I recall reading/hearing recently that some insurance companies are now penalising motorists who have attended a speed awareness course rather than pay a fine for speeding and incur points on their license. If I recall, the argument from the insurers is that the driver is a higher risk because they were caught speeding. My insurance is due for renewal shortly and having attended such a course last year I am bracing myself for an argument with my broker.

Last year I was caught by a camera van just as I was leaving a 30 MPH limit in Sudbury, Suffolk. I assumed he would have clocked me (I was doing 35 MPH) and blamed myself totally for a momentary loss of concentration that allowed my speed to creep up. From that moment on (i.e. several weeks before the notice of prosecution) I was much more aware of my speed. Just knowing I had been clocked, made me change my driving habits. I attended the SAC which was interesting and informative and since then, without a doubt, my driving has improved. Not only do I stick to speed limits, but I allow more space between me the driver in front and are also more observant, Having attended the course I would argue that I'm less of a risk that I was before I got caught speeding and my driving is probably the safest it has been for over 20 years. A customer of mine was also caught speeding last year and has said much the same - that as a result of the course he has significantly improved his speed awareness and is driving safer as a result.

So, it would be great to hear from people who have also attended one of these courses, to know:

a) Has it changed your driving habits for the better and made you a safer driver?

Did it adversely affect you insurance renewal?

If anyone has not experienced a hike in their premiums when they declared having attended a SAC, it would be great to know who the insurer is.

Thanks!

Glen

Now that this is the standard, then watch these courses and centres that

provide them die off. You may as well have the points and pay the same money

in the form of a fine if you'll be financially penalised just the same when it

comes down to insurance.

For how many years will you have to declare this for? 5 I'm guessing?

Good luck to those who have chosen to train to host these courses for a living as

you will all soon be looking for a job. Nobody is going to sit through 3hours of

(speaking frankly here) patronisation and lip service if theres no benefit from

doing it over taking the points and paying the fine. (and yes I've been on one...)

And the greedy insurance companies will be to blame for these job losses.

Hi Lounge Lizard

Have you personally attended one of these courses? I certainly didn't find mine patronising - the trainer admitted that he speeds every now and then and the purpose of the course was not to give us all a telling off. What it did do is make us think about hazards, which are the most dangerous roads, we discussed some actual crash sites and why they were dangerous and indeed, speeding wasn't the main emphasis of the course.

If anyone has not experienced a hike in their premiums when they declared having attended a SAC, it would be great to know who the insurer is.

Is there any obligation to declare it? The insurance company are only interested if you have endorsements (ie if you get points) and even then most don't worry until you hit 6 points?

Chris

Is there any obligation to declare it? The insurance company are only interested if you have endorsements (ie if you get points) and even then most don't worry until you hit 6 points?

Chris

Is it counted as a conviction?

I've had a clean licence for a while but previously didn't seem to have any issues or price hikes for 6 points (general speeding)

I did go on one yes, for 36 in a 30 on a misleadingly wide road in

an area I was very new to. It was a hand operated gun that caught me

from a very well hidden parking space. I've no excuse for speeding

but being honest, I did only attend the course to dodge the points.

I'd say that was most likely the case with more or less all the people

in there based upon chatting to a few of the others during the

tea/smoke break. It was kind of like having to go on a course for

work, mind numbing but necessary.

Having undertaken some additional driver training over the years

and having driven both lorries and buses for a living to be honest

I found it a bit on the patronising side but I guess that's so

it can be informative and useful to the lowest common denominator.

Speeding is a universal 'crime' after all, it's not just numerate, literate and

socially productive people on the course I suppose.

But for sure I believe that there would have been an empty classroom

if the people offered the choice to attend thought that they would be just

as out of pocket insurance wise whatever they chose to do.

Most wouldn't have bothered going and taking half a day off of work.

Whether it should or shouldn't be the case is a matter for another thread,

but what matters most to people in this instance is overall financial impact

of their oversight or careless actions.

It's still worth doing it as you don't get points that could count towards a ban.

Edited 23 February, 201313 yr by Dr Zoidberg

Now that this is the standard, then watch these courses and centres that

provide them die off. You may as well have the points and pay the same money

in the form of a fine if you'll be financially penalised just the same when it

comes down to insurance.

For how many years will you have to declare this for? 5 I'm guessing?

Good luck to those who have chosen to train to host these courses for a living as

you will all soon be looking for a job. Nobody is going to sit through 3hours of

(speaking frankly here) patronisation and lip service if theres no benefit from

doing it over taking the points and paying the fine. (and yes I've been on one...)

And the greedy insurance companies will be to blame for these job losses.

If so ,the courses will stop, till the SCP /ACPO find new ways round the probklem . Look at how the SAC came about. Yonks ago , SCP were allowed to hive off "reasonable expenses", till Gordo discovered that some SCP were excellent at "culinary accountancy (=cooking books)( you've just got to look at the County by county SCP returns to see that), and decided that all penalty fees go straight to Treasury ,and a "road safety grant " would be paid.

In minor cases ,SAC would be offered .But with the introduction of "road safety grants", a lot of SCOP saw the end of the empire in sight. And how would they afford to employ ex police trainers ? So ACPO got the powers/ used their influence to make the limits for SAC more lenient ( possibly aided by threats of redundancies on SCP, NOT SOMETHING "CALL ME DAVE " WOULD LIKE), and courses took off, aided by the no points option.

This is my opinion ,read by the move to offer courses for wider tollerances on the offence.

And AFAIK, the basis of these courses is COAST ,SOMETHING THAT IN DAYS OF YORE ,any decent driving school( pre production line academies) taught pupils.

Edited 23 February, 201313 yr by VWD

It's still worth doing it as you don't get points that could count towards a ban.

Agreed. But this would only apply to a much smaller segment of offenders.

SWMBO got caught in a 30 on her way to work after we argued about me having my 1st Octy, so it was my fault (obviously) that she'd been caught even though she drives past the same camera every day. We had an 'interesting' conversation when she said she never speeds, which i said was obviously false unless soemone else was driving and she then said it would be a pain having to keep belwo 80 on her trips to see her mother in Cornwall.... class!

Anyway... I wasn't aware insurance companies had changed their stance. Like others above mine only wants to know if I (or SWMBO) has had any accidents or convictions in the last 5 years and as she wasn't convicted (i.e. her license is still clean) then the answer is no. I even declared it at the time but my company wasn't interested.

It's not made any long term difference to her driving, though that's more down to her than the principle of the driver awareness classes, which I personally think are a good idea

Found this article in the biking press. Doesn't go along with the theory that upto 6 points won't hit your premium. Bit off topic though.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2013/February/Insurance-Advice-What-to-do-if-youre-convicted/

Individual insurance co's take a differnt view over the number of points and how it will affect your premium.

I used to work for NFU Mutual and while we insisted all points were declared there was no premium hike for the first 3 points.

I can't help but think that the only reason insurance companies would increase the price for those having been on a drivers awareness course would be because they're losing out on charging the same people more money for having 3 points. At the end of the day, they know insurance is a legal requirement, so most will take out a policy. All they want is money coming in, and if they can come up with an excuse to charge you're money, they will!

Its all down to the insurance companys.

I have heard that some are increasing premiums but you dont have to tell them unless they ask as it is not a conviction.

Some of the companys have an extra box when you fill in an on line quote asking if you have attended a course.

I went on one last week and found it very informative mainly because I passed my test over 20 years ago and I have only picked up the hiway code once scince then.

What really got me was when asked where we would put ourselfs in a rating most including myself said we were average drivers but the above average drivers had very high opions of themselfs even though some had got numerous points and Mobile phone offences.

Its all down to the insurance companys.

I have heard that some are increasing premiums but you dont have to tell them unless they ask as it is not a conviction.

Some of the companys have an extra box when you fill in an on line quote asking if you have attended a course.

I went on one last week and found it very informative mainly because I passed my test over 20 years ago and I have only picked up the hiway code once scince then.

What really got me was when asked where we would put ourselfs in a rating most including myself said we were average drivers but the above average drivers had very high opions of themselfs even though some had got numerous points and Mobile phone offences.

The last time this was discussed, insurers were adding into their terms and conditions that you had to tell them, and if they found out you hadn't would void your insurance.

A search should flag up that thread.

I wouldn't take the course if I got caught speeding. I'm of the opinion that I took the risk and lost so would take the punishment (points/fine). Anyone who says they would change their driving style speed wise (permanently) after taking one of these 'naughty boy' courses is a liar.

When I renewed my insurance with Admiral last year they asked me specifically if I had attended a speed awareness course separate to accidents/convictions, I don't know if any other companies outside that group are also checking for SAC's now. I've not been on and as they don't have them up here it doesn't change anything for me anyway although if other insurers start following suit I can see the SCP's and those who organise these courses getting pretty upset as I understand the money from a CoFP goes straight to the treasury but the money from a SAC goes to the SCP and course organiser.

John

Which is why so many are offered

The last time this was discussed, insurers were adding into their terms and conditions that you had to tell them, and if they found out you hadn't would void your insurance.

A search should flag up that thread.

As I said they need to ask you if you have attended one.

The only questions I have been asked on line or in person are do you have any motoring convictions/penalty points or accidents in the last 5 years.

You dont have a conviction if you go on the SAC so my answer is no.

Now it will be different if the then say have you attended a SAC then i would have to say yes.

Which is why so many are offered

Yes, which is why I think they're not going to be happy if it becomes standard for insurers to ask for them to be declared if done load up the premiums as the main attraction is avoiding penalty points and hikes in insurance.

John

As I said they need to ask you if you have attended one.

The only questions I have been asked on line or in person are do you have any motoring convictions/penalty points or accidents in the last 5 years.

You dont have a conviction if you go on the SAC so my answer is no.

Now it will be different if the then say have you attended a SAC then i would have to say yes.

Car insurance is a 'contract of utmost good faith' and you are obligated to disclose anything that represents a material risk, i.e. anything that might alter the underwriter's view of the risk.

So sorry, it is not simply a matter of being asked, or not, that dictates whether you are 'guilty' of non-disclosure.