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

There is no point speeding behind an ambulance. By the time the ambulance gets to the hospital, the patient is taken in, assessed and you can get to their bedside, you might as well have driven in at normal speed, parked normally and walked into the emergency area. Chances are you'll be waiting until you can get in even if you do that.

I have plenty of experience following ambulances, unfortunately. I've learned to give them a half hour head start before I even head in.

OP is just going to have to own that she drove in a panicked state, so sped a great deal over the limit (luckily without consequences to other members of the public), and hope the court goes easy on her. Treat it as a learning experience.

Exactly. In fact, I drove all the more carefully in these situations for some reason. Having one of those kind of minor prangs that everyone has day to day would have been even more inconvenient at that time. My child was in the hospital, he was in good hands, stopping to be spoken to by the police or having the delay of an accident was the last thing I needed.

You could have killed someone, deal with the consequence's, no excuse for speeding at all.

People who work in other jobs just do not understand how difficult it is to get a days leave as a teacher especially if you have an awkward principal. You have my sympathy for that as l have had that situation being interrogated when l badly needed a day . Its humiliating.
Just say you have to attend court due to a traffic offence. They cannot refuse when it's court and as far as l know the details are none of their business as it doesn't affect your work. If you are banned just use a taxi and get out early if don't want to arrive to school in one every day.
We all make mistakes and it was due to your absolute distress at a relatives illness and not due to rushing to a fancy event or something. Only give your principal as little details as you possibly can without lying.
And to e honest ..if you are that uncomfortable with your management look at moving as all principals are not the same and life is too short to be dealing with horrible, controlling bosses.

OP, you’ve pretty much avoided everyone’s question on why you didn’t take the point.. with only “I didn’t know if I could take the points” after claiming in your OP you was given the choice?

Do you in fact mean, you already have enough points to your name that any further points is going to result in a man anyway?

I get it, it’s probably pretty embarrassing to come online and make up recused for speeding as if you never do anything hen intact you likely are a serial offender.. but just bloody tell us because we’re all confused on why you would choose the ban over the point and then be frightened of the outcome like you didn’t choose this for yourself 😅

Result in a man? Jesus I hope not. I meant ban 😂

I've not read the whole thread but surely an email to your employer /hr saying I meed to notify you of a driving conviction and then state what the conviction is would be enough. And then I guess you'll be taken of the minibus list but that's it. I know teacher who had a driving ban for speeding. They carried on teaching.

Just because you work in education doesn’t mean you’re entitled to special treatment. Just because someone was in an ambulance doesn’t give you the right to special treatment.

It’s very sad for you that a relative was taken sick. But 80 in a 50 is disgusting.

The fact you’re being all shy about the full story on why you might be banned and didn’t take the points makes me think you already have points and, actually, are a bit of a wankweasel behind the wheel.

Own up to your mistakes. Tell your employer.

This is an odd thread. On any thread about drink-driving, OPs are (correctly) told there is no excuse and often held to account for what their DPs do. On this one so many people are excusing driving at a ridiculous speed and presumably in a state of stress, which is just as dangerous as driving drunk. If OP had hit someone the outcome wouldn't have been different because the crash was caused by panic and not drinking. As if 'anyone would understand' if someone had been killed in this incident!

Having said that, it's not the head's business to judge as long as you are honest. I've recently joined SLT and it's opened my eyes - there is so much going on in people's lives and in school that this will just be recorded as it needs to be and then the next crisis will hit - no time for any judging. The emphasis will likely be 'can you still get to work or are we likely to have (yet more) staffing issues?'

Op, have you checked your contract re: misconduct? Or speak to union rep first.

As manager, my concern would be your ability to get to work following the ban. I think honesty is always the best policy with these things but you need to think from their perspective, would they have to treat a drink driver who lost their license the same way.

For what it’s worth, many years ago I lost my license for the same thing. I had points already and then had more when I was caught driving 80 in a 50. Mine was on the motorway and I hadn’t realised the speed had changed - it was early and not much traffic on the road. I didn’t have to make a court appearance - do you actually need to be there? I was given a 14 day ban. My license is now clean and now I’m a completely different driver.

You need to take responsibility for your actions.
Driving at 80min a 50mph zone is blatant stupidity.
So suck it up and face the consequences.
Be honest at work and in court.
Accept the sentence as the punishment you absolutely deserve.
And grow up.
I hope your relative makes a full speedy recocery.

I think you are really overthinking this one. You committed a driving offence not a violent one or an offence involving a child. Yes, it may appear in a DBS but unless your contract of employment says you need to reveal any offence during employment then it isn’t relevant. This is assuming your job doesn’t require you to drive as part of your duties.

Should you wish to take a new job simply say you committed a driving offence and regret it. I have seen this on job applications as part of education recruitment processes and also social workers.

I speak as a former director of HR for an academy trust.

Agreed. They don’t…

OP seems like you are being evasive. Sounds like you already have points? As far as I was aware 30mph was an automatic ban. I’ve never heard it any different. Plus 80 in a 50 is shocking!

I’m sorry, there wouldn’t be any sympathy in my opinion regardless of situation. You just need to fess up!

AI? or you are missing a whole heap

I work in an independent school, so it may be different, but I would 100% have to declare this at work (for one, I wouldn't be allowed to drive the minibus any more!)

I'm afraid people will judge you on your actions, there's not really any way around that. Just tell them the facts, via email if you want, and leave it at that. Don't go overboard trying to explain about "following the ambulance" - it makes it sound like you're trying to justify your actions.

Ps you're not the only person this has ever happened to! It's a bit embarrassing, but you'll survive.

What a stupid thing to do, you wouldn’t have gained much time anyway. Instead of worrying how you look to your employer you should be grateful you didn’t injure or hurt someone else and just deal with this like an adult, own up, be extremely repentant (you don’t sound sorry) and just get over it.

I get you were speeding because you were behind an ambulance that had a family member in.

BUT.

That is still no excuse. You could of ended up in a car accident with another car which would of needed another ambulance. When I was called to say my mum was dying, I didn't speed. Because I didn't want an accident where someone else could lose their mum. Or lose their child.

You deserve the points. You deserve the fine. And you deserve to feel awful telling your employer.

You need to be completely honest ASAP, anything else is going to make it look like you are hiding something more

You should have just taken the points.
This is a consequence of your actions.
You're an adult.

Sorry, but there is no excuse for doing 80 in a 50mph area, even if you are following an ambulance.
I understand having a relative shoved into an ambulance is distressing in the extreme (been there several times) but that does not mean that you can drive at such high speed (particularly as your concentration would be in your relative rather than your driving)
Why not own your error, rather than trying to think of a way to deny it. Remember, this may be reported upon in the local rag, so your employer might well see you in print. Would be awkward if you haven't told them

I keep reading the Op's replies. It's unusual for someone to be so unclear so persistently.
I can just imagine the Judge saying "JUST. ANSWER. THE. QUESTION!"

Is it part of your job to drive? Is holding a driving licence part of the requirement of your job? Otherwise, why do you have to tell your employer?

The OP has clarified. What are you still confused about?

This comment makes me feel like I will be judged which is every reason why I’m scared to explain the situation to my head.

Wow, you don't even seem remotely concerned about what you've done, only about people judging you!

I don't think you should be on the road!

Speeding kills, take the points & count yourself lucky.