[Closed] Speed awareness course tomorrow

I was caught- red-handed, bang to rights, it's a fair cop guv- coming out of a 30 into a 50. I just sped up too early like the massive idiot I am. Mea culpa

I got caught the other way around. Slowing from a 50 to a 30 and hadn't quite slowed enough. If they'd pinged me a couple of seconds later I'd have been within the limit.

Just don't fall for any of that bobbins they will try to preach to you about going fast won't get you there quicker

This is a law of physics , no matter what they try and tell you.

As with most people who quote laws of physics, they don't do it very well.

The point the instructors are trying to make is that whilst you might get there slightly more quickly, the difference is negligible and far less than you think it's going to be.

For example, I could save ten minutes coming back from Farnborough to Cardiff, about 125 miles, by driving as fast as I could - with all the speeding Audis in the outside lane. 2h04 instead of 2h14. Used about 20% more fuel and was a lot more dangerous. I won't deny it was more satisfying at times, but it felt way faster than it actually was.

The instructors made the point that if you speed through a typical 30mph village or town your only save seconds, but you are taking a far greater risk with everyone else's safety.

[quote=molgrips ]As with most people who quote laws of physics, they don't do it very well.
...
The instructors made the point that if you speed through a typical 30mph village or town your only save seconds, but you are taking a far greater risk with everyone else's safety.

I've never been on a course, so don't know first hand, but from all the reports I've seen it's the course instructors who don't make their point very well (by trying to make their point with black and white statements which are fundamentally incorrect). I'm not sure there is anything wrong with the laws of physics being quoted on here. Given the lack of application of such statements to situations where I've been caught, I'm still glad I didn't bother when given the option.

As already discussed I did save 20 mins on my journey (20 mins more riding my bike) and ned reckons he did save an hour, which is believable.

by trying to make their point with black and white statements which are fundamentally incorrect

They never said it was no quicker to speed. That's obviously incorrect.

They said it was not significantly quicker. Which is true, unless you are driving a really long way. They backed it up with maths. It's a case of Chinese whispers - if one person says 'it's not significantly quicker' the next will say 'it's hardly quicker' which becomes 'it's no quicker'. Then someone will say 'oh that's not scientifically possible' and fail to realise that they are building a straw man when it should be perfectly obvious what the original point is.

No-one would say it's not quicker to go faster. It's nonsensical, so you must question why it's being reported rather than coming over all cocky disproving it.

The take home message is: you should only speed on long journeys 😆

Gosh, aren't we all superior today! As usual, glad to see the standard 'driving gods' in evidence 😉

I wasn't saying that EVERY time I drive in a 30mph zone I now religiously use 3rd gear, revving at the limiter like a caged boy racer; rather that in certain areas (such as the hitherto higher-speed areas now restricted to 30mph and lower in Bristol) it can be a useful technique.

Just like a light right foot and paying attention.

I was trying to point out that, rather than being a complete waste of time, the speed awareness courses could be constructive as the intention is to improve your driving, not punish you for breaking the law. Go in with an open mind, and you may find you benefit.

[quote=molgrips ]They never said it was no quicker to speed. That's obviously incorrect.

Ah, so it's not a problem with the physics, but with the reporting of the courses? 😉

Ah, so it's not a problem with the physics, but with the reporting of the courses?

OP here - I was going faster than I should have been at the time. I got caught.
Went along with an open mind. It was very informative as you're reminded of how much you had forgotten - you knew it all once but after 20-plus years of driving you develop bad habits...when was the last time you looked at the Highway Code? The instructors were engaging enough and it went quick - I came out glad I'd gone and it didn't feel like a chore/waste of time.
Whilst I was sat in the car (arrived 30 mins early) reading STW mag, I looked up to spot some classic parking moves...I sat jaw open as someone reverse parked into a space at a crazy angle, scraping the passenger side rear bumper against the car next to her - so much so the parked car rocked. She then drove forward - scraping again - then reversed so they were parallel but 6 inches apart so move jostling pack and forth til she was happy...then she sat in her car without getting out. I took a pic of both reg plates unsure whether to say anything. I'd be livid if I came out to find my car like that knowing the perpetrator had done one, so I mentioned it to one of the instructors discreetly before everyone legged it at the end - turns out the offender was sat on my table of four....right next to the owner of the car she had lovingly caressed! Felt a bit of a 'grass' but thought it was taking the piss being on a driver awareness course and doing that - the dozy bint said she was completely unaware she'd even done it when the instructor mentioned it to her!

Sounds like she needs a bit more than an awareness course!

[quote=rascal ]when was the last time you looked at the Highway Code?

A paper copy - a long time ago, possibly not since I passed my test almost 30 years ago. However the online version is invaluable for [s]proving your point in arguments[/s] discussions on here 😉 - the side effect of which is reasonable familiarity with it.