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

An innocent young student was killed near here when an idiot speeding ploughed into him on the wrong side of the road.

80 mph is obviously way too fast - one could 'feel' 80mph just by passing scenery/other vehicles on the road.

I think we can have compassion for what the OP was going through without condoning what she did. I'm really alarmed by people on the thread justifying it, even saying they respect it? On a road nearby me, someone drove at that speed and ploughed into a man - a dad in his forties - just stepping outside to go to the Co op. It's other people's loved ones the OP put at terrible risk.

I think you will be judged, OP, but what you did doesn't make you an awful person. It was a mistake. All of us make them. The consequences could have been horrific but fortunately weren't. Obviously learn from it, but you can and will move on.

OP, just bite the bullet. Tell Head that you were caught speeding and have to attend court on x date. If it helps, point out that it was the day your relative had the medical emergency and you were following after the ambulance.

I get you feel embarrassed. And are concerned at their reaction. But that's part of the punishment for driving so recklessly.

And tell them as soon as you can. The longer you leave it, the more difficult it will be for them to arrange cover which will irritate them all the more.

Sorry but there’s more to this.

Tell the truth as you have eventually here.

you’re employer may ask—-
how fast were you going-
over the limit

will you get a ban?
it’s a possibility but my solicitor is confident it will be points.

You still haven't said why you just didn't take the points, surely that would have been the best thing to do,?

There’s no point not telling them because it’ll be reported in the local paper. You’d just be outed as a liar and if you pulled a sickie, that’s gross misconduct.

So you need to attend court where they will decide whether you can take points or a ban? There was no option to take 6 points instead of going to Court?

"I have been asked to attend Court on [date]".

Do heads have right to ask why or to see proof of summons?

Then take points if you can, and if you get a ban then you sort something out for transport.

You said you are in this position because you didn't see the cameras. You might need to think about that, as it indicates you'd be fine speeding if there were no cameras.

If you read all OPs posts she goes on to say that this wasn't an option after all, she has to go to court. It's quite confusing.

Just explain. What respect you lose for the facts you may gain back with your honesty. But tell it the way you did the second time on here: you were behind the ambulance. They do go fast so it’s more understandable you lost track trying to keep up than if you were just pelting along amongst normal commuters. Not an exoneration MN Angries! But I worry you will dig yourself deeper not mentioning it. Preface by saying you are very embarrassed and ashamed, which I think you probably are.

I don't think that's a definite.

Just tell your employer you've been called as a witness to court.

It's not a lie.

That's so dangerous. The only person that needed to speed was the ambulance driver, to get the sick patient to hospital. You could have got there later. You could have killed somebody, driving at 80mph in a 50 zone. Just tell your boss the truth, you're in court for speeding. I hope your relative is okay now.

Only read OP's posts but I'm a teacher so this is what I would do.

Make an appointment to see the Head, ideally today. Tell them everything. In my opinion, following an ambulance is an important mitigation in the eyes of normal people; whether that applies to the law, I have no idea. Tell the Head how sorry you are. They can't discipline you for it as it has nothing to do with school and won't affect your DBS status. My current Head would probably roll his eyes at me, but I know would be sympathetic and allow me time off to attend court. Offer to take it unpaid - that way they can't accuse you of being a piss-taker. It was a mistake, made at a time of high stress and emotion, and you are remorseful. I hope the relative is ok now.

OP, honestly, I think you really need to pause and think, re-read your posts, and find the answers to your questions within yourself. You’re not coming across well on this thread.

a driving license is a permit that can be taken away.

whilst I have sympathy with the situation, it seems that you were not in the state of mind that allowed safe driving. for that alone I hope for points & ban for you.
part of the condition of keeping a driving license is recognising when it's not safe to do so.

I was involved in a serious crash last year and was taken to ambulance by hospital. The police and the paramedics made it really clear to my DH and my mum that they were absolutely not to speed dangerously behind the ambulance and that they would be reported if they did so

Even if you had kept up with the ambulance, what were you going to do when you got there? What could you have done? It makes no sense

You did a stupid thing, and now you have to pay the consequences. (I’m not unsympathetic - it was obviously an error of judgement because you were worried about the person in the ambulance.)

Just put on your big girl pants and tell the SLT what happened, and ask for the leave to attend court.

(You may not get a ban. You may get a big fine. I think you will get the points, regardless.)

In all honesty you should take your punishment on the chin - you could have killed someone. How reckless, no need to chase after an ambulance. You should feel embarrassed.

It's pretty much a certain

So don't tell them its for court, say its for something else.

Unless you have to declare a court appearance?

No it isn't. Do you really think every court case/hearing gets reported in the paper 😂😂😂

Because a loved one being taken off in an ambulance is when people make sensible decisions.
She was obviously panicking.
The fact that the police had to specifically tell you not to speed suggests how common it is..

You drove at 80mph in a 50 mph zone. You getting to the hospital a bit quicker is no justification. You are a dangerous driver. You deserve to he banned for a long time to protect the rest of us. If that affects your life it's your problem.

As someone who works in education you are minimising a very very serious offence and arguing that it was just a mistake, an oversight and you were justified as it was following an ambulance (who absolutely did not do 80 with a patient).
Driving bans do come up on DBS and I don’t understand what your mitigating factor is?

Killing multiple other people or the risk of doing so- as you are driving at a dangerous speed in an inappropriate area is serious.

My friends husband was killed by someone racing to a hospital - the driver of the car survived he didn’t. About 50 in a 30 zone. There are no excuses - none. It’s totally selfish.

if you were on my staff - I would expect you to see me and explain before it appears on the local newspaper under court appearances - if you lied and threw a sticky due to court I’d terminate your employment.

stop ‘feeling embarrassed’ and educate yourself - go and see the head and talk about what you are going to do to educate yourself not excuse yourself.

never ever ever lie to an employer