Speed Awareness Course
With there being so many speed cameras around, it can be very easy for a driver to pick up points for speeding. A lot of drivers pick up points for just
straying over the limit by a few mph. On this course you will learn about the potential dangers from speeding and how to manage your speed safely.

According to research, speed is a major contributory factor in about one third of all road traffic collisions and contributed to around 1,200 deaths and more
than 20,000 serious injuries on built up roads in the UK last year.  

Who should attend?
  • Drivers who have been driving for a number of years
  • Drivers who are not sure how to recognise speed limits
  • Drivers who have been prosecuted for speeding
  • Drivers who have accumulated 9 points on their driving licence and are close to being banned
  • New drivers who in their 2 year probation period have already got 3 points on their licence

Course syllabus
  • Identify what causes you to speed
  • Identify the dangers and disadvantages of speeding
  • Identify different speed limit areas E.g. Built up areas with street lamps usually 30 mph
  • Where speed limits are likely to change e.g. At junctions and where there are changes in surroundings
  • Demonstrate the correct use of speed through driving to a system

The Benefits
  • Reduced risk of being involved in a road traffic collision
  • Lower running costs due to improved fuel consumption
  • Improved Road Safety
  • Protection for your driving licence
  • Reduced stress and fatigue

A few facts about speeding
  • Drivers who constantly drive fast irrespective of conditions are 3 to 5 times more likely to have a crash than those who don't
  • When driving at higher speeds you have less time to process fresh information
  • The faster you go the further you need to look
  • The faster you go the less foreground information you can take in
  • When your road speed doubles your braking distance quadruples

Situations where you might find yourself going faster than you think you are
  • When you come off a motorway or other such fast road and into a lower speed limit zone
  • When you have been driving at higher speeds and are approaching junctions and roundabouts
  • In low visibility such as fog, sleet, snow, heavy rain and when driving at night
  • Wide open roads will feel slower than narrow roads
  • If you are driving a bigger more powerful car than what you normally drive. This is due to the smoothness, less noises and less vibrations

Safe use of speed
  • Always drive at a speed where in the event of an emergency you can pull up within your zone of vision under full control and on your side of the road
  • Never drive faster than you feel comfortable. Every driver has their own speed limit which is the highest speed at which they feel safe and
    comfortable in any given situation. Know your limit and don't exceed it.

Driving at night stopping distance and zones of vision
  • Full Beam zone of vision = 100 metres (328 feet) Therefore it would be safe to drive at 70 mph
  • Dipped headlights zone of vision = 40 metres (130 feet) Therefore the ideal safe maximum speed should not be more than 40 mph

Stopping distance simulator - Click Here
© Rob Sefton 2010