20 replies to this topic

[james_ly]

Got my first one tomorrow. Presumably it's just a case of nodding and smiling for 4 hours... but I've heard of people being thrown off the course for taking a phone call

[quimbles]

yes, and probably to the same place youll be going. 

 

it was all pretty light hearted.  but they do expect you to interact.

[fiveoclock]

Dont take a phone call then

[Rosssco]

Dont take a phone call then

 

I was gonna say - if you can't avoid a call for a short period of time, the course is for you  

[smiley]

4 hours sounds doable.

 

Over here it's a 4 day thing, and costs 1134 euro.

Show up one minute late on any of these, and you will have to pay the 1134 again, and you loose your license untill the course is completed, so you need a ride for those new 4 days.

 

 

Edited by smiley, 12 February 2018 - 11:39 AM.

[Sutol]

I've been on one and the most interesting thing I found was the demographic of the attendees. Nearly all middle aged, white, middle class and mostly done for 35 in a 30. At least I was 71 in a 60. The actual 'Speed' awareness part was about 5% of the course, the rest was, how to avoid road rage, road signs, reading the road etc etc. Having said that I have heard that other areas do a much more focused course.

[Rudy]

I’ve done 3 in the last 6 or 7 years – 2 run by Dorset Police and the other was the AA (they didn’t share data a few years back, hence being caught in other counties within a 3 year period meant the option was available lol – not so sure now though as data is shared more extensively).  The police one was a full day and pretty strict – but was also a good mix of ages and so on, so it was pretty cool.  The AA one was 4 hours and you could sleepwalk through it – still all very entertaining on a wet Thursday afternoon.

 

You’ll be fine.  Word of warning though – there is always a massive bell-end who attends and is basically a total know it all, or has some story for every situation.  I’m pretty sure its some kind of test for rage  

 

[Nev]

I've been on one and the most interesting thing I found was the demographic of the attendees. Nearly all middle aged, white, middle class and mostly done for 35 in a 30. At least I was 71 in a 60. The actual 'Speed' awareness part was about 5% of the course, the rest was, how to avoid road rage, road signs, reading the road etc etc. Having said that I have heard that other areas do a much more focused course.

 

I agree, on my last one some of the lack of basic road knowledge/awareness was startling, so teaching them the basics about everything seemed sensible to me.

 

The 2 old women next to me didn't know what the national speed limit sign meant, nor did they know what the national speed limit was for them!!

 

At one point they put up a picture of a car traveling down a road with about 20 different potential risks on it (eg kids playing football, car pulling out, person crossing road whilst on the phone, lane merge etc etc), and some people could barely even see 1 or 2 risks.

 

Edited by Nev, 13 February 2018 - 03:59 AM.

[Zoobeef]

I found it focused on teaching people how to recognise what the speed limit is on the road their driving (also I was the only one able to answer the "what is a duel carriageway" question). Which for me didn't help as I knew exactly what the speed limit was when I was over it.

 

It also highlights how many retards there are on the road.

Edited by Zoobeef, 13 February 2018 - 08:55 AM.

[sford]

Echo above, was good for raising awareness of what the speed limits are and how to spot them. I was amazed the amount of people that didn't know what the national speed limit was although they may have been being awkward. There were a lot of grumpy middle aged who were far to important to be at something like a speed awareness course that were on the phone constantly. I just drank all the free coffee and ate all the biscuits, smiled politely when answering questions and went on my way.

[CocoPops]

Sounds like they ought to be compulsory... Once every few years, you go and complete a 4hr workshop. Good revenue for gov/councils and a timely reminder for many of the rules. Not had the pleasure of attending one myself, but if I do, it will be accepted as an inevitability.

[Chris P Duck]

Yeah Ive done 3. 1st one was very good as it was a few short slides and a chat then out in the car with an advanced instructor of some sort. You drive for a bit (genuinely no catch, not trying to catch you doing more stuff) then he drove while teaching you some bits and pieces then back to you to practice them. Things like commentary driving where you talk non stop stating everything you see, what youre doing or thinking of doing as a result of it, what you think other road users may be about to do etc. Genuinely useful and dare I say it enjoyable. The other 2 were death by PowerPoint. Utter sh!te and I found my mind wondered for the whole thing, couldnt really tell you any of the content from those 2.

Edited by Chris P Duck, 13 February 2018 - 05:52 PM.

[smiley]

Are these courses free?

[ianrm]

I can't believe you allowed to use your phone whilst on the course, 

[Chris P Duck]

Are these courses free?

No, a little more than the fine would have been. Probably less than the combination of fine and insurance hike though.

[casino]

Ive done three. They last longer than four hours. Fun if you get involved and, time passes quicker. Dont be a dick, switch yer phone off during the time.

[james_ly]

Well, it was actually quite a good course, basically the observation part of the advanced driving test, and some road crash stats. Shame about the people there though. On the group exercise the other people on my table didn't believe me when I said the speed limit on a dual carriageway is 70, they thought it was 60

 

Had to laugh at one guy asking the instructor if he was doing 70 in the outside lane and he got undertaken, were they in the wrong. The instructor told him off said he should pull over to let them by, and the police can fine you for lane hogging

[Sutol]

Has anyone from the middle lane owners club been actually fined?

[KurtVerbose]

I so much prefer the system in Switzerland. Yes, about once a year I get done for speeding. It's always by a small amount when I've missed a sign. I pay the fine and that's done.

 

If I collected lots of fines, or was grossly over the limit it's much more of an issue, and I have no problem with that, but I do think it stupid to heavily punish people who are occasionaly a little over the limit.

 

I like the idea of regular training though. Don't see why it needs to be only linked to an offence.

[rabbidog]

I did one about 2 years ago, found it pretty tedious, but there was sone great characters also on the course which helped. When asked why we was speeding, one guy's reply was "i was trying to beat the satnav, everyone does it dont they? When it tells me i will be at my destination at a certain time I just have to beat it" We all see the funny side, the instructor not so much.