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[Bionic]

Some divided opinions there....
Anyway just to clear up my side I was employed for many years in the type of job where I had to recover not only the corpses but also the many bits of them when even worse things happened and even then I could look on with detatchment. For anyone to form an opinion without having that type of experience is misleading and shows just how easily many can be mislead by those who have the qualifications on paper but no practical experience of the fact.
Maybe the courses are of value to some but I think that more than probably it would be to those who do not fully concentrate on what they are doing and go on the roads with unfit poorly maintained or not maintained vehiicles, eat or drink while they are driving, on a mobile phone, reading a map (yes, I have seen that more than once), facing their passenger while they talk, face rearwards to check on a baby in its seat, put on makeup and comb hair (scary), bounce up and down in their seat while shaking their head to their overly loud boom boom music, and not least drinking from a bottle that obscures their frontal vision. Worst of all are the drivers who go at far less than the limit, (usually well into old age but who are allowed to keep their licence in case it reduces their independance) and slow down or even stop at every junction, stop at traffic lights when the lights are green and those who persistently stop to allow other drivers to join a main road from a clearly marked side street usually during heavy traffic periods. I have no doubt that many others have seen more or even worse.
It is the wrong time to try to educate drivers who already have overly developed bad habits and the only thing that will work for them is the stiffest of penalties. This type of course should be mandatory and be given as soon as all leaners have passed their full driving test and before they are allowed onto the roads unaccompanied. Far too many pass their test then become a Stirling Moss without plates because they elated at passing and wish to demonstrate to all and sundry that they are experienced, particularly to their friends who have yet to pass.
This subject has many facets and could go on forever but one thing is certain... until a grip is gained over the minority who flout the laws the rest of us who do drive safely will be placed at risk! The police have their hands tied firmly behind their backs by the newer laws that grant society various forms of rights which then turn out to be contradictory to the majority of the law abiding. Its not a job I am jealous of and I have had many, many years of working alongside them......They should be admired for what they try to accomplish. The Speed Awareness corses I believe shouild also be only given by the Police and not by any other organisation. At least the police do not have hidden agendas as do many of the fanatics who opppose anything they do not agree with then flout those very ideaologies themselves.
In closing my friend has now got back to me after the course he attended and has said that one of the instructors was condecending and a little hitller while the other was pleasant and understanding. Why employ someone who acts like hitler and so belittles the 'students'? Surely that type of action will ensure that the course is disregarded and soon forgotten. Strangely enough he said that ther were no police officers there either, and not even a short visit from one. Apparently they were sat in classroom and treat like naughty children instead of adults who had made an error of judgement. He was made to watch and interact with a PowerPoint presentation. They were also told that if they did not ask questions (yes, did NOT ask) or if they contradicted the instructors that they would be required to leave the course, lose their money and go to court to face their original charge. If that does not demonstrate that it is money making excercise then what does?
Its a right can of worms this .......................

[Dishevelled Den]

...........// Strangely enough he said that ther were no police officers there either, and not even a short visit from one. Apparently they were sat in classroom and treat like naughty children instead of adults who had made an error of judgement. He was made to watch and interact with a PowerPoint presentation. They were also told that if they did not ask questions (yes, did NOT ask) or if they contradicted the instructors that they would be required to leave the course, lose their money and go to court to face their original charge. If that does not demonstrate that it is money making excercise then what does?
Its a right can of worms this .......................

I've had that feeling for a long time Bio. 

Then, it's the way things are going forward especially when it appears that, besides the police, there are many agencies involved in the administration of ‘justice’.

This ability to make money has resulted in many noses being shoved into the trough and it’s typical of this country today – make a minor everyday mistake and there’s some oppser waiting to take money from you by way of threat.  Pull a big one like murder or rape or incitement to hatred and so on and there’s a legion of people waiting to tell the world just why those perpetrating such acts should not be punished so harshly.

We will rue the day when policing by these remote means and civilians was ever considered to be in the least acceptable.

A wee word to ACPO – keep your noses out of police business.

A final word to Marsham Street – Keep politics for the bubble dwellers and out of policing and, please come to the very obvious realisation that you can’t police on the oppsing cheap.

[Kevin Wood]

It is the wrong time to try to educate drivers who already have overly developed bad habits and the only thing that will work for them is the stiffest of penalties. This type of course should be mandatory and be given as soon as all leaners have passed their full driving test and before they are allowed onto the roads unaccompanied.

I'm not so sure.

I believe it's absurd that drivers are allowed to go from the age of 17 into old age without any form of ongoing training. It simply doesn't happen in any other discipline I can think of where safety of life is involved.

Drivers should be treated like pilots IMHO. A regular check with an instructor putting them through their paces, practising all the exercises that they haven't done since passing their test and weeding out those who don't reach an acceptable standard. This would both keep the overconfident in check and also raise the confidence of those who currently mimble around in a state of terror, IMHO.

Meanwhile, the threat of a downgrade to public transport would be an incentive for all drivers to keep on top of their game and regard driving for what it is - a responsibility, for those who are suitably skilled, to operate potentially very dangerous machines, not a right that comes to everyone,a nd not a background activity that can be carried out while eating, drinking, smoking, childminding, etc.   

[the alarming man]

ACPO guideline give the error of speed 10% + 2 so 30 would be 35 mph and as for the institute of advanced morons being professional they are not all there examiiners and demo drivers??? Are all Voluntary so yes they poss professional but not in advanced driving