Earlier this week I went on a “Driver Awareness Course” as a substitute for simply being given a fixed penalty fine and 3 points on my licence. Originally I thought it was yet another way for the police to top up their coffers by charging £40 on top of the fixed penalty for the optional course… I was wrong!
To my surprise I really enjoyed the morning. It was partly like going back on a Fire Service Driving Refresher Course (something I used to have to do every year as a Emergency Fire Appliance Driver) and partly like a laid-back university lecture.
No finger-wagging or accusations of fault or blame, just a friendly and interesting attempt to bring our driving skills back up to scratch. The morning looked at all aspects of driving, nor just speed, and whilst the hazard-spotting and planning parts of the course were “old hat” to me, most of the people on the course had never been taught to observe, detect and avoid hazards.
There were all ages, sexes and backgrounds on the course, from boy racers through to disabled grannies (and one serving policewoman who’d been caught speeding!) and I think we all enjoyed and gained something from the morning – and not just the chocolate biscuits 
So, if you’re offered the course instead of a fixed penalty I’d really recommend going on it. OK it’s an extra £40 -but it’s an extra £40 well spent, you’ll enjoy it and learn something from it, and who knows? You may learn something that saves your life…
