speeding

[maggie61]

Whilst waiting for dd at school a mum arrived, some others were surprised to see her, she then announced that she should of been on a course for speeding , but her husband was taking the points for her.

Someone else asked what speed was she caught at, 48 in a 40 limit, oh thats not bad was the reply.

The mum caught speeding announced all this in a fairly loud voice with no shame and several laughs in the conversation.

I know my circumstances make me more aware of the dangers of speed on the road ( ds died, hit by a car, not speeding ,in 2001 ), but I thought speeding was at least becoming slightly antisocial.

Your posts are greatly appreciated as the evening goes on I am becoming more upset by it all, and I need to think if I want to become involved with road safety groups again, please post whatever your opinion I need some perspective on this, many thanks.

I think there was a thread on this once ages ago about taking points for people and the consensus was that it was very morally wrong

How many points do you have to have before going on a course

I think it would do her good to be sent on a course or having her car limited to 30

thanks peanut bear, i think your are offered the course on your first sppeding offence in stead of points on your license, and no fine but there is a similar cost to do the day course

I would ignore her. She is an idiot.

I am sorry for the loss of your son.

A poster on here this week was bemoaning having 9 points and what should she do? It was obvious ahe was driving in the photo so her dp couldn't take them for her etc.

She was in a 30 zone which is usually a town or built up area where you are likely to see pedestrians.

Personally I think anyone who is so selfish as to accrue 9 point is never going to learn how to drive safely by 'going on a course' - assuming they are of normal intelligence they must be aware of how dangerous speeding is?

I have worked on both speeding and drink driving campaigns in my previous life but feel, despite some ads winning awards, that they were useless as the target audience (ie people who think it ok to recklessly endanger the lives of others) will take no notice as the rules of normal society, and the law, do not apply to them.

And Maggie, I am sorry for your loss.

thanks again just found the thread ,that is useful, i feel folks do care about speed, the mum speedind was someone i ve not seen much , but the other shocked me as i thought quite highly of her.

I went on one of these courses. They offer them to you if you are caught speeding only slightly over the limit as an alternative to taking the points. You have to pay a similar amount to the fine (slightly over I think) and can only do one in 2 years - I guess they aren't going to let you do it indefinately when you are clearly not interested in changing your behaviour.

To be honest before I did I probably had a similar jokey attitude about speeding . The course was brilliant. I was dreading it thinking it would be run by a sanctimonious tosser who would preech at us. How wrong I was. It was really really well done and made me think about the consequences of my speeding in a way I hadn't really before. And now I am a much more careful driver.

Sorry missing the point I know - YANBU. I don't know what would help though. Maybe speaking quietly to the mum involved and telling her how upsetting you find her attitude given what happened to your son and how although it might seem to her that 48mph is only slightly over the limit and might not make a difference every mph you are travelling increases the time taken to stop (by a lot more than I had thought - can probably look this up on the net as can't remember exactly) and that actually if she was involved in an accident that killed a child could she live with herself knowing that if she had been travelling at a slower speed within the limit they might still be alive? I think this would have more impact if you could say it calmly and not get upset. And maybe practice before so you don't sound all preechy - just that it might really make her think if you get it right and maybe stop her speeding which is what you want isn't it?

Another way would be to get involved in road safety like you suggest and speak at the school?

Finally I am desperately sorry for your loss. I don't know you from Adam but I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy - the thought of having to go through what you must have brings me out in a cold sweat. I am not surprised you found her comments upsetting!

marmadukescarlet cross posted...

I had 9 points at one point and 6 when I did the course (had lost 3 of them by then) so I personally think the courses DO work. It's one thing being aware in the back of your mind about the dangers of speeding but tbh I wasn't aware about how much difference even 1-2 mph over the limit can make. I always tried to be careful in a 30mph area in particular for the reasons another poster mentioned but never thought going 35 for example mattered much. Plus the way it's presented on the course is really well done to make you really think about the impact on others. I think the course is to be recommended for everyone - I would love my ds's to do it along with learning to drive - hopefully by then they will be more widely available!

And it's pretty easy to acrue 9 points - it could all happen in the same day because of speeding cameras only going slightly over the limit and doesn't mean you're speeding around like a dervish not giving a shit! Doesn't excuse the speeding but I think it's more easily done than you might imagine.

thanks alicet , that was helpful, thats what i felt if only she had done the course she would see the point of it.
she does not know about my ds as this happened so long ago.i have managed to go on with my life something i could never of envisaged for a long time, part of me wants to use the experience in a positive way as it helps, but then it seems impossible after today.

Do you think you could try and talk to her after you have calmed down? (and don't mean calm down in patronising way - just couldn't think of a better way to put it ) If you could and you were able to pitch it right then you might be able to make a difference.

i think its stupid to speed and just as stupid to go round boasting about it.its not something to be proud off.