Safety course or points?

Asking this cause my friend just got caught speeding and has the choice of a speed awareness course or penalty points. Shes considering the points cause the course is a bit of a bother to go to and a bit embarrassing!

So what would you do?

I chose safety course, because points usually mens an insurance hike.

Darcy-may wrote:I chose safety course, because points usually mens an insurance hike.

Totally agree with this, much rather do a course than have points which would mean a higher insurance premium

I chose the course because I favour on the side of rehabilitation rather than retribution. I think in cases like this, it will help to educate people on the hazards of reckless driving.

If there was a 'both' option though, I'd choose that. I like the idea of being able to choose the course, but for further infractions the points should be used.

I fear I may have got caught today tbh, I actually don't normally speed but I mis judged the road on Glenshane Pass thinking it was a 60mph but it was a 40mph. I'll just take the points and pay whatever fines they give me. Not going to some silly driving course.

Eleanor wrote:I chose the course because I favour on the side of rehabilitation rather than retribution. I think in cases like this, it will help to educate people on the hazards of reckless driving.

If there was a 'both' option though, I'd choose that. I like the idea of being able to choose the course, but for further infractions the points should be used.

I think that happens anyway. but im not sure! I've avoided the police all my life, but my friend is always being stopped. She has one of those sporty looking cars and even though shes a considerate driver (this little blip she was late for work cause of the road works in the town lol) they stop her and just chat like hello, what are you up to today, alright then on your way..
i think they get a shock when they open the window to find a tiny blonde girl with glasses listening to backstreet boys driving

course for me, can't be doing with insurance price going up!

My oh got caught doing 43mph in a 40 zone. He chose the course because he couldn't risk points on his licence, being a bus driver (they can be a bit funny about it!), and it hikes the insurance up. Actually, the course wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be.

MatLogan wrote:I fear I may have got caught today tbh, I actually don't normally speed but I mis judged the road on Glenshane Pass thinking it was a 60mph but it was a 40mph. I'll just take the points and pay whatever fines they give me. Not going to some silly driving course.

You only get offered the course if you're within a certain limit - ie 45mph in a 40 zone. If you were doing 60 in a 40 zone they won't offer the course anyway!

I took the points 10 years back doing 35 in 30 zone. Not sure if they are still doing it but heard someone say that if you picked the course they picked people at random to talk to e.g a parent who had lost a child due to wreakless driving. A meeting which was meant to help both parties, but I just thought how can you sit there and what can you say to someone who has lost someone close for something you have been founf guilty of. Not sure if it was true but the fact it was possible I thought I would take the easy option and take the points

Wouldn't do it anyway. I'd rather just pay up and take the points.

The road is massive and is 60mph 90% of the way and gets to 40mph for a small amount of time and by the time I had realised I couldn't slow down safe enough.

course for me , no licence = no job

Mike wrote:
I took the points 10 years back doing 35 in 30 zone. Not sure if they are still doing it but heard someone say that if you picked the course they picked people at random to talk to e.g a parent who had lost a child due to wreakless driving. A meeting which was meant to help both parties, but I just thought how can you sit there and what can you say to someone who has lost someone close for something you have been founf guilty of.

There was nothing like that on my oh's course. Just an instructor & about a 15 or so people who'd been caught speeding.

Caryll wrote:

Mike wrote:
I took the points 10 years back doing 35 in 30 zone. Not sure if they are still doing it but heard someone say that if you picked the course they picked people at random to talk to e.g a parent who had lost a child due to wreakless driving. A meeting which was meant to help both parties, but I just thought how can you sit there and what can you say to someone who has lost someone close for something you have been founf guilty of.

There was nothing like that on my oh's course. Just an instructor & about a 15 or so people who'd been caught speeding.

same as lass i work with, she did the course and was just an instructor talking

He actually thought it was quite interesting - he learned a couple of things he didn't know before & everyone was pretty relaxed & friendly. The instructor didn't lecture, just chatted about various road laws etc.

Safety course, I never got the option when I got points though!!

Course because of the insurance hike

I've put take the penalty points, because I have in the past and although the fine is a b****r I haven't found it raise my insurance premiums. Also, I wasn't given the option, I think it may be new thing now since I got my last ticket which was in 2003.

I'm not a speed merchant by any means and have gotten more cautious with age but still creep above the speed limit now and again

I'd do the course. My dad got caught speeding (the speedometer wasn't working ) and did the course, seems like a better choice, really.

As far as I was aware you picked either course or points then they picked people random who choose course. So the people who got picked never went on the course as plans changed. Like I said not sure if it was one of them someone said stories but I thought I couldn't do that and took the points just incase

Course without a doubt, £100-£300 for a course and no other action. Points would mean an increase on car insurance for upto 5 years also can't really risk points as I'm a bus driver, so could affect my job aswell!

but how much would the insurance go up really?

My mate got 3 points and his insurance for his car went up £1600, he then got another 3 points and has had to sell his car as he can't afford to insure it!

omg loli thought it would go like £50

His insurance was £1400, after 3 points went to £3000 and then after his next lot of points a lot of places wouldnt insure him/wanted £5k+ which was unreal lol!

Think i would take the course too!

Defo haha!