Speed Awareness Con....sorry Course.

Anybody ever done one?

Driving through rural (and almost completely unlit) Derbyshire at five thirty this morning, I got zapped by a speed camera which was cunningly positioned just past a blind bend on a stretch of country road where the speed limit suddenly drops from 50 mph to 30 mph for about 200 yards because there's a pub and a phone box.

Sneaky bastards!

Fortunately, because of the bend I was only actually doing about 40, so I don't think I'm in too much bother.

However, in 27 years of driving, I've never had any points before and this has naffed me off royally.

So much so that I was considering doing one of these courses to avoid the penalty.

But then I read that you still have to pay for the course and the fee is often more than the fine.

So I'll probably just pay the fine and take the 3 points.

But it got me wondering if anybody on here had done one of the courses?

I respect human life so never speed.

I've done the course. Probably cost about £10 extra to do the course but meant no points on license which I thought would work out cheaper on saved insurance premiums. You can only do the course if they offer it to you though.

scottjames30 wrote:I respect human life so never speed.

Can you even do over 30 in one of these?

I'm sticking to my bike. More reliable.

Seriously ... Do the course. I've done it. My insurance with 3 points, on a Audi a4 S line would have been 1200 dearer...

You can do it on Saturday morning at some places. It's plus 10% of the speed limit zone + 9mph to qualify so 42 in a 30.

I did one a couple of yrs ago, 80mph all the way home.

I've done 3 - twice at the same centre. Honestly don't know why they keep offering it to me, but I've managed to retain my licence.

Best one was in Leyland years ago when they first became an option. It was a full day but the afternoon was spent with an advanced driver who basically showed me how to drive fast safely, using the whole road in country lanes around Chorley/Wheelton area. Brilliant. The other two were just classroom stuff that was more than a bit boring - but point-free.

Letter's arrived and they've offered me the course.

£79.50, no points on the licence and you can do it at the Reebok, so I'm going for that option.

The website says you get to go out with an advanced driving instructor and learn how to drive properly, so on the back of Lusty's comment above, it sounds like fun.

How much is the fine for speeding? I'm a law abiding citizen (not the Gerard Butler type) so wouldn't know.

Have a feeling I might have got busted yesterday so am awaiting the letter and hoping they haven't worked out how many courses I've done already...

Ever thought about slowing down a bit Wander?

Bwfc1958 wrote:How much is the fine for speeding? I'm a law abiding citizen (not the Gerard Butler type) so wouldn't know.

According to the letter, up to £1000 and 6 pts.

Which seems excessive for doing 36mph on a country lane at half five in the morning if I'm honest, but hey ho, you can't argue with The Man.

I'm just going to pay the fee and learn how to drive like Juha Kankkunen.

karlypants wrote:Ever thought about slowing down a bit Wander?

Life's too short....

I would just take the points and the fine, I mean do you really want to sit in a room full of criminals?

Michael Bolton wrote:I would just take the points and the fine, I mean do you really want to sit in a room full of criminals?

  Thats my take on it too, fucking chavs and boy racers talking about how hard they are and how fast their car can go.

Bollocks. It's a no-brainer not to take the points just to make sure your insurance premiums don't rocket.

Reebok Trotter wrote:Bollocks. It's a no-brainer not to take the points just to make sure your insurance premiums don't rocket.

...and get a free Rally Driving lesson.

That's what swung it.