speeding

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speeding

by kevinwilson @ 2008-11-26 – 11:15:06

i have been caught by a speed camera - doing 36 in a 30 mph limit.
i knew i'd blown it, realised i wasn't slowing down quick enough from the 40 limit i was just leaving.

anyway, the police at wiltshire have offered me the opportunity of paying them £60 to go on a half day speed awareness workshop - which strangely is the same as paying the fixed penalty fine - which would mean i wouldn't get any endorsement points put on my driving licence.

so, if i say yes to the workshop, that will mean a full day out with ferry, petrol and food costs added on, which will take the actual cost to nearer £100.

i either say yes to the workshop, or i pay a £60 fine and get three points on my licence.
my last speeding penalty was six years ago, so i'm not exactly a bad boy who really needs speed awareness training, am i?

it all seems a bit crazy ...

what would you do?
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- cars
- speeding

29 Comments on speeding

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- xmillyxxx ^Pro
- 2008-11-26 @ 11:27:59
I would rather do the workshop than have the point's..As my insurance would go up! Depend's on the cost of it all for you I suppose...If the increase is less than the amount you will spend..Don't go! xx
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 11:33:48
  thanx milly!
  
  going there might make sense if i could combine it with something else.
  bit annoying for the sake of one misjudgement!
  
  xx
  - - xmillyxxx ^Pro
    - 2008-11-26 @ 11:50:20
    I agree...If you could 'Make a day of it' then great. And next time...Spot the camera!!
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- jackfrost ^Pro
- 2008-11-26 @ 12:16:31
speed cameras are crap..there are i600 less traffic cops than 10 years ago, the issue is not about speed it is the way a car is driven, that is the safety issue if i had followed a car in the past and the driver drove well i would use my discretion and chat with them about the misdemeanor and give a verbal warning yet the youth driving at the correct speed but swerving to the centre and just missing a pedestrian they will get stuck on...why was he swerving because he was pratting about with his mates with the music at def com 9....no cameras are good for schools and vulnerable places but the copper on the ground is what I and I think everyone wants back.....so much for living in a democracy...politicians are paid to do what the majority want not to boast their coffers to cover up their financial mistakes...i seriously am thinking about entering local government just so i can challenge them...i think i would start the "common sense do what the public what you and pay you to do party"...catchy eh!!

Oh and Kev go to the workshop...they are increasing the point system so have a clean licence ..BTW as a copper if I get more than 6 points i am banned from driving police cars....
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 15:49:27
  i hope you do take up local politics, jack.
  you're obviously needed.
  and thanks for the advice, which i will take ...
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- deleted user (Visitor)
- 2008-11-26 @ 12:43:01
We have old doddering idiots round here who drive exactly at 30mph at all times, including the times when they should be slowing down and deciding whether they need to give way at the various mini roundabouts we have. Why do they do this? Because they have their eyes welded to the speedo. Go along, sit there and yawn most of the way through!
- - deleted user (Visitor)
  - 2008-11-26 @ 12:49:19
  I realise what I said could be misconstrued. I don't mean you're a doddering old idiot I mean better to be doing 6mph over the limit and paying attention to the road than staring at your speedo making sure you don't go over.
  - - kevinwilson
    - 2008-11-26 @ 15:50:02
    i knew what you meant (i think!)
    
    thanks for your advice.
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- kendersrule ^Pro
- 2008-11-26 @ 13:05:10
Hang on they don't offer the awareness thing on in the island?! Good grief. Er last time I was living there they were thinking of moving all maternity to Portsmouth, and having expectant mothers helicoptered there. Please tell me they didn't!

I agree that you should go with the no points option, can combine with xmas shopping etc
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 15:51:13
  there are no speed awareness courses here, but i don't think they're shipping pregnant women out!
  thanks for the advice - i will go, i think.
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- yogesh
- 2008-11-26 @ 13:15:19
I can't say what would I do because I don't know about the point system on license. I don't think this system is applicable in India.

Well! what you did?
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- NotBob ^Pro
- 2008-11-26 @ 13:28:14
I've just been given the same option for doing exactly the same in Berkshire. Thank gods I didn't do it in Surrey, they don't give you the choice, just the fine and points.
I don't know what (if any) extra costs I'll incur, but I'd rather have a clean license.
As has been mentioned before, you could make a day of it.
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 15:52:37
  thanks for that - you're probably right.
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- playwrite27
- http://davidtennantsdoctor.wordpress.com/
- 2008-11-26 @ 14:07:33
Just be happy you don't live in some American states--like parts of Pennslyvania, where if you get pulled over, you have to pay the fine on the spot, or go to jail!

Sounds like a case of darned if you do, and darned if you don't. Hope the rest of you day is a good one.
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 15:53:11
  really? pay up or go to jail?
  
  wow!
  
  the land of the free ...
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- lucreziaborgia ^Pro
- 2008-11-26 @ 14:42:54
Do the course, so you can say - if it happens again - that it was a waste of time. Three points are precious NOT to have on one's driving licence. I'll PM you about mine - it happened three days ago and I was simply going too fast to brake down to the 50mph limit. I had to choose whether to get done or die (brakes were useless too). I chose to get done by the fixed camera. Three months ago... I am not sure what the choice would have been. (smile) xLux
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 15:54:10
  thanks lu ... good advice.
  
  xx
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- trintrin1x
- 2008-11-26 @ 15:31:41
Go n chop the friggin camera down then say "What camera?" xx
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 15:54:49
  you always give me good advice!
  
  xx
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- jenray ^Pro
- http://www.jenniferhunter.co.uk
- 2008-11-26 @ 15:38:38
Do you have to come to the mainland for it? If you do, why not combine it with a visit here? You could stay the night if necessary... GBHs...XXX
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 15:56:07
  hi jen - THANK YOU! yes, it would be in wiltshire somewhere. i probably will do it, and i'll let you know when it is... such a lovely offer, you've made my day... xxxx
  - - jenray ^Pro
    - http://www.jenniferhunter.co.uk
    - 2008-11-26 @ 16:05:25
    Great... GBHs...XXX
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- wendlane
- http://www.moondustandangels.co.uk
- 2008-11-26 @ 16:18:26
I would go to the course but how annoying, better to have to do that than have to have points and xtra insurance, you could make an extended holiday of it!

personally and controversialy i would p[ut speed cameras everywhere they definately make people slow down and think about their speed but there should be discretion involved when someone has only gone over the limit by a small amount -it's the dangerous prats we need to slam x
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 18:38:11
  thanks for your advice.
  it is a controversial subject!
  i wonder if other measures like those speed signs that tell you how fast you are going, have been proved to work?
  
  x
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- la_spice
- 2008-11-26 @ 16:27:29
When we lived in Berkshire my Daughter chose the course option only to be told they were over subscribed so she had to have the points Berkshire is an awful place for cameras - my only points were gained there for a similar excess as yours
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 18:38:55
  i often wish they'd book people who drive under the speed limit.
  - - la_spice
    - 2008-11-26 @ 19:14:03
    They can be more of a hazard
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- MissyMouse
- 2008-11-26 @ 22:37:48
I got caught a couple of years ago....36 in a 30 zone! The nice people in Northampton got me.... I got offered the course and attended it rather than have 3 points. The course was crap to be honest. 4 hours of watching films and doing quizes! At the same time my sis-in-law and also cousin got done too. The attented courses in 2 different places and the 3 of us all had different things to do. Last week my friend got caught too and he can do the course but has to take a driving course test too...but not in his car and it will cost him £100.
I was told that ALL boroughs/councils etc would be introducting a course that would be the same no matter where you have to attend...don't think it's happened yet then!

Go on the course...you would love it like I did just watching people. One English guy now lived in France and still had to come over to do the course!
- - kevinwilson
  - 2008-11-26 @ 22:47:40
  i never realised it was so common - thanks for the info, i will go!
  
  xx
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29 Comments on speeding

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