what does a driver awareness course entail

by Dr. Hyman Rutherford 10 min read

The National Speed Awareness Course is a theory-based workshop designed to help drivers recognise speed limits on different types of roads, address the reasons for their speeding and provide information that will help reduce the likelihood of speeding in the future.

The session is designed to reduce the likelihood of you speeding in future, and will include information about stopping distances, improving awareness of your surroundings, and working out the speed limit of an unfamiliar road. It will also touch on the possible consequences of speeding.

Full Answer

Should you do an advanced driving course?

Mar 13, 2022 · What Code Is A Driver Awareness Course? The speed limit on a restricted road must be exceeded by 30 mph. In addition to sections 81 (1) and 89 (1) of The Road, we have passed a bill lowering our Offence Code to RR84061 for exceeding 30mph in restricted territory.

What is driver awareness training?

Sep 22, 2021 · Speed awareness courses - sometimes referred to as driver awareness courses – are for motorists who’ve been caught speeding and want to avoid points on their licence and a fine. Who is eligible for speed awareness courses? You'll be offered the chance to attend the national speed awareness course if your speed was within certain limits e.g. if you were caught …

What is driver awareness?

TTC Group is pleased to confirm that, from Monday 6th April 2020, it will be delivering digital classroom-based National Speed Awareness Course (iNSAC) to members of the public who have already booked a place to attend a face-to-face course.. All face-to-face driver awareness courses were suspended on the 19th March 2020 as a result of guidance from UKROEd.

What happens at a Speed Awareness Course?

Apr 01, 2021 · Speed awareness course eligibility. A speed awareness course is offered instead of a penalty only in some cases –. 1) When you’re caught speeding only slightly above the allowed limit, usually 10% above the limit 2) If you haven’t completed the speed awareness course in the past three years If you fit the above two criteria, you can be eligible for a speed awareness …

What is involved in a driver awareness course?

Around 24 drivers attend each course and the group is usually split into smaller groups of four to six to take part in various exercises about things like hazard perception, potentially dangerous situations and also awareness of the applicable speed limit on different roads and in various surroundings.May 15, 2018

What questions do you get asked on a speed awareness course?

This takes a few minutes and they ask you questions as a group, such as “Why are you on this speed aware course?” and “Do you think you were speeding?” or “Do you think your speed was appropriate for the road/conditions?” to which the answers are “because I don't want points”, “no” and “not really”.Dec 30, 2018

Do you have to answer questions on a speed awareness course?

This depends entirely on whether or not the insurer asks the question. If they do not ask, it cannot be used as a factor when working out your premium. However, if you are indeed asked whether you have attended one, you will need to answer honestly, and your premium may be affected depending on underwriting criteria.

What do I need to know for my speed awareness course?

The police have offered it to you. It's your first speeding offence or your first in the past three years. You didn't commit any further offences at the time of the speeding offence. It's within the speed limits allowed for the course - between 10% of the limit plus 2mph and 10% plus 9mph.Jan 18, 2022

Do you have to inform car insurance of speed awareness course?

You don't legally have to tell your insurance provider that you've been on a speed awareness course, unless they specifically ask you. You won't be asked when starting a quote with us, as it's not classed as a driving conviction.Oct 30, 2019

How long does a speed awareness course stay on record?

How long does the course stay on record? Your details are kept on a database held by the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme. If you're caught speeding again within three years of taking a speed awareness course, you're quite likely to receive a fine and penalty points straightaway.

What happens on online speed awareness course?

You'll sign in to a virtual waiting room, confirm your identity and then enter an online classroom. An online speed awareness course includes the same content as a face-to-face session, just with a much smaller group. Again, you must stay for the entire session or your case will be referred back to the police.May 28, 2021

What happens at online speed awareness course?

A virtual speed awareness course session is usually two and a half hours long with a 10-minute break in-between. You'll be sent instructions on how to join using a secure link and attend the online sessions. In case you're unable to attend the course, you can usually reschedule your booking.Apr 1, 2021

How much does 3 points affect insurance?

However, bearing all that in mind, research suggests three points could raise a driver's car insurance premium by an average of 5%, while six penalty points could push the cost of insurance up by an average of 25%.Jul 22, 2021

Do you still have to pay a fine if you do a speed awareness course?

If you choose to take the course, and attend and complete it, you will not need to pay the fine and penalty points will not be added to your licence.

Why have I not been offered a speed awareness course?

Why haven't I been offered a speed awareness course? It's entirely up to the discretion of your local police on whether or not to offer you a one of these courses. If you've already taken one within the last 3 years, or you were well above the speed limits stipulated by the police, you won't be offered one.May 19, 2019

Can a police car catch you speeding UK?

Driving in excess of the established speed limit in the UK is considered illegal and punishable with a conviction, such as fines and penalties. You can be caught out by either a police officer, a speed camera, or stationary police vans.

When will face to face driver awareness courses be suspended?

All face-to-face driver awareness courses were suspended on the 19th March 2020 as a result of guidance from UKROEd. This organisation oversees all police-referred driver offender retraining courses in the UK.

When will TTC start delivering iNSAC?

TTC Group is pleased to confirm that, from Monday 6th April 2020 , it will be delivering digital classroom-based National Speed Awareness Course (iNSAC) to members of the public who have already booked a place to attend a face-to-face course.

What is speed awareness course?

1) When you’re caught speeding only slightly above the allowed limit, usually 10% above the limit. 2) If you haven’t completed the speed awareness course in the past three years. If you fit the above two criteria, you can be eligible for a speed awareness course.

How long is the driving course?

The course is theoretical, classroom-based and may include some workshops. It’s around four hours long and doesn’t have a test so there’s no pass or fail. During the course, you’ll be expected to contribute positively in discussions and demonstrate a willingness to learn and improve your driving skills.

What happens if you drive over the speed limit?

If you’re caught driving above the speed limit, the police can fine you a minimum £100 and add three penalty points to your licence. However, in some cases, you may get the chance to take a National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) instead of the penalty. The speed awareness course is regulated by the Association of National Driver Improvement Course ...

What happens if you don't turn up for a class?

However, if you don’t turn up for the classes or if you fail to complete the course within the time period mentioned by the police, your eligibility to take the course will be revoked and your file will be returned to your regional police for further action.

Does speeding affect insurance premiums?

Getting a speeding ticket doesn’t impact your insurance premium much as it isn’t a criminal offence. However, informing your insurance provider about your speed awareness course can help avoid a rise in insurance premium. Driving convictions like accident offence, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and licence offence are ...

What is speed awareness course?

Speed awareness courses are designed to educate drivers who have been caught speeding, to prevent them from doing so again in the future.

Can you be prosecuted for speeding?

If you’re caught speeding, there are a few ways you may be prosecuted – and one of those is being given the option to go on a speed awareness course, instead of paying a fine and/or having penalty points put on your licence. If you’ve got a speed awareness course coming up, or you’re curious to see what one will entail – we’ve got all ...

How long is a speed awareness course?

How long is a National Speed awareness course? A speed awareness course lasts four to five hours. Fortunately, there are sessions available both during the week and on the weekend, plus in the evenings, so you won’t necessarily have to take time off work to attend.

How much is a speeding fine?

The minimum fine is £100, but the maximum is £1,000 – or £2,500 on motorways.

What is speed awareness course?

It’s offered by regional police as an alternative to receiving points on a licence and a fine.

How long is the car training course?

The course will last around 4 to 5 hours, depending on the provider. You won’t be the only driver in attendance—you’ll be taking the course with up to 25 other people. The course will be structured like a workshop. It’s classroom based, though some providers may include in-car practical training.

How to avoid speeding?

The entire point of the course is to minimise your chances of speeding in the future and open your eyes to the dangers of speeding. As such, the workshop will: 1 Explore why you were speeding 2 Teach you the consequences of your actions 3 Update your knowledge of the Highway Code and stopping distances 4 Help you understand different speed limits and where they would apply 5 Show you how to identify and avoid hazards 6 Walk you through potential defensive driving measures

What happens if you plead not guilty to speeding?

If you plead not guilty, you’ll end up having to go to court. And if they find that you are indeed guilty of speeding, then you could end up with an even bigger fine and more penalty points. The amount you’ll be fined will depend entirely on what the speed limit was and how much you were over it.

How long can you go to another speeding course?

Once you’ve attended a course, you won’t be allowed to go to another one for 3 years. If you end up with another speeding offence, then you’ll have to pay the fine and take the points. Your details will remain on a database if you’ve taken a course. As such, there’s no way to get around it.

Can you fail a course?

The only real way you could fail a course is if you go out of your way to do so. In other words, if you don’t stay for the duration of the course or if you actively go out of your way not to participate. If you do end up failing, you’ll have to take the fine and penalty points. You also won’t receive a refund. 8.

What to do after receiving a police letter?

After you’ve received a letter from the police, you’ll need to return the form to let them know that you accept the course offer. You need to do this within the time limit in the letter. You can find your local course provider and additional information in the letter.

No police

Although guilty drivers are caught by the police or one their cameras, no officers are present on the day of the course. They are run by advanced driver trainers who are there to simply prevent guilty motorists from re-offending.

Not a fail or pass

Attendants are not required to pass a test in order to complete the course and avoid the points on their licence. As long as they turn up on time, pay attention and engage with the professional instructors they shall complete the course.

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The dangers of speeding

It seems obvious to most but the impact of speeding, no matter how much a driver is over the limit, can have a significant impact on braking distances and is one of the more sobering lessons learned.

Economical driving

Not something drivers may expect to learn on the course but being taught how to drive economically and the benefits of doing so are covered in depth.

Check your insurance

While you don’t get a conviction it’s still advisable to check your insurance terms and conditions which will minimise the risk of your insurance being invalid due to not disclosing or withholding this information.

Tested by not scored

Towards the end of the course drivers will be tested on what they have learnt throughout the day in a group quiz. The scores are not recorded nor do they affect whether a driver completes the course but doing well can lead to a sense of overall satisfaction.

What is speed awareness course?

A speed awareness course is designed to educate drivers about the increased risk posed when speeding. It is offered by some regional police forces as an alternative to penalty points and a fine and allows them to divert low-end speeding motorists to re-education.

How long does it take to get a notice of prosecution for speeding?

If you are stopped by the police for speeding or are caught by a speeding camera, you will be sent a notice of prosecution within fourteen days of the offence. This must be completed and returned within the given time.

What is speed awareness course?

What is a speed awareness course? Speed awareness courses are four to five hour long sessions for people caught speeding. They're offered as an alternative to points on your licence. It’s like going back on an intensive, theoretical driving lesson where you’re retaught the dangers of speeding or dangerous driving.

How long do points stay on your license?

Depending on the conviction, your points will stay on your licence for at least four and, in some cases, up to 11 years. But if you accept a place on a speed awareness course, your licence will remain point-free.

What is the speed limit on a single carriage road?

Stay aware of road signs informing you of speed changes. Remember that the national speed limit is 60mph on single carriage roads, and 70mph on double carriage roads and motorways

What is the penalty for speeding over the speed limit?

You'll be placed in Band A if you're caught speeding between 1 and 9 miles per hour over the speed limit. You'll receive a fixed penalty notice with a fine between 25% and 75% of your weekly income, as well as 3 points on your licence.