Safe Speed Forums

Has anyone experienced a Speed Awareness Course?

I have a Company interested in talking with you if you have - for a BBC Radio program this weekend.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

I went on one in Chesterfield about six months ago. I would be prepared to give my not very complementary views to the media.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

ACPO have experience of them. The want to charge the Police to access a search on a new database they are setting up to see if drivers qualify for a speed awareness course.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1151906/Now-Police-Chiefs-PLC-cashes-speeding-drivers.html

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Prepare to be Judged

No experience of them, but wouldn't mind a few questions about them answering.

Are you required to merely attend one to avoid points/fine, or do you have to achieve some kind of "pass mark"?

Is it possible to get thrown off the course (risking points/fine) for argueing the SafeSpeed line?

Obviously, I would always opt to take the course if given the choice, but would not want to take this kind of nonsense lying down.

I had to do a thirty minute supervised drive after the course which was quite useful. The supervisor pointed out a few tricks for making sure that you were aware of the limit and encouraged me to make good progress on the unrestricted roads.



Not sure about that. We were shown some pictures of locations with speed limits and cameras and were asked why they were there. The instructor seemed quite happy when people argued that they were not necessary or just revenue raising. I got the distinct impression that he, an retired policeman, was a little embarassed at having to trot out the speed kills party line all the time. But I didn't push too hard - "don't curse the crocodiles mother when you have to cross the river"

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Only if you are deemed to be disruptive. Reasoned argument should be fine. Swearing/shouting/sulking like a little baby will likely get you kicked off and then offered a choice of fixed penalty or court.

Out of interest do safespeed have a set of handouts that people who are going on Speed Awareness courses could give to the other attentees? I'm sure most of the people going to them are probably safe drivers and aren't going to be feeling particularly pro-camera at the time, would be a good recruiting opportunity.

The offer of a speed awareness course is non statutory, made outside of the Road Safety Camera Scheme and therefore classed that no recordable offence has been committed, and is merely a civil contract between the attendee & the provider.

In effect there is no speeding offence as this would have to be recorded as a criminal offence against the driver.

Surely as one has already accepted the offer, paid for the course & attended, the civil contract has been fulfilled, and the speeding offence can't be resurected as a punishment for unsocial, or disagreeable behaviour?

After all there is no requirement to pass anything on these courses, merely that they should be attended & paid for.

I'd like peoples' thoughts on this line
Thanks

I'm fairly sure that you have to complete the course to fulfil your end of the bargain. If you manage to get yourself thrown off the course due to disruptive behaviour then you failed to do this.

If there is ever a report of someone getting thrown off simply for a difference in opinion then it's time to get worried but right now I've only ever heard of people getting thrown off for acting like a complete cock so I'm not too worried about it.

So, if you get thrown off as you say, then obviously all your payment & costs will be refunded? In Lancashire your cheque is cashed before any checks are made regarding suitabiliity and are NON-REFUNDABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

There is no where I can find that you are required to COMPLETE THE COURSE, Simply ATTEND!

A Leyland taxi driver paid for his course, didn't attend and was then taken to court.(See attachment).

Despite him wanting to plead guilty with mitigating circumstances the CPS had to withdraw the prosecution in court "in the public interest"!

You can't be done for the same offence twice - i.e. pay the council & be fined by the courts for the same offence.

Neither can you appeal a civil action in a criminal court; i.e. the CPS couldn't allow the magistrates to give a decision outside their jurisdiction so they had to stop it before it was heard; however as they had already heard it once and adjourned it was a LITTLE bit embarrassing if they had found him guilty of speeding & fined him when he had already bought his points by paying £85.00 for his course.

I tried to upload the news reports of the cabbie but must have done something wrong.
Here's the links if anyone is interested.

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Attacked-taxi ... 2178812.jp

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Cabbie-wins-s ... 2721071.jp

Thanks for your comments