Awareness test/road safety course.

Posted by: JamieL_v2 on 05 November 2010

I went on a speed awareness course yesterday after being caught doing 35mph in a 30 zone. I was pretty miffed as I was looking for directions signs and must have a speed sign where the road changed from 40 to 30.

At the end of the day it is down to the driver to know the rules of the road, and I didn't want points on the license so I went. Maybe the sign was hidden, but I don't know the road, and it is 65 miles away, so challenging it was not an option for me.

Anyway, the course was really good, very enjoyable, very informative, and a most definitely not being badgered by the officers running it, and lots of gory videos. I wouldn't suggest speeding in order to get on one, and they cost £15 more than the fine, but it was a good four hours.

I found one of the tests we were given on YouTube, it really shows you how your concentrations works. If you know this, please do not post the answer in the thread. If you do not know it, you will be very surprised at how much the brain can take in. We were asked to do it in a very slightly different way to the original, here are the instructions we were given.

TASK

Two teams each passing a basket ball, follow the white team, and score 1 point for a pass through the air, and 2 points for a pass bounced on the floor. It lasts 30 seconds or so. Just make marks on a piece of paper, or (as you are on a computer) open a Word(etc.) document and click a button, then count up.

Again, please don't post the answer/number if you know.

You will be really surprised.

Posted on: 05 November 2010 by count.d
Your post has come at a good timing. My partner was caught doing 39 on a 30 road and has just been offered the awareness option. She will be going on it as it relieves her licence being endorsed with 3 points. My insurance is due on the 14th Nov (she's on the driver's list), do you know of the legal obligation whether I need to tell my insurance company (or new one) of her conviction? It doesn't count as a conviction is she goes on the course does it?
Posted on: 05 November 2010 by count.d
Jamie, I've only ploughed into groups of people on the hard shoulder three times!
Posted on: 05 November 2010 by JamieL_v2
Legally there are no records of attending the course, you do not need to to tell anyone at all, insurance included. The only thing recorded is that if someone who is offered such a course is caught speeding again within three years, their option to go on a course instead of the points is not offered during that time.

Don't show her the video, they will probably use it or something similar, she will laugh at the couple of people who say something really stupid after counting all the passes. I hope she has a good a course as I did.

I think the video works a little better when you are in a course and know you will all be asked for your answers at the end, it makes you really concentrate on the white team. It also does not work if the picture from YouTube freezes as you lose the flow.

_______________________

I take it back Count, your ability to spot the initial problem might not be 100%, but your ability to take evasive action is definitely spot on.

Thanks.

Interestingly one thing they did say was that in Humberside the Police have had two cars written off parked on the hard shoulder, full blue flashing lights blazing, and still been hit by drivers not noticing them at the edge of the road. They said to not stay in a car on a hard shoulder.

I went yesterday in a curmudgeonly mood, despite being told how good the courses were by a friend. The officers doing the course were superb,and I was won over straight away. It is worth it for the insurance, keeping points off the license, but it is also great fun.

Humberside are just extending the speeds at which they offer the course, it was just 35-7 in a 30 zone (similar ranges for other speeds), and are extending it up to 39 now (I think) in the next month as it has had such success.

For those doing over 10miles an hour faster, or worse in a zone it is not offered. It is aimed at drivers who have for one reason or other not complied with the speed, but not those who are blatantly flouting it.
Posted on: 05 November 2010 by Derek Wright
Where did you do your course - my wife was on one yesterday afternoon. She was very impressed by the course.

In Hampshire they have noticed quite a reduction in road deaths since they started running the courses.
Posted on: 05 November 2010 by JamieL_v2
Mine was in Hull. Humberside are not signed up to the national scheme, so you have to go there to do it. One man had gone up from Leicester.

It does mean that the funds from the course go straight back into the area, which is probably better than the treasury getting it.