Speeding courses drive safety message home
Feedback from more than 1,000 Speed Awareness Workshops in Warwickshire for motorists detected driving just above the speed limit show they are proving to be popular with drivers who take part.
The half-day courses are offered to motorists as an alternative to accepting a fixed penalty notice (£60 fine and 3 penalty points) or having their case heard at court.
Feedback from the 16,000 motorists who have now attended the workshops since they were launched in 2003 has been very positive.
Typically, the drivers not only felt that the atmosphere was relaxed, but that the courses were extremely interesting and relevant – especially the reference pack which accompanied the course. Many also felt that all speeding and learning drivers would benefit from attending the course.
Areas covered on the courses include:
· Who speeds and why
· Accident and camera statistics
· The consequences of speeding
· How to avoid speeding
· Hazard perception
· Attitude to speeding
Stan Milewski, Senior Road Safety Officer at Warwickshire County Council’s Road Safety Unit, said: “As pioneers of Speed Awareness Courses nationally, we continually use feedback from our clients to develop the content of the workshops in order to keep them pertinent and worthwhile.
“Many people think it is acceptable to drive just above the speed limit, however, an average family car travelling at 35mph will need an extra 6.5 metres (21 feet) to stop than one travelling at 30mph.
“The aim of the workshops is to urge drivers to THINK about their speed and
encourage a change of attitude to speeding as well as helping them to identify what causes them to speed.”
For further information about the course, please contact Brian Pierce, Warwickshire County Council, Road Safety Unit, 01926 418037.