First ever driving offence - No speeding course offered?

[mumofaboynow]

Hi, I wondered if a mistake has been made or this is just it.

I got caught speeding at 35 in a 30 zone a while ago. They sent me the letter two weeks ago. I signed it and sent it off, declaring it was me, etc.

Just got a letter with the option of a £100 fine and 3 points or a court option which I obviously won't take.

I really thought a speed awareness course would be offered.

I was really shocked and upset about the speeding letter and so many people told me 'oh just take the course, no points that way'

Did you know that they didn't offer it? Even google seems to suggest a speeding course is usually offered for a first offence

I think it's better deterrent than a course. Most people use the course as a "Get out of jail free card".

when you were speeding did you think ah its OK I'll just do a course? If so maybe that's why they've got rid of the course?

Please contact the issuing force this sounds like an administrative error to me.
The speed you've mentioned and if you've not done a course in the last three years you should be eligible.

@LondonQueen I think the course is a good idea, based on the assumption that most people speed a little bit occasionally and will respond better to being treated in a way that recognises that.

The course sort of says “hey we know you’re basically a good person but this really isn’t acceptable, the rules are here for a reason and we trust you will do better going forward”. A fine communicates more of a judgment and punishment that, while totally appropriate as a consequence for breaking the law, can make people angry and defensive, probably more likely to resent the law and try to justify their speeding.

Obviously serious speeding, repeat offences, negligent driving etc should receive much harsher punishments. Imo genuine reckless driving is treated far too leniently in general.

I was offered a course (which I took) when I was caught speeding at 28.5 in a 20 Zone.
It was through a fairly busy back road, on the edge of a local town, one I use infrequently, which had, a couple of weeks previous was 30mph speed limit, according to my friend who lives near on the outskirts of of said town.

So no social media or anything to read/know about.

Simply, I didn't know, I don't live in that county.

I didn't argue the point, just took the course, and emailed the necessary agencies with my wrath 🤷‍♀️

I messaged you on here OP - but yes, do this.

Last year.

This is a complete myth

I just did my second speed awareness course and its simply at the discretion and availability/current focus as to whether you get offered it

Mine was 57 in a 50

You get offered the course if you are (in the words of the officer in my last one) 'mildly speeding'

But it depends if they are offering them at the time or not.

Thats all

The cost is about the same OP, the course is about £90

The points dont stay on forever

Dont worry about it, just dont do it again

I didn’t say it was. My point was that you can if you like contact the police and speak to a person and see if it gets you anywhere. The example was to illustrate that they can sometimes respond positively. It was not to suggest that the situation is identical. Or that speaking to them will work. But that there is nothing stopping her attempting it.

her fine wasn’t halved.

The original fine remained at 100%

the late payment charge was removed because of mitigating circumstances

Beds and Herts offer the course; I got one for 57 in a 50.

Not offered to new drivers though.

Phone the number on the letter and ask. I've had to phone once before and they were helpful. They might explain why you weren't offered one.

Though speed awareness courses re always offered at the discretion of the relevant police force, and they are not a right. Perhaps the location of the offense is a factor in not offering a course.

JFC.

the fine was halved from what they were asking for when she became aware of it to the original amount yes.

Everyone understands this. You’re not adding some sort of amazing insight.

Maybe the courses are full, considering the amount of people who think speeding is ok these days. No prior speeding offenses just means never been caught.

I think the courses need to end and the penalty for speeding needs to be much higher.

The courses are likely subject to availability.

Perhaps all the upcoming courses are fully booked in the op's area, hence one wasn't offered this time.

I dunno about that. Last time I did one I had a vast choice of dates and even providers

@Tryingtokeepgoing
They are indeed.
Absolutely they are not a right neither is the fixed penalty notice they are there as a disposal method instead of the magistrates court which used to be the case automatically.

I thought you had to be doing under 35 in a 30 to be offered speed awareness tbh

Were you on a residential street and/or near a school? That can determine whether it's offered. I got caught 35 in a 30 and got offered the course but it was an arterial route and 100m from the 40mph sign, quite different to a narrow residential street

According to which it’s 10% plus 2mph above the limit, so 35 would fit but if it’s at the discretion of the police sadly there’s not much you can do

It's over the leniency for Herts police who incidentally do run rather frequent speed awareness courses at the university.

It may be as PP have said that there is no availability for the courses at this time or they have decided the costs of the teachers outweigh the costs of everyone just paying a fine.
I did a course when I was caught at 35 in a 30. On a road that always used to be 40, but had a 30 section recently added that I missed. DSIS was caught at 42 on a similar road and had no option for a course. Straight to fine and points.

This doesn't make any sense whatsoever. What would be the point of setting up a whole system of speed awareness courses, but then only offering them to people doing 31-33 in a 30 limit?

Did you read the initial letter fully before you signed and sent it back? When I got caught speeding a few months ago, the form had a box that you had to tick that said ‘I would like to be considered for a speed awareness course’. If you overlooked that, they would have assumed that you didn’t wasn’t to do the course. Appreciate that the letters might be different for different police forces though.