Jumping a red light

[Jellycat70]

Hi , I stupidly jumped a red light and have received a letter , I have a clean licence no offences . If I’m given the opportunity to complete a drivers awareness course does anyone know what it entails and if it’s online or in person . I’ve completed the online form but there’s a chance I might get a fine and points .

Will be online of you get one, usually

You may be offered a Driver Improvement Course or get on offer of a fixed penalty and points. Whether you are offered a course will be primarily driven by how long the light had been red when you crossed the line.

Courses last about 2-3hours and are usually delivered by ex Police officers.

Focus is on the risks involved in running reds and wider road safety stuff.

Think of it as like Continuous Professional Development if you drove for a living. Approach it in that way as a learning opportunity and you should get some value from it.

Over the past 11 years I've dome on driver improvement course and two for speed awareness.

You just have to attend on line or in person as directed and show that you listen to what is going on, I don't think you can fail unless you don't turn up, leave early or are clearly deliberately not participating.

Thankyou for all your replies & information, I could kick myself for making such a stupid mistake & being my first offence

Happened to me last year, like you, a stupid mistake but I'm thankful I didn't cause an accident. Yes, it's a signal awareness course that you may be offered instead of points. Around 3 hours with a break in the middle. Online or in person. If it's online you have to participate fully

Thankyou all, no doubt my insurance will increase 🙈

You do not need to declare it to your insurers as once you've taken the course the case is closed. I asked the question to the lady running the course & this is what I was told

I would go along to the course if I was you.
Choice of local Locations, free brews and bacon butties 😋
and very thought provoking and informative (if slightly patronising at times
)
Speeding in my case. 40 at motorway roadworks that had temporarily been reduced to 30 😬

Thankyou , do they randomly ask high way code questions , I feel like I’m going back to school 🙈
A hard lesson learnt

There's no 'test' as such and I'd expect that they're all online these days. You just have to sit there with your camera on and 'actively engage' with the course, ie the trainer will ask the group questions and expect people to answer them.

If you're unsure on the content of the Highway Code, you can read it for free online.

In my group they asked people in turn different questions and most of us got at least one wrong. But there was no judgement, it was all.quite friendly

thankyou , I received the letter with the Summons this morning filled out the online form taking liability . Does anyone know how long it takes for Them to come back with a decision of whether I can do the course please

Unless it mentioned a course as an option it will be fine/points.

@Jellycat70 when you say the summons do you mean the S172 notice requiring you, as the Registered Keeper, to identify the driver?

I would check the wording on your policy as some providers do ask if you have completed a course and require you to declare it.

I will check my insurance policy regarding penalties . The letter that I received stated there’s a possibility of doing a course . There was an option of posting it back or completing online . My OH is the keeper and identified me as the driver the day of jumping the red light

Does it stay on file the same as 3 points ?

You are only allowed one such awareness course in 3 years. They therefore keep a record so that you will automatically be fined if you commit another offence.

It will be on the Government's file but if you take the course then the punishment is done & the only ramifications are if you get caught for the same offence within 3 years in ehich case you'll be fined & have points