Bob thanks for being brave and making this video. As a Retired Roads Policing Sergeant I’m embarrassed to say I actually don’t know how many fatal road crashes I’ve attended, it’s a lot. I’ve seen the devastating results of things going wrong on our roads. The name of the game is for everyone to get home safely. Thanks for sharing.
Hats off to you Bob, for being open about the speeding. It’s easily done, when anyone does a lot of driving, like you, can easily be distracted by the scenery. You’re obviously a very good and experienced driver. It only takes that small distraction, and crikey, you can be snapped by a speed camera. There is no tolerance with these cameras, 30mph, means 30 mph, etc. Having the speed alert is very useful. No shame to you, Bob, you haven’t committed a very serious speeding offence. Thanks for this very informative vlog and regards to Jenny.
Well there is some allowance, they don't normally prosecute people doing less than the limit + 10% + 2 mph. So the speed awareness course starts at 35 mph and above.
Hello Bob I just wanted to say that you should not feel embarrassed as I think you are an excellent driver. It amazes me how well you drive your motor home with a car attached. Take care and best wishes to you, Jenny and Poppy xxx
Just did mine this morning. Really good reminder about why you need to take care without any telling off and some things I shamefully didn't know after over 30 years driving 😮
I went through a speed awareness course 10 years ago and it was £90.00 it was held at the hotel at scotch corner and it waived the £60.00 and 3 points 👍 this by the way was in my HGV ! keep up the good work Bob and Jenny and Poppy n Tara 😊
Thank you Bob for sharing. My husband Andy went on a speed awareness course when we were living in the UK. It definitely helped him afterwards to become aware of the speed he was driving and to stop always rushing from one job to the next. Drives at a much more leisurely pace now living in Portugal if only the locals did the same! Remember me to Jenny. Best wishes Susan (Jenny's cousin)
Hi Bob, I went on a speed awareness course about 9 years ago for doing 34 in a 30. The part that amazed me was I was about the only one who knew the national speed limits and when towing people had no idea. One lady had someone interpreting the language as she didn’t understand the language very well. It was an eye opener and my insurance went up for five years when points only lasted three years. It might be different now, I have a device that beeps at 29 mph. Thank you for this video 👌👍
I did the classroom course and enjoyed it. I learned lots and thought everybody should attend one. It really made me think and concentrate more.. well done on your explanation. I’m sure it will help a lot of people 👏🏼😁
At 60 years of age I went on a speed awareness course, fully expecting to be the only old speeder on the course (doing 37 in a 30) and the room full of teenage hooligang road racers. How very wrong I was, It looked more like a knitting club.
Good advice Bob. Years ago I went on a passive driving course at work and the best advice that the instructor gave us was, don't be part of someone else's accident. If they want to drive, like an idiot, let them go. Those words have always stuck with me.
Well done, you, for being brave enough to video this. We ALL make silly mistakes while driving from time to time, and mostly, we are lucky enough to get away with it. It's clear this course is very thought-provoking and is probably a better choice than taking the points. This video has certainly made me think. Thanks, Bob. 😊
Bob .Happened to me last year. Purely lack of concentration was listening to my Grandchildren in back of car. Made me realise how stupid speeding is especially with kids in car. I also have motorhome with same sat-nav as you and I have the alarm beeps on all the time and my wife watches my speed at all times. Now biggest confession I am a retired police officer and a double advanced driver and have handed out loads of tickets in my time. So I DO feel your pain . Hopefully none of us are too old to learn. All the very best.
As others have already said - you didn’t have to make a vlog about this but you have and what’s brave and honest thing to do. Hopefully it will make us all think about speeds whilst in the road. 😊
Hi Bob, it was good to hear what you had to do on your speed awareness course. It was also very brave of you to tell us about what happened. I got a speeding fine many years ago for coming out of a garage turning right and just up the road there was a van with a speed camera, I was doing 34 in a 30 limit. At the time there wasn't any courses to do so paid the fine and had 3 points put on my licence. I was mortified and it seemed to take so long to get my points back. So was concious all the time of keeping within the speed limit. I had a feature which bleeped when i came to the speed of the area especially the A614 near us as there were no speed limits on the road until a terrible fatal accident where it killed youngsters in a car and also 2 grandparents coming from the opposite direction. Because that road has hidden dips. Then they put the average speed camera's up on the road which slowed the traffic down to 50 . take care x Julie and Tony x
There must be something in the water Bob. I received my first ever speeding fine recently. I was on a motorway too busy reading the overhead signs as to which lane I needed to be in, never noticed I’d entered a speed restriction area 🙁 I’ve chosen to attend a speed awareness course.
Thank you for the very informative video. Could so easily have been any of us. I have been driving for well over 50 years now and I am now finding that these days I don’t want to go out in the car unless absolutely necessary. I have a speed limiter on the car and use it to keep to the speed limits whenever I can. But, my word, how stressful does that make driving. On any journey I make, without fail, there is driver (yes we know the types) extreme tailgating me, pressuring me to go faster. You just see their face in the mirror because they are so close. Now we have the new 20 MPH zones it’s becoming a nightmare. I will always try to pull over but it’s not always possible or safe to do so and it really shouldn’t be necessary. And the real kicker is that I feel I’m in the minority and that I’m the guilty one.
I passed my test almost 60 years ago to the month and I’m guessing, many others did so too. I then went on to take my motorcycle test with a professional organisation over a two week period of intensive training which covered the basics of the engine and transmission, first aid and a host of other subjects relating to driving on the highway. I recall vividly, on the first day our instructor entered the room and after the initial introduction, announced the course was to teach us to arrive at our destination as quickly and safely as possible. A combination of speed and safety, in other words how to ride and handle the motorcycle plus observation, read concentration. I then progressed to annual refresher courses with an assessment and eventually went on to take and pass the HGV Class1 examination. The point of this ramble? We take our test at what ever age and from thereon think we are capable and safe drivers. Once you have been taught to drive professionally you begin to witness just how basic the driving MOT test really is. We make no adjustments to our driving skills to account for the changes through legislation etc., etc., and simply drive on regardless. We now buy cars with electronic gadgets such as ABS thinking, somewhat foolishly, this will make us a safer driver and we continue to drive on….blind to the hazards that have crept on to our highways over the decades. We think our cars are safe but they are not, our driving skills make the cars safe. Vehicles with electronic gadgetry are simply safer cars than those of yesteryear but driven by humans whose driving habits have become somewhat stagnant. The driver awareness course is an excellent system and brings home to many, not all judging by many of the comments, the need to be re-educated. How many of us would invest just a little our time and money on an advanced driving course? Because the poor driving skills of the majority, the main reason we are having to drive by numbers, street furniture guiding us to our destination rather than our ability to drive competently.
Thank you Bob for sharing, it can happen to anyone. I use the cruise control for most of the journey, if I can, even at 30, especially if the roads are quiet, which has saved me a few times from speed creep. So easy to find yourself doing 30+ 40+ etc, in no time, some roads psychologically tells you this is too slow, and you end up increasing your speed. I’ve been driving for more than 50 years and I’m sure textbook wise at least, I would fail the test today. So much change since the early 70’s. Happy travels.
It seems even easier to speed in the motorhome than the car, I guess because you're further from the road. Using the cruise control is a good tip. I tend to do that in the car in 30mph zones. I need to do the same in the motorhome.
What a superb video Bob, thanks, as a retired professional driver, ,I got 3 points some years ago from mobile camera can parked under a bridge, through lack of concentration. A proportion of drivers don't lift their eyes up far enough ,and only drive to the length of the bonnet and are not aware of their surroundings With new cars and better engines and the new 20 mph zones , it is difficult to keep to 20 without creeping up , the sat nav tip seems a great idea
Well Bob, It's a true saying. You are never too Old to learn. PS. My current car has head up display, this is a first for me, but what it does do is display the speed limit on each road, and if you stray more than Five percent above the limit shown, the speed roundel starts flashing at you, Didn't think I would like the head up display, but as it's in your eye line, you cant help but see it. Cheers Bill
Well done for attending the course. I’ve done 2 courses, purely to avoid points, no other reason. As long as there is more than 3 years between being caught on camera and within the, what used to be 10 mph above the designated speed limit of the road, they have to offer it. They work on the principle it will be easier to change the driving habits of someone who was “just over the limit” rather than someone who was “way over”. I’d like to know what they are trying to do to teach the millions of drivers who shouldn’t be driving as they have no road awareness or driving skills - nothing is the answer.
That is a great video Bob.Well done for your explanations. I did a speed awareness course quite a few years ago now and it changed my driving habits. I got caught doing 56 n a 40. That sounds horrendous I know but I knew the road like th back of my hand and when I was working I drove it every day. It was a country road with National Limit. I even saw the van that caught me and commented to my passenger that he would catch a few that day. I could not believe it when I got the letter that I had been caught speeding. I went the following week and drove the same road and it was everywhere. On the road, on signs, on repeaters, everywhere! I could not believe it. I attended the course and enjoyed it. I learned so much from it and since then I adhere to the speed limits. After all, it is a limit, not a target! Ian
I did a speed awareness course, costing less than the FPN fine and obviously zero points on the licence. Bargain😀 The course was an absolute pleasure and one of the best and most interesting courses I've ever been on, and that's after 50 years of work training courses in many industries - and same for driving.
Good video Bob, well said. I did one of these about 12 years ago and like you, learned plenty of helpful tips. We have a SAM2 device in our village and every month it logs at least one vehicle travelling in excess of 70mph !!
I learned a.lot ony speed awareness course, i do drive with MORE awareness now on my speed, but its still so so easy to drift over the limits it wouldnt do any harm for every driver to do a mandatory speed awareness course, 👍great video Bob,
Thanks Bob, the best and most useful video on the speed awareness course among those I have seen. Fair play to you. As a certified motorcycle tour guide I have participated in range of safety and training courses and it has taught me that I have much to learn still. Your video contains important lessons. Yes driving or riding a little faster can be pleasant but the associated risks are significant. We need to be aware of that. The risk of killing a child when colliding at 20 mph apparently is 1 in 10: at 30 mph this is said to increase to 9 in 10. In rainy conditions the stopping time, which is reaction time and braking distance increases significantly. Research has shown that 80% of drivers overestimate their abilities (and competence), motorcycle instructors recently stated that they thought this might be as much as 90% for bikers. Perhaps we should all take the time and review the Highway Code and recent changes in particular.
@@pup1008 indeed, the state of the roads - and other issues - do regularly present a serious problem depending on where you live. Punishing minor digressions is counterproductive so I would agree that in some instances your point is valid. Having spent the best part of last weekend and some days last week on the road, I have to say though that there doesn't appear to be enough of a deterrent for speeding, and ridiculous speeds at that. Frankly appalling what I witnessed over the last few days. Having said that, reasonable approach is indeed called for but keeping in mind that minor differences in speed with vehicles can have big consequences already let's not refer to people who blatantly disregard speed limits and many other rules, especially in areas and at times where that presents a serious risk such the vicinity of schools or other, as law-abiding souls.
Just done the same course but in the classroom. I very rarely speed but like you i had other things on my mind and crept up to 35. I thought it was harsh but when seeing the video about how much difference 1mph makes I changed my mind! Another great view Bob.
Good man for sharing Bob, it could happen to anyone and yes speed creep is a biggie. When you admit to yourself that you've made an error that's half the battle. One thing I learned that stuck with me from day 1 was how many people are caught speeding by camera, by on board police car detectors, hand held units, or even tachograph readings etc etc. One that many people don't think about is being caught by other road users. Example in my area 360 children were hit by speeding motorists in a year, those motorists and those kids really were the unlucky ones. The luckier ones were caught by cameras etc etc. I try to remind myself every time I drive how that would feel if I slipped up. I had to take medical retirement due to a damaged spine. I had done nowt wrong that day in the 1990s when that speeding motorist was caught by the rear of my car and changed my life forever.
Thank you for this. I don’t drive but my husband and daughter do. No speeding to date but from 17 th September here in Wales anywhere with street lights is dropping to 20 mph unless otherwise stated. I anticipate a lot of speeding tickets for the general public as 20 is really slow. I’m all for road safely but a lot of people are against it. It cost 33 million pounds to bring this in. My daughter will have to leave a lot earlier to get to work. 30 mph zones will be dropping to 20. So anyone coming to Wales please take note.
Like you Clare, I’m in Wales and just received the “information leaflet” about the country wide 30 down to 20. I agree, in modern cars it’s ridiculously slow. Presumably the Welsh Government will pay for all the clogged up diesel engines that will result in driving at walking pace?
@@SmiffsBeardies yes it is really slow. I don’t know how many accidents it will prevent as you will always get the joy riders. We had a fatal accident by us on the main road, young lads speeding, so sad but you will always get them. It’s not so much lowering the speed limit it’s the cost of £33 million that could be spent on the NHS which is in a dreadful state.
hi Bob, many thanks for this. I use my cruise control a lot of the time, even in 30 zones and when towing. this prevents me from speed creeping. safe journeys
Great video. It always surprises me that 30 mph is; 44 feet per second, every second you're going along! We see the braking distance in the Highway Code and go, 'no I can stop quicker than that'. Maybe the speed limits are not too low after all! All the best, go safely.
I know somebody that got done on the A41 Finchley road in London. It is now a 20mph road when in the past it was a 40mph road. He got done for doing 24mph in the 20mph. The irony was that his car was being overtaken by cyclists, push bike cyclists, on the road at the time. The 20mph limit on such a 2 lane or 3 lane either side dual carriageway is nothing short of a money grab on the poor motorist.
Fair play Bob, I am as guilty slipping over the limit at times. I am driving a heavier than 3500 kg van. I stick to the HGV limits , but it’s easy to forget which vehicle i am in at times , i.e my car or my wife’s car versus the MH . I tend to drive the motorhome with the total holiday head on , never in a hurry, i dont have to work the new auto 9 speed box the same to get up to speed. Not criticizing manual, just my in ability to get the best from the manual box is the reality. Thank you for sharing.
Well done Bob. I hope many viewers of your channel take heed. Here, in Portugal, they introduced 30 new speed cameras on 1st September, resulting in 6000 fines on that day. Tailgaiting, jumping infront, travelling in the centre lane of a motorway are all predominant here. Oh, and I am sure indicators are an optional extra, even on new cars. Keep yoyr vlogs coming.
It's not only watching speed, you've got to read the road. A lot of drivers don't read the road and drive along totally oblivious to everything all around them and especially what's happening ahead of them . When I was learning to drive in the 1970s, we'd have lessons where my driving instructor would ask me to relate all that I was seeing (any hazards, side roads, zebra crossings ahead, road signs, pedestrians, cyclists, animals, etc etc) as I was driving along. He would then ask me to pull over and stop, and inform me of anything that I may have missed seeing. Very valuable lessons and teaches the driver to be very very observant. I wonder if driving instructors actually do that these days ? I'll have to ask my 17 year old grandaughter..... she recently passed her driving test, so she ought to know. Personally, I don't really agree with a speed awareness course being an alternative to receiving penalty points. Penalty points for speeding and having to go on a speed awareness course both ought to be mandatory for anyone caught speeding. Plus, speed awareness courses ought to be mandatory for every new driver.
Good to you Bob for sharing this along with your learnings and Action Plan - to be honest I find crwling in 30mph limit extremely difficult. Glad you avoided a 5 year prison semtence😮
in my case it was unfair! the speed was 40mph then there was average speed camera then a 30mph sign. I got NIP for driving 35mph in a 30mph zone which is absolutely rubbish.
Them cameras are so sneaky sometimes. I was once driving back from Skipton to find a mobile one tucked in a corner half way up/down a hill which I didn’t think was fair.
Well done you bob for taking it on the chin 👍 .. like to think am a good driver & aware of speed conditions but sometimes like you your more aware of the scenery that a few mph over..last time for me was in 1987 on a motorbike which was a a 30 limit & mine was as few over that..anyway get back to enjoying driving 👍
very informative video bob. i recently got snapped for attempting to overtake someone who was driving under the speed limit and as i was trying to get past, they put their foot down in an attempt to stop me and i ended up paying the price. i had the letter come through the post alerting me of this and what to do so now i'm awaiting the inevitable. thank you for posting this video.
I hope this video can help save lives, just as the courses do. We all have family, young and old and everyones behaviour matters on the road. Amazing video well done 👏
Hi Bob hope you and Jenny and Poppy are well A very informative video and I remember when I did the course in 2017 it was very eye opening and realised I had become complacent over my driving career I had done 34 in a 30 in Bromsgrove and caught by a mobile van I hadn’t seen getting home after work and not concentrating My wife got caught in rowley Regis doing 35 in a 30 And couldn’t have the course so she had points like me she hadn’t seen a mobile camera getting home after work I have certainly concentrated more since then and applied what I learnt that day Most people found it useful and recognised what they did wrong and some who were quite critical Of the course All the best to you both Daniel
I've been driving for 16 years at 30 mph. THEN IT GOES DOWN TO 20MPH..ITS MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER AND PEOPLE WILL OVER TAKE AND NEARY GO IN TO ON COMING TRAFFIC JUST TO OVER TAKE ME..I HAVE USED MORE FUEL..ANY RAC MAN WILL TELL YOU THAT ITS NOT FUEL EFFICIENT AND VERY DISTRACTING STAYING AT 20MPH..
Interesting video Bob, thankyou for the insight. Anything that raises awareness has to be a good thing. To be honest in my opinion everyone who holds a license should be made to attend speed awareness courses every few years just to keep people aware of the consequences of not only driving too fast but other factors too.
All to do with context. I've been offered one of these things. I was 'caught', like you, 37 in a 30. I've driven the same road for years and thought it was a 40. I saw the camera van but didn't adjust my speed as I thought I was under. The road, no houses, very wide, no pedestrians etc. I have since learnt that, instead of concentrating on the possible hazards ahead I am meant to look at the lampposts and judge the distance between them! Ludicrous. I then researched the road and it turns out loads have been done in the same place. If they are genuinely concerned about speed, PUT A 30 MPH SIGN, that will cut speed along this road instantly. Will they? Don't be daft. It's their cash cow. I will do the course to avoid the points (never been done for speeding and I'm 61) but will take little notice. When they are deliberately targeting such an area without putting a simple sign up I can't take them seriously. Until then, it's us and them. Thanks for the vid. Unlike others I won't pat you on the back and call you 'brave', unless you've dived into a frozen lake and saved a puppy. That's brave. Cheers.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo Yesterday I drove at 30 along a short stretch of road. Housing estate on the left, a small convenience store on the right, pedestrian crossing, then a busy business entrance about 200m up the road. To my amazement, as I passed into a 50 zone, I looked in my mirror only to see the sign on the back of the 50 zone sign stating the stretch I had just driven through was a 40mph zone! Where I got done, no houses, no pedestrians, nothing, is a 30 but this stretch full of hazards is a 40!! One thing my new awareness has taught me, the 'law' is an ass.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo True. And me being aware makes it even more annoying that I have to be patronised by someone that may very well have driven over the speed 'limit' themselves. If you're reckless, you need reigning in, other than that it's just money making chest thumping. IMHO.
I remember there being a public information film when i was a kid about "only a fool breaks the two second rule". I regularly say it in my head. Sometimes when I'm driving too! 😂
I have just been clipped at 82 in a 70 ( motorway); Been offered the alternative course which I shall take up , Not sure wether to do online or classroom.. I’m not to bothered about being clipped as I was due for a ticket at some point considering I have had a clean license for 25 years and I estimate that since I last had a point I have driven approximately 2.5 million miles .. I’m a Hgv driver in uk and Europe over that time . Good video and you have no need to reproach yourself.
Well done for confessing ! From Monday for us those 30 mph roads with street lights become 20 mph roads something I’m worried about !! Regarding using cruise control remember if you have a smart alternator it stops charging if you put cruise control on - there’s a video for you with your new meter 👍
One Mississippi..two Mississippi is a handy saying to keep the two second gap. Well done Bob as I don't mind driving a van but not with a car on the back as well....looking forward to watching you all on future vlogs.
37 in a 30 is exactly what happened to me. Never been in trouble in my 11 years of driving. Was travelling back from a long few day's auditing and just wanted to get home. As soon as it went off, I was so embarrassed.
Good on you for doing this vlog. Not sure if you're aware but as of 17/9 Wales is reducing 30mph down to 20mph on all restricted roads so if you're coming this way be on the lookout as they are booking drivers.
In the 1970's I was caught twice within 6 months and in those days a third would have meant a ban. As driving was essential for my job and I was driving 20/40,000 miles per year the next two and a half years before those points were wiped went very slowly, as did I. Over the next 50 years I've probably driven in excess of 1M miles but I've never forgotten that period. I've been lucky at times, as you say your speed can creep if you get distracted for a few moments and modern day speed limiters and sat nav warnings can be really useful.
I like to drive slowly and welcome speed restrictions. However, I often feel very uncomfortable when it seems like I'm holding up all the traffic. I continually look at the speed on the Garmin Camper which is much better than trying to keep looking down at the speedo. I do pay attention, probably too much but they got me in Austria at 37km/h (better than 37mph). I don't like constantly banging the breaks but entering small villages means hard braking between the 2 signs or allowing a slightly longer slow down. My guess is that if you put cameras right on the 30kmh sign, most people would get flashed. For the locals it's "once bitten" but for non-locals, it's pay even more attention than you're already paying or else.
a cop overtook me in my motorhome once round bristol area doing about 75 80 mph and nearly caused a terrible accident all he done was put his hand saying sorry to me and drove on if i could have stopped him i would of had him in front of a judge the next day end of thanks bob your a cracking driver so all is good take care
Hi Bob been doing some simple maths which I found quite interesting. Driving at 1mph extra for 1 hour you will travel an extra 5,280ft which is an extra 88ft in a minute or 1.46ft per second (approx 17inches) which means an absolutely maximum extra stopping distance of 5.86ft if it take you 4 seconds to come to a halt. I stand corrected if my 50 years old maths are wrong 🤣🤣
Don't expect me to check your maths, 😊 what I remembered is at 31 mph the car hit the boxes it previously stopped in front of, still doing 8mph. So I guess an extra 7mph would make even more difference!
My step was an HGV driving instructor he told me so many stories even the best of drivers can make mistakes even fail driving tests huge rise in extended driving tests lorry drivers losing their licences everything now seems to be ANPR cameras and those super laser cams coming in soon they catch you out quick and send you a bill through the door, always keep an eye on your speedometer and road signs and update your satnav with latest software but don't worry eventually 95% of the roads will be 20mph so you will only have to think about 1 speed soon laugh out loud !!!
BOB GREAT VIDEO, i DO THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IF YOU HAVE AN OLD VECHILE is knowing what the speed limit is, apologies for the capitols, i was not aware i had engaged caps lock, I don't think you need to feel bad
Well done Bob, I can see this video was difficult to make as you felt so ashamed, Don't worry pal, you and I both know most people speed whether they do it intentionally or not, you were just distracted as most of us are with driving in general. Making videos on the road has come at some cost, you and Jenny do it very well, your directions are the Best, you are so informative and entertaining. I applaud you for making this video as I know it has made me think, I'm sure many others have too, you make some great points and who knows by making this video you may have saved someones life, injury or car damage at the very least, so feel good about that. Braking really is something to think about, the newer cars can react quicker than any human can, I've seen it many times, 3 - 5 car pile ups and more, I feel that 2 second gap needs to be longer as the sharpest brakes can be the cause of pile ups, of course people should be more careful and not follow too close, I hate when I look in the mirror and cant see the bonnet but I can see the drivers face. Thanks again for that video, tap yourself on the back, I do feel the financial costs were steep.
Yes, a very good point about braking distances, some modern cars have adaptive cruise control, which can react in milliseconds, so increasing the distance is important.
I would take the points too as you have to declare the speed awareness course to insurance. Why do the govts import cars and motorcycles that will do 180mph then seek to fine people
As people have said take the oints and don't give yourself grief you are not the only one caught going over the speed limit,it's no big deal even policeget caught and driving instructors who shoul no better
Well done. You avoided the points. When caught, I’d do exactly the same but will treat the course with the contempt it deserves. The reality of a crash (where there are no technical faults) is that it is someone driven a vehicle in such a fashion that a collision is inevitable. That may be due to excess speed, poor lookout, slow thinking, poor eyesight, poor handling skills, poor road surface, distraction and the like or a combination of these factors. Yet only speed is considered. Speed limits are the equivalent of a cosh being used to punish toddlers. With regard to speed, what counts is driving at an appropriate speed for the prevailing conditions. Bear in mind that your inertia is 1/2 mass x speed squared. A very small increase is speed results in a huge amount of additional energy that can be used to destroy things and harm people. This is why I drive into my estate at about 15 mph with a speed limit of 30. That is why I might drive on an empty road at greater than the posted limit. I also have the feeling that speed limits are on a random ratchet. Many roads near me have had their limits reduced from NSA to 50 and from 50 to 40. One dual carriageway has been improved with better crash barriers, lighting, better drainage, better surface and the speed limit reduced - of course. So with a reduction in speed limits, will we have fewer road deaths per mile driven? Of course not. Woke lunatics have taken over road legislation and enforcement. I don’t care about the embarrassment nor the fine. The things that do the personal damage are the points. They stay with you and really damage your pocket and those of anybody whose policy you are a named drive on for five years. And let’s be honest - statists quoted out of context or without and form of reference or like random words in a sentence. They have no value. Take motorcycle accidents. How many were unlicensed teenagers? How many were Provisional License holders delivering food with a one day training course? How many were on unlicensed, uninsured off-road bikes? These people form a hefty percentage of accidents in this category of road vehicle. And have you driven in Bradford? I don’t think anyone has been taught to drive in that city.
Informative and public-spirited post, Bob. Embarrassment 2x here…. was driving to a teacher meeting and said I’d lead the way for a teacher friend who was following in his car & was unfamiliar with the area. Didn’t notice the road change from 40 mph to 30… went blithely sailing on. Got done - and so did he following behind. (I probably should have offered to pay for his awareness course.) The guilt lingers years later. But lesson remembered.
I got caught speeding on the motorway and also elected to do the awareness course - a no brainer really. I must say, it was really good. Given it's been 30 odd years since my driving test, i found this course was a really good refresher and drives home we shouldnt take a driving licences for granted.
Good video. You don't have to tell your insurer that you have been on a speed awareness course unless they ask you on the proposal. You will know this. A speed awareness is not a conviction and therefore you do not have to tell them, unless you are insured with Admiral who will ask the question and you need to be honest or they will invalidate your insurance. In the case of Admiral a speed awareness course will impact the premium, but shouldn’t impact it as much as a speeding endorsement. So you correctly say Bob, that the course is almost as much as the fine but you do not get the convictions with the course - convictions will affect your premium for at least 5 years. As for me, I got caught doing 33mph in a 30mph zone so the lesson to all is keep your eyes on the speedo!
I unfortunately got caught in my Talbot Express Kontiki doing 35 in a 30mph in North Wales, going up a hill climb. Dare I say, the TOC members and I were somewhat amused I managed to get a Talbot up a hill at that speed! Speed awareness course taken and lesson's definately learnt!
Did you use Zoom if so how long was the course as I have to attend one I have looked to downlaod zoom but you only get 40 minutes free as I am having to pay for the course I dont want the extra expense of signing up to Zoom.
Thanks for sharing your experience of the speed awareness course - some useful reminders - there but for the grace of God go I; personally I attempt to keep a minimum of a 3 second gap cf. 2 sec
