Just attended a speed awareness course, which I found interesting.
It seems that I am not alone.....in 2015, 1.2 million also attended such a course, A 70% increase since 2010.
In my opinion it proves that the courses are not achieving the desired effect.
The course reinforced what some of us temporary forgot - speed limits.
I got thinking what would make us be more aware of our surroundings, but came to the thought that with the development of technology, 'Black Boxes' may just be the answer.
Young drivers get the chance to have these fitted which monitors every aspect of their driving. A young man near us has seen his premium reduced dramatically in his first year.
If these devices could be offered to all drivers it would make us all more aware or face jumps in our premiums. One Discovery, gone
Now on third Freelander 2
2013 HSE Auto Orkney Grey

I have a dashcam ... often forget it's there, black boxes would be the same and have little effect. Many A roads in Lancashire are being equipped with average speed cameras, will they prevent crashes, no, I don't think so.

I have a sta-nav that displays speed limits. Surely that could be linked to the engine management system to limit road speed? Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

WGG1848 wrote:

In my opinion it proves that the courses are not achieving the desired effect.

The courses are definitely a nice little earner for the AA (or division of) that run them.

40 people x £96 twice a day = £7680 per day per centre !!!

(and yes I have done the course once! )

The black boxes are a double edged sword......

Yes! they help keep people more aware of their driving surroundings and styles

No! some insurers use it as an easy excuse to bump up premiums

A friend of mine had a Toyota Aygo as her first car, fitted with black box to reduce her quoted premium. But she kept getting + points for all aspects of driving except her revs, as the little 1.0L engine had to be revved quite hard to get it moving from junctions etc. as it was a very underpowered car. They kept fining her £30 each time she over revved. She got rid of the car and black box !

Another friend had to break hard to avoid a collision caused by drivers in front, his dad (and him) got an immediate text warning of a £100 fine if it happened twice more.

I would have thought the technology already exists for a cars brain to know the speed limit on any given road and could sound a warning if the driver exceeds that limit (provided the car is fitted with GPS), linking such a system to traffic sign recognition wouldn't work as they are based on the car seeing road signs which they don't always do correctly

Been on one recently, quite informative and some useful reminders since passing test in 1970 but could have been half the length and still covered everything needed. Lots of info about company running course and eco driving - not very relevant.
Been keeping an eye on speed more, I don't want to upset the apple cart for a while now and get points.
Just bought a Disco Sport and wondered whether to get sign recognition bot seen info that says it's not ultra reliable yet, time will tell!

Bob

shilen wrote:

I would have thought the technology already exists for a cars brain to know the speed limit on any given road and could sound a warning if the driver exceeds that limit

I was once sent on a "driver training" course by my employer as the company insurer said that my department had been experiencing a larger than average number of incidents. I had never had an accident so I asked my boss why I was the one going on the course and he said "we don't want to wash our dirty linen in public - now go on the course and impress them"  3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

The Sat Nav in my Scooby will boing and flash up warnings for all sorts, speed limit changes, bends in the road, level crossings and God only knows what else, they are all turned off, 2 days with them drove me mad. Once that type of warning is working all the time it becomes the norm, not the exception , so I ignored it.

As far as integrated autonomous technology I don't want a car that will slow to 50 on a motorway exit if it reads a sign, or will not exceed a 30 limit if it reads a sign , Ill make that decision , 5 o'clock in the morning, summer, 60 mp limit no traffic, if I think 70 is safe I'll do 70 and take my chances.

Adaptive cruise and preemptive urban braking, yep I think they are fine, but what my speed awareness course taught me more than anything was that I wasn't concentrating on driving , which I should have been. Plain and simple, 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

dorsetfreelander wrote:

I was once sent on a "driver training" course by my employer as the company insurer said that my department had been experiencing a larger than average number of incidents. I had never had an accident so I asked my boss why I was the one going on the course and he said "we don't want to wash our dirty linen in public - now go on the course and impress them"

Been there. Got the Tee shirt, I attended a week after going on a Honda MAC ( motorcyclist advanced course ) . The AA defensive driver instructor asked me to do a running commentary on forward observation. I hadn't the heart to tell him I'd spent a day following and being followed by a Police class 1 motorcyclist listening to and , then having to give that type of commentary at speeds the company car would never see. He was less than impressed when he told me to park in Tesco's and I drove the 5 series to the back, and into an empty row nose first, I told him only a clown would reverse park a 35 grand car in a tiny slot where a Yummy Mummy and her offspring might trolley it ! 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Navigator wrote:

I have a sta-nav that displays speed limits. Surely that could be linked to the engine management system to limit road speed?

The best bit about being retired is you can use the roads you want AFTER the majority of and
Have arrived at their office desks .

Then take Great delight with all the other time bandits by driving at 1mph less than the posted speed limit listening to Handles water music while asking the sat navigation system for the nearest loo .....😂😂😂 Wales
Were the mud is thicker, and the ruts are deeper.
(And we have the water to wash it off, and more on the way..! )
Sd4 and chrome Ar*e piece, Auto box for best fun
09 Xs Gone
12 xs Gone
HSE with Leather seats and 4 years warrenty.. staying for now !

MartynB wrote:

,.... 5 o'clock in the morning, summer, 60 mp limit no traffic, if I think 70 is safe I'll do 70 and take my chances. .....