was surprised to read loud and clear that there is no reciprical arrangement with other counties, so my only option is the fixed penalty and points.

Unless anyone has any other suggestions?

[goodgoalie]

Don't think your wife was lucky at all, retro. If she was only doing 33 in a 30 zone I reckon she was exceptionally unlucky. What about the 10% plus 2 mph guideline?

https://www.roadlawbarristers.co.uk/speeding-what-is-the-10-plus-2-rule-and-what-does-it-mean/

[Maydup]

Generally I'm pretty good at observing the speed limits, and I do change down to third for thirty, fourth for forty etc, just as they teach you to use your gears on the course; which I havent been on but have heard all about from others who have done so.

It was early on Sunday morning and very quiet on that stretch of A35 where indeed the limits change every 10minutes and a mobile camera caught me thinking it was still 40 when in fact it have changed to 30 mph. Hardly reckless driving or the crime of the century, but hugely frustrating to have been in frigging Dorset when it happened. How dare they have their own rules!! I have accepted I will just have to pay the fine as I am not travelling all the way back there in any kind of hurry.

[retrocop]

Don't think your wife was lucky at all, retro. If she was only doing 33 in a 30 zone I reckon she was exceptionally unlucky. //What about the 10% plus 2 mph guideline? //

Definitely the rule in my days as a Met Traffic Cop. 1980-85. Thought being that old speedos (cable operated) had an inaccuracy of +/- 10%.
I still meet serving officers from Thames Valley and I am told that certain Chiefs are a law unto themselves and their 'Black Rats' are instructed to take no prisoners. Zero Tolerance. Looks like my wife fell foul of Hampshire's policy. :-(. Least she got no points and attended locally.

[vetuste_ennemi]

No Holiday Inn in Suttton when I was living there.

[vetuste_ennemi]

And of course it only had two Ts when I was living there.

[retrocop]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/31/motorists-should-penalised-going-just-1mph-speed-limit-britains/

[retrocop]

//No Holiday Inn in Suttton when I was living there.//

Since you moved away we've gone all posh don't ya know?

[New Judge]

//I am surprised that there is any road where one can do 37 mph in Dorset.//

The best place where one can certainly get up to a good lick is the delightfully named "Puddletown Bypass" on the A35. This is just about the only stretch of that road that warrants its status as a "trunk" road. The stretch is about 7 or 8 miles long and bypasses not only Puddletown but also Turners Puddle, Briantspuddle, Affpuddle and Tolpuddle (where the martyrs come from). East of it there is a long stretch of single track road stretching to the outskirts of Poole (unless you take the A31 where there is a long stretch of 40mph limit through Corfe Mullen and the surrounds). To the west it becomes single track (albeit quite decent on the Dorchester Bypass) before reverting to "country lane" status up to Winterbourne Abbas. A couple of short dual carriageway stretches exist beyond there - just long enough to enable you to get past the caravans and tankers before you hit the congestion as the road approaches Bridport.

It is a well known spot for mobile speed cameras and one or two cases of grossly excessive speed (one, a Porsche, at 155mph) have been reported. But it seems a permanent solution may soon be found

https://www.wessexfm.com/news/dorset-news/2853376/plans-for-speed-cameras-on-the-a35-puddletown-bypass/

[derek-33]

You have to pay for the course, which typically costs around £100, the same as the fine, and your licence will not be endorsed.

[stocksman]

I went on a speed awareness course last year, cost £91. I thought it was good although when the instructor asked if I enjoyed it I did say that 'enjoy' was probably the wrong wo but that I thought it was helpful. But it obviously doesn't help some people as two of them said it was their third course. One was female in her 20s and the other a quite cocky young lad.

[Prudie]

I'm guessing PP was being facetious but I travel at 60 mph at some point every day (unless there's a tractor on the road) on my 6 mile journey to work in Dorset (on an unrestricted B road). And yes the Puddletown Bypass is legendary for those clocking a ton plus.

[lankeela]

Definitely worthwhile, especially for those of us who took a driving test a long time ago! I found it quite entertaining and it has definitely made me think in relation to speed limit signs etc.