In trouble, what do I do?

[Hammondhugh]

I, after my family member fell really ill sped to the hospital. I did 30 mph over the limit so 80 in a 50. I could’ve taken the points and called it or taken a ban. I’m asking for a reduced ban in court.
I now need to explain this to my employer and I work in education. I really really don’t want to have to explain this. I’m so embarrassed. What do I do? It’s actually very embarrassing to explain and I work with very intimidating management

I thought speeding by following emergency vehicles was very frowned upon.I think younshould just take the points

How do you know they don't know? I drove behind the ambulance for my dad's second heart attack, mum accompanied him in the ambulance. He didn't die but i thought he was.

You're surrounded by other road users....

Lying is far worse than the truth. In my professional you would get dismissed for dishonesty but not for a driving offence. Just tell your employer what’s going on.

No they didn’t. I was lagging behind and he got in the ambulance. I got my stuff together. Ran out the door and went speeding straight behind as quick as I could. Idiotically not clocking the speed cams.

Oh do PO, you have no basis for your assertion!

OP just be honest with them, I think it’s highly unlikely they’ll interrogate you for details and will understand that you’re embarrassed about it. I believe you’re overthinking this and overworrying about it from an employment point of view (I’m not saying don’t take it seriously or repeat the offence obviously).

As a teacher I understand you need a pretty solid reason to take a day off in term time and you don’t want to just say you’re going to court without clarifying it’s for a traffic offence as the mind tends to jump to much worse! I’d be very surprised if it’s the first time the head has dealt with this issue from staff.

In my profession (doctor) we have specific guidance about what we must disclose issues to employers/GMC, we don’t have to disclose driving offences resulting in a fixed penalty notice but would be expected to disclose anything going to court.

I’ve known more than one colleague have to do this, like you they were embarrassed about it but in reality it didn’t affect their work so nobody was really bothered. It would be a huge issue if something was not disclosed and an employer found out later on an enhanced DBS check. The lack of transparency would make you worry about what else that employee might be hiding basically. As per @Canisaysomething hiding this level of driving offence in my profession, where standards are similar to what’s expected in teaching, would be likely to result in dismissal. So just tell them.

Pull a sickie on court day.

Are you ok Hun?

The long and short of it though, OP, is that whether it is going to be embarrassing or not, you are going to have to just tell your employer that you have been summoned to court and therefore are obliged to attend. There aren't actually any other options are there other than just not turning up to work and then getting in even more trouble for having done that.

I've no doubt it's stressful but it would be much better to take a breath, take stock of the situation for what it is, work with your solicitor to understand exactly what the circumstances and possible out comes are here rather than be all over the place with it - get it in plain writing if needs be - and understand what all possible outcomes mean for you if there is not any lenience applied by the court and a ban or conviction is decided upon. eg- what does this mean for your work, can you get there by alternative means of travel and so on.

All you can do is take a practical approach, prepare as best you can. What's done is done.

Exactly this. Paramedics dont like it because people do stupid things eg following the ambulance through red lights, and potentially ending up in an RTC.

I know my rights so you gon need a warrant for that

@starfishmummy you're right that paramedics wouldn't like the relative to drive after the ambulance at dangerous speeds and put themselves and others at risk. However, in this case, the OP wasn't literally following the ambulance as she initially implied; the ambulance had already left and she was driving to hospital after collecting belongings.

OP- just be straight with your employer as fully as possible as early as possible. As others have said, it's far worse to lie (including by omission) or obfuscate the facts (you weren't driving behind an ambulance as you initially implied; you were on your way to hospital) than it is to have to go to court for speeding. Whether they judge you or not is irrelevant to be honest; you still have to disclose it to them.

I hope your relative makes a speedy recovery.

Just tell them you have a court date for a traffic violation on X-date. Then tell them you will inform them of the outcome afterwards if necessary. There is no need to tell your story about chasing an ambulance. It isn't relevant to needing the date off or how it affects your employment. It won't change what happens.

Fgs grow the f up and stop being weak. If your employer needs to know then tell them and deal with the judgement. How many times can people post a comment to give advice, people have told you the options.

I am really struggling to see this as a big deal? Hi boss man, my relative was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, I was panicked and drove way too fast to the hospital and now have to appear in court as a result of that. I need leave to attend court and I may not be able to drive to work for a few weeks.

i am struggling to see any bosses I have ever had doing anything other than going, yikes! Good luck! Unless you drive the minibus at school, being a bad driver isn’t related to your job?

You need to tell your boss /HT the truth. Keep it factual and short, give context and show remorse.

TBH, a speeding traffic violation isn't great but understandable in the circumstances.
Your boss would probably be more concerned if you were a safeguarding issue to the DC which it sounds like your not.

Also I am assuming that you have no other priors.

Ran out the door and went speeding straight behind as quick as I could. Idiotically not clocking the speed cams.

Not clocking the speed cams wasn’t the idiotic behaviour, it was the actual speeding! Good luck getting a reduced ban with that attitude.

(As someone who lost a friend because of a speeding driver, I really don’t give a shit about your reasons).

Is your headteacher a bully, OP?

Because if they are, as some can be, then just take a day of sick leave and start looking for another job because living in fear of your employer is no way to live your life.

But if you are just embarrassed about being judged - just fess up and stop being cowardly. You fucked up. People do, from time to time. Your headteacher is not under any illusions that you are perfect. In fact there is a certain respect that comes from owning your mistakes. Just be an adult, tell them the situation professionally, and get on with it.

I hope your family member is ok, OP, and sorry you’re going through this.

Just to reassure you that any leader of a large team of people has to manage these kind of occurrences pretty often.

By the sounds of it, best case scenario you are asking for half a day off, worst case scenario you may need to sort out different transportation for a short, defined period of time.

There are so many people with different shit going on in their lives that do let their managers /senior leadership know. Most reasonable organisations make accommodations whether it be time off, flexible working etc

Again I am assuming you have no other misdemeanors at work.

A driving ban can and possibly will show up on an enhanced DBS check, just be honest but cut the drama.

My XH got away with multiple speeding offences: his lawyer argued that losing his licence would adversely impact his employment (absolute bollocks). Use a lawyer if you can afford one.

Tell work you've been summoned to answer a speeding charge. They'll probably make disapproving noises, as they should because speeding is irresponsible. But it will probably not blacken your name at all, because they've probably been caught speeding at some point. You have a good story to tell, though it's advisable to tell it with embarrassment and contrition.

Be glad you arent waiting for a ‘death by dangerous driving’ charge instead !!!!

I just feel like lying about it will get you into a bigger and bigger mess. Lies tend to complicate and snowball. You made a bad error of judgement that could've gotten someone hurt or worse, but as it happened, didn't. There were mitigating circumstances. Some people will judge you, some won't. If it were me I'd have to be honest, otherwise I just predict more complications.

just be honest. Are you a teacher? Surely if a pupil did something wrong you would tell them to be completely honest.

You did something that many of us would do. That doesn’t make it right but it does make it unlikely to be repeated as it was very unusual circumstances. so come clean.
as everyone has been saying will only be worse if it comes out later