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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not go on a speed awareness course

303 replies

sPJPPp · 08/04/2015 09:51

The course will be 97 and the fine is 100.

I would get three points and my insurance will go up by about 40 next year.

The course is 2 hours drive away and will take 4 hours. So the best part of a day taken away.

Aibu to just take the points as 40 to loose a day off is just not enough.

OP posts:
Snottybiyatch · 09/04/2015 09:30

For the last time OP no-one (that I can see) is making a judgement on your driving, which based on what you have said here is no better or worse than anyone else's but it's your attitude: your default setting seemed to be that you couldn't possibly learn anything on one of these courses, you have freely called other drivers cunts and dicks and have made sweeping judgements on the validity of these courses and the when you have never been on one, and now calling people bonkers on the basis that you have misunderstood (perhaps deliberately) what people have said

And still it goes on, you're looking for workarounds to avoid getting caught rather than admit that you could alter your modus drivendi (or at least examine the possibility by going on a course.)

FWIW, these courses are, afaik only offered to people who are not considered to be beyond redemption: if you had been wildly over the limit you would have been fined with no option (other than to appeal).

Totally with you on podcasts while driving however. So you must be an excellent driver because I listen to podcasts all the time while driving. You should hear me shouting at Melanie Phillips on the Moral Maze

Original poster
sPJPPp · 09/04/2015 10:36

Well I do not apologise for calling someone that tailgates with their fog lights on in clear conditions a cunt, they really are.

And well the reviews of the course are pretty mixed here, I am a good driver and I don't take kindy to manipulation, and a few have said the course is very much this.

Lowered the price of my car in the insurance quotes from the default it suggests (400 more than I paid a year ago) and there is no change I'm the insurance cost if I take the points. Looks like a no brainer.

OP posts:
Discounted · 09/04/2015 10:41

Yes, no-one's judging your attitude only your attitude OP. I don't expect you apologise for much in life do you?

If you think education is manipulation, fine. Your loss and everyone else on the course will be all the better for it. Shame about the people on the roads though.

Samcro · 09/04/2015 10:42

op your not a good driver.
you were speeding
a good driver does not speed.

MamainMilan · 09/04/2015 10:48

And well the reviews of the course are pretty mixed here, I am a good driver and I don't take kindy to manipulation, and a few have said the course is very much this

But many more have said how valuable the course is and how it really opened their eyes to being a better driver. Are you just ignoring everyone who said what you don't fancy hearing?

I'm sorry, OP. You deserve every bit of the criticism you are getting here.

Your arrogance is quite overwhelming, and if that translates to how you drive, then you really would benefit from some guidance, even though you can't imagine being taught anything you don't already know.

Please, for your safety, and others, stop assuming you know it all. please do attend the course.

zfactor · 09/04/2015 10:58

It’s your attitude on this thread which is the problem; it suggests this is your usual attitude and it’s unlikely it improves when you’re driving.

From what you've said, it appears you committed the offence because you were intimidated by another driver. As others have said, the sensible (and unflustered) thing to do when confronted with the situation you describe, is to slow down, pull over and let the vehicle pass. Increasing your speed in this situation is potentially very dangerous. You were lucky that you were the only victim of this behaviour; the only consequence was that you failed to notice the speed restriction signs, and presumably the speed camera. The outcome could have been considerably worse.

If you attended the course (with an open mind), you might find you learn something: some advanced driving techniques for example. Advanced drivers know when and how to use speed; you clearly do not. Advanced drivers know that observation and anticipation are vital driving skills; from what you’ve said, you clearly lack these also.

The people running the courses are often people with experience of dealing with the aftermath of speeding - but also people who have been trained to drive in excess of the speed limit in emergency situations. They do know more than you, and they will be better drivers than you; therefore it might benefit you to listen to them.

Original poster
sPJPPp · 09/04/2015 11:36

Actually I took responsibility right back at the start, I just added the factors that contributed but as I said ultimately its my responsibility.

As I live in a rural location I constantly have people tailgating as I'm a very good driver who goes at a safe spees and leaves a safe gap in front depending on the weather.

I'm not ignoring the people that said it was good, it is a 70/30 split. But IRL the only people in know who have found it good were awful drivers, and I can quite believe 70 %of drivers out there are awful.

But anyway carry on calling me an awful driver and the roads aren't safe if your really arrogant enough to form view on someone's driving that youve never seen. I am a fab driver, never had an accident, close call, passed test first time with no minors and got 100% on the theory test. Don't mistake knowing someone's skills with being arrogant.

OP posts:
StillStayingClassySanDiego · 09/04/2015 11:59

I am a fab driver, never had an accident, close call, passed test first time with no minors and got 100% on the theory test.

Not arrogant at all, absolutely not arrogant! Smile

richthegreatcornholio · 09/04/2015 12:30

looks like they all plug into lighter socket

Don't panic, you can hardwire most of them or alternatively get a multi port adaptor for your fag lighter

richthegreatcornholio · 09/04/2015 12:35

I am a fab driver, never had an accident, close call, passed test first time with no minors and got 100% on the theory test

I'm afraid those facts do not make you a fab driver. The tests show you slightly exceeded the minimum standards required to be let loose on the roads and there are certainly plenty of terrible drivers who have never had an accident. I'm not saying you aren't a good driver but those facts don't mean anything.

MamainMilan · 09/04/2015 13:13

But IRL the only people in know who have found it good were awful drivers, and I can quite believe 70 %of drivers out there are awful

We're wasting our time here, aren't we OP? You have a very narrow view of things and it does make you sound a little uninformed.

You are determined to only listen to what suits you. Again, I am unsure why you bothered to post at all.

Cockbollocks · 09/04/2015 13:22

You came on the Internet, you asked a question. 70% said do the course and yet we are all bad drivers and wrong.

Cockbollocks · 09/04/2015 13:26

Oh and don't be surprised if your insurance tinkering is very different at renewal stage.

We found certain factors did not affect the premium during its life - until renewal!

EBearhug · 09/04/2015 13:34

I'm not ignoring the people that said it was good, it is a 70/30 split. But IRL the only people in know who have found it good were awful drivers, and I can quite believe 70 %of drivers out there are awful.

It seems rather hypocritical to complain about people judging your driving on no evidence when you are judging other people's driving on no evidence, as you have done.

I may well be wrong, but I'm not convinced that some with an attitude that is as arrogant as yours is can be as great a driver as you claim. Most good drivers I know have more humility than you show and accept there is always something more to be learnt.

DidoTheDodo · 09/04/2015 13:44

I passed my test first time, I've never had any kind of ticket or fine or conviction.

I'm a better driver than you. Ner ner ner ner ner
Thumbs nose at OP.

(Please read with an element of sarcasm)

MamainMilan · 09/04/2015 13:55

My DH has been driving for 25 years, never had an accident, passed test first time, only one speeding incident (he went on the course…).

He would never call himself 'a fab driver.' Confident and competent, yep. Not 'fab'.

But then, according to you OP, he must be a shit driver, because he found the speeding offence course thought-provoking and interesting. And just crap drivers find learning something new useful, yes? The 30 per cent of 'fab drivers' think the course is a pile of pointless old toss.

I honestly think the truth is the exact opposite of that.

Original poster
sPJPPp · 09/04/2015 14:11

I'm not judging the 70% of people that found the course fab, I'm just saying from my experience 70%+ of drivers are shit. Could be a correlation.

Well what makes someone a fab driver is their fab driving day in and day out, the other points are just indicators that maybe useful. Tbh I feel like the minority as I never tailgate, leave a safe distance and always follow priority road markings and check all my mirrors before doing a me naïve, I just sped a bit down a hill

OP posts:
DragonWithAGirlTattoo · 09/04/2015 14:19

i better than all of you, i passed my parts 1 & 2 motorcycle test AND my driving test first time!! ner ner ner

Sparklingbrook · 09/04/2015 14:24

I'm just saying from my experience 70%+ of drivers are shit.

Cockbollocks · 09/04/2015 14:27

Just speeding a little down a hill!?

The difference between a careful considerate driver is realising that one little mistake like that can have dire consequences and they are never ok or justifiable.

MsRaspberryJam · 09/04/2015 14:28

I have to deal with speeding tickets as part of my job. They're incredibly common. I don't see any reason why someone should have to be berated like the OP, unless they were really hammering it over the limit.

It could easily be any of you. Unless you all think that you have NEVER been over the speed limit?

Sparklingbrook · 09/04/2015 14:31

I think the OP is being deliberately inflammatory MsR.

Snottybiyatch · 09/04/2015 14:31

[sigh] RTFT Raspberry

As has been pointed out umpteen times, NO-ONE is berating the OP for speeding.

Sparklingbrook · 09/04/2015 14:32

The actual speeding offence has largely been forgotten. Grin

Icimoi · 09/04/2015 14:33

Lowered the price of my car in the insurance quotes from the default it suggests (400 more than I paid a year ago) and there is no change I'm the insurance cost if I take the points. Looks like a no brainer.

But if you don't take the points and do the same thing, your insurance cost will be even lower. Surely that's the no-brainer?

I just sped a bit down a hill

But, according to you, you did rather more than this, didn't you? You allowed yourself to be intimidated by a tailgater behind you and you didn't see the signs.