Speed Awareness Course

[Eddy77]

I got pulled over for speeding a few weeks ago. Doing 42 in a 30. I know, I know, shame on me. In my defence, it’s a rural road running into the town where I live. For years it was a 40 but they changed it last year to a 30 and I must admit, I didn’t really change my driving speed. Tssssk.

Anyway, I got invited to a Speed Awareness Course and dodged the points so I feel quite lucky given how far over I was.

I was surprised that a SAC was offered for such an infringement (I was expecting 3 points). Is Police discretion involved? It was 9:30 on a dry clear Sunday morning with no traffic around and the Policeman was very nice about it, particularly given the type of road and the fact it only changed recently to a 30. Just wondered what the drill was – did Mr plod put in a good word for me, or is it not down to him?

 

[st13phil]

Criteria is normally from Posted Limit +10% +2mph to Posted Limit +10% +9mph, so in a 30mph limit you were right on the threshold.

 

[RonFleet]

I got pulled over for speeding a few weeks ago. Doing 42 in a 30. I know, I know, shame on me. In my defence, it’s a rural road running into the town where I live. For years it was a 40 but they changed it last year to a 30 and I must admit, I didn’t really change my driving speed. Tssssk.

Anyway, I got invited to a Speed Awareness Course and dodged the points so I feel quite lucky given how far over I was.

I was surprised that a SAC was offered for such an infringement (I was expecting 3 points). Is Police discretion involved? It was 9:30 on a dry clear Sunday morning with no traffic around and the Policeman was very nice about it, particularly given the type of road and the fact it only changed recently to a 30. Just wondered what the drill was – did Mr plod put in a good word for me, or is it not down to him?

Hi Eddy,

I live in Fleet...which road has had its limit reduced? Just in case...

 

[BTB 500]

Yup, the guideline is FPN only from 43 mph (and a summons at 50 mph):



http://library.college.police.uk/docs/appref/ACPO-Speed-Enforcement-Guidance.pdf

 

[E53AMG]

I got pulled over for speeding a few weeks ago. Doing 42 in a 30. I know, I know, shame on me. In my defence, it’s a rural road running into the town where I live. For years it was a 40 but they changed it last year to a 30 and I must admit, I didn’t really change my driving speed. Tssssk.

Anyway, I got invited to a Speed Awareness Course and dodged the points so I feel quite lucky given how far over I was.

I was surprised that a SAC was offered for such an infringement (I was expecting 3 points). Is Police discretion involved? It was 9:30 on a dry clear Sunday morning with no traffic around and the Policeman was very nice about it, particularly given the type of road and the fact it only changed recently to a 30. Just wondered what the drill was – did Mr plod put in a good word for me, or is it not down to him?

Wow if you were caught doing 42mph then your Speedo would have been registering around 46mph in a 30 mph zone, you got a result!

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[Alfie]

Post deleted as poorly formatted.

Have a look at the Sentencing guidelines app. Its very informative

 

[Eddy77]

Hi Eddy,

I live in Fleet...which road has had its limit reduced? Just in case...

The road that runs from fthe Oatsheef pub crossroads at the end of the High Street out towards the Elvetham roundabout. Straight road with £1m plus houses all the way along. Police are there with speed guns quite regularly!

Reading Road North I think...

 

[BTB 500]

Straight road with £1m plus houses all the way along. Police are there with speed guns quite regularly!

The two are quite possibly linked ...

When I lived near Walton on Thames a number of very wealthy house owners there regularly let the police site speed traps in the entrance to their property, picking people off as they came down the road.

 

[Eddy77]

Indeed they are. The police car was parked down an unmade private lane leading to a couple of massive houses. Which is where he directed me to pull up for my crime!

 

[RonFleet]

The road that runs from fthe Oatsheef pub crossroads at the end of the High Street out towards the Elvetham roundabout. Straight road with £1m plus houses all the way along. Police are there with speed guns quite regularly!

Reading Road North I think...

Yes, I know it. I must admit, it's hard not to drive at 40 mph along Reading Road North. As you said, it was 40 mph until last year, it's dead straight, quite wide and the bijou residences are all set well back from the road. I still find myself doing 40(ish) along there and have to rein myself back. You met a sensible copper by the sound of it.

 

[Yugguy]

This is where cruise comes in handy even at low speeds.

 

[Eddy77]

I’ve been using the speed limiter a lot more since then!!

 

[Teego]

Interesting how wide the tolerances are for people suitable for speed awareness courses compared with people incapable of being educated. If you have points or tell plod to go and catch proper criminals you won't be offered the course.

Couple of years ago I was having fun on one of my favourite tracks - edit - 50mph twisty hill road.
Came off a blind left-hander quickish (66mph and accelerating).
Plod on other side with unmarked black 330i estate, hand-held gun and invitation to pull over.
"Before you ask" he said "this was calibrated this morning". As if I'd dream to argue that one. "And you can see it shows you at 66mph.
"What's the speed liimt here?" Was going to say NSL but that would make me look like a fool or a chancer - so 50mph.
Then he starts taking details. He has them already from his computer but needs to verify.
He asks my age and when I tell him life's a bitch at XX he cracks up.
He walks around the bike and picks up on the missing baffle in my Akrapovic. "Yes, I'll put it back".
Starts talking about SACs but he can recommend not decide. Except he sort of can.
Looked at my ticket when I got home to find he had logged me at 62mph.
Excellent result. £100 SAC, no points, no insurance declaration.
Load of idiots on the course but some interesting points made - not all about speeding.

 

[BTB 500]

Excellent result. £100 SAC, no points, no insurance declaration.

Unfortunately some insurance companies do require you to declare that you've been on a course, so check your small print!

 

[219]

All you southerners please remember too that when you come up over the border the rules are different.

We don’t offer SACs , and the thresholds are different too .

 

[Deleted member 6183]

All you southerners please remember too that when you come up over the border the rules are different.

We don’t offer SACs , and the thresholds are different too .

How primitive.

 

[Alfie]

All you southerners please remember too that when you come up over the border the rules are different.

We don’t offer SACs , and the thresholds are different too .

Also any convictions in Scotland or NI count towards totting up / bans etc and appear in ones 'pre cons' in court!

 

[Ted]

@Eddy77 , it was 9:30 on a Sunday morning. You were obviously late for church, and are therefore a good person.
The constable recognised this and it doubtless led to his leniency.

Shame you’re not a catholic as you would have probably got off with an our Father and a couple of hail Marys.

 

[BMF]

I May 2004 I got stopped on the A380 down here by a lone traffic officer using VASCAR, he calculated my sped as 94.85mph over 0.310 of a mile in just over 11 seconds.
I was very lucky as I only got 3 points and a £60 FPN, he did say that I should really have a day in court for it but it shows that discretion on the part of the officer can be a blessing.

 

[gramey]

Does anyone else remember this advert that they ran for some considerable time? -

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And at this time you were only eligible for a speed awareness course if you fell within the following criteria -
The criteria used for assessing eligibility for the speed awareness course
is speed within range of speed limit + 10% + 2mph to speed limit + 10% +
6mph. i.e. in a 30 mph limit 35 - 39 mph, also must not have completed a
previous course within the last 3 years and the offender must have
identified themselves to police by fully complying with legal requirements
under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and is able to be referred
to our service provider within 95 days of the alleged offence.

Strange how the tolerance is now set at a speed in excess of that deemed to be lethal in 80% of pedestrian collisions, well actually no not really as the Tory government announced a freeze on 'safety' camera spending in 2010. Given that there are a lot of people making a lot of money out of speed enforcement, companies like Road Safety Support, AA Drivetech and the likes, with the freezing of 'safety' camera spending the cash cow still needed feeding, not to mention a number of jobs within the ticket offices of police forces across the country.

So with their source of new revenue being cut off it didn't take them long to work out that if they raised the tolerance for speed awareness courses they could make up the shortfall, they rely on the people taking the SAC as they get all get a slice of the pie. The money from fines goes to, or certainly did, direct to central government so it's not the officer who stops you at the side of the road putting in a good word for you, it's simple economics, they want your money!